Regent Park Focus

The Divas today were greeted by Angelina Stoikova. She’s a student currently attending OCAD and she has an excellent project in store for the Divas.   The Divas were given the task to create a digital self portrait. They’re inspected to research and select an artist that inspires them, and come up with either a portrait or vision that relates to the artist. Researching the artist will give some of the Divas a chance to learn about art’s history and where certain fashion ideas came from.   They also took photographs of themselves to tell a story about how they view themselves visually.   The point to that is to give the Divas a chance to think about how they may see themselves in the future. This task allows the Divas the opportunity to practice artistic and technical skills that they may or may not already have.   Overall many of the girls enjoyed today’s activity by expressing excitement and joy while taking photos of one another. This was just the first day o...

If you missed the new radio segment, Girl Talk , then this post is for you. Hosts Gina, Whitney and Victoria speak on different social issues with hints of fashion, celebrities and boy talk. The first airing of the show was on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, which was just earlier this week. Their first topic was on a serious note with eating disorders, particularly in teens. Although the topic is well-heard issue, the girls used it positively to explain the facts on the disorder, and tips and suggestions that people could use if they have friends they know that are struggling with eating disorders. For example, they spoke about the stigma with men not having the same care or programs that women have when they enter rehabilitation clinics. The girls offered their own opinions on the subject matter and insight to what it’s like to be in high school, dealing with the pressures and stress of society. The girls also did a television piece following the live radio promoting the show Girl Talk ...

Earlier this week I facilitated a workshop with young participants of FOCUS in regards to their hopes for the future and thoughts on their heroes. With materials such as paint, glue, bristol boards and writing materials the girls were asked to currate a multi media piece that answered and expressed a particular set of questions set out for them. Within these questions were inquiries such as what the girls hoped to be when they were older, why was this their choice of career, who was their hero and what had this individual done that held such significance to them. Majority of the girls worked on the set of questions relayed to what they hoped to be when they were older.   Some of the answers to these questions included doctor and curer of cancer. Among those that chose to do their work on the hero collage was a little girl who created a work of art dedicated to her hero. This hero, also her best friend, had lost her brother in a shooting in Regent Park last year. Some of the st...

On Monday May 28th, 2013 and Wednesday May 30th, 2013, Gina Brockerville, Victoria Mascarenhas, and Whitney Farrell did a workshop with Client. We made two pictures merge into one to make an eco-friendly, environmental poster. We learned how to resize, transform, copy, layer, merge, discolouration, and other important techniques in Photoshop and InDesign. Learning techniques and skills from Photoshop and InDesign was amazing. I could merge two photos together and still distinctly see the photos separately. We did that three times in order to make three different pictures. We then took those three pictures and then make another huge poster on InDesign. We also added four triangles in a rectangle, and placed the pictures in them. Then added a circle in the middle and placed a recycle symbol in it. Lastly, we put the words “Bring The Green Inside” on our poster to make it stand out more. This edit will help me in the future because I wanted to do photography and graphic design. ...

If you missed the new radio segment, Girl Talk , then this post is for you. Hosts Gina, Whitney and Victoria speak on different social issues with hints of fashion, celebrities and boy talk. The first airing of the show was on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, which was just earlier this week. Their first topic was on a serious note with eating disorders, particularly in teens. Although the topic is well-heard issue, the girls used it positively to explain the facts on the disorder, and tips and suggestions that people could use if they have friends they know that are struggling with eating disorders. For example, they spoke about the stigma with men not having the same care or programs that women have when they enter rehabilitation clinics. The girls offered their own opinions on the subject matter and insight to what it’s like to be in high school, dealing with the pressures and stress of society. The girls also did a television piece following the live radio promoting the show Girl Talk...

What is homophobia? It is a fear or Homophobia is an ever growing issue all across Canada and it is not something to be taken lightly. Although there is no law against homophobia, it is often not tolerated. But even though it is not tolerated, it is also often ignored, one example of this was in a Toronto school. A transgender student was isolated and asked to use a gender neutral bathroom, or the woman's bathroom. This student had transformed from female to male in his grade 10 year of high school and constantly changed schools hearing the same stories regarding the washroom situation, all teachers and principals would say "It's only temporary" but the situation would never change. You would assume that it would be the students that would be taking part in the homophobic "activities" but that is incorrect, often it would be the office that would isolate the student. At one school he was even asked to use an off-site bathroom because he did no...

Gina Brockerville and Victoria Mascarenhas hosted a radio show focused around high school life, and work life. The spoke about the difficulties of high school, such as finding where you belong, how much you grow as a person in high school, the difficulties and benefits of being in an all girls school. Throughout high school you come to know yourself on a whole other level, you become who you will be for the rest of your life, you learn who your friends are, who to trust and who not to trust, and you learn to be an independent person. Not all high school experiences the same, for Gina and Victoria whom are enrolled in an all girls school, it is much different than a student who is in a co-ed school.  Being in an all girls school they have learned that looks aren't everything and they have learned to be confident no matter what they wear and it has helped them be comfortable with who they are. Along with this helping them with their confidence, it has also effected the...

Victoria Mascarenhas, Gina Brockerville and Whitney Farrell produced a radio show. Our topic was about Mental Illness. We had four subtopics for Mental Illness. They were Suicide, Stress, Anxiety, and Depression. Each segment was about 15 minutes each. We discussed about some typical questions that people would not understand. We answered them and gave our own opinions about it. We also had three articles that had to do with Mental Illness. One of the articles discussed about Demi Lovato and how she went through a bipolar disorder, depression, etc. She went through a lot of struggles and we thought discussing about her story would help influence youth to step up and not suffer in silence anymore. The second article we discussed was about therapy in the wilderness. It helps youth become more open about their illnesses and to help them speak up about their struggles. The last article we discussed was about this 17 year old boy who committed suicide. His father was a pastor and o...

RPTV and RP60 Launches at Regent Park Focus Last week was monumental here at Regent Park Focus. We launched our very own television channel, RPTV! RPTV is a one-hour television show that will air on Rogers cable 10 for one hour a week. RPTV is a community operated and owned television channel. In other words, the community gets a say in what content is created and showcased on RPTV! The vision of RPTV is that the youth and residents of Regent Park get an opportunity to learn about television broadcasting, as well as get the opportunity to learn how to produce their own content. It’s all about content being created by the community for the community. Not only did we get to launch an awesome TV channel for the Regent Park community, we also launched RP60. RP60 is our very own news and informational channel that will run 24-7 on channel 60 in the Regent Park area. Government representatives, Hon. Bob Rae, MP, Glen Murray, MPP, and Councillor Pam McConnell, were also in att...

Youths participating in todays March Break activity were met with a blank sheet of paper and multiple crayons. They were asked to fill the paper with different shapes and patterns making sure to press hard as they colored. Once they finished filling the paper with light colored patterns they were then asked to color over the whole paper using a black crayon. Once they were done, they used a sharp object, a pencil or a pen to scratch words and or designs into the black colored paper. Doing this allowed the light colors to pop through revealing a rainbow of colors below. Before moving on to the next activity the youth were asked why they chose the colors they did and the response consisted of “it stands out,” “no one else chose it,” “I like the colour,” “its unique,” and (of course) “its my favourite colour”. Some of the youth also chose to take a different spin on this activity. They ventured towards using a colour that was not black to colour over the light coloured pattern. ...

Youths participating in Todays March Break activity were met with a blank sheet of paper and multiple crayons. They were asked to fill the paper with different shapes and patterns making sure to press hard as they colored. Once they finished filling the paper with light colored patterns they were then asked to color over the whole paper using a black crayon. Once they were done, they used a sharp object, a pencil or a pen to scratch words and or designs into the black colored paper. Doing this allowed the light colors to pop through revealing a rainbow of colors below. Before moving on to the next activity the youth were asked why they chose the colors they did and the response consisted of “it stands out,” “no one else chose it,” “I like the colour,” “its unique,” and (of course) “its my favourite colour”. Some of the youth also chose to take a different spin on this activity. They ventured towards using a colour that was not black to colour over the light coloured pattern. Th...

Today the Diva’s got together to discuss what we would do if we only had 24 hours left to live.  The girls were to write in their journals three things that they would do in the last 24 hours they have to live. After spending some time writing these grand ideas each Diva took the time to disclose with the rest of the Divas what they would do with their last 24 hours. Some would spend there time swimming, take the whole family to wonderland, ask the lord for forgiveness, and travel some parts of the world. After hearing how each Diva would spend the last few hours of her life, the other Divas were to help each other figure out how to make some of their goals become a reality. This activity helped the Divas figure out some of their passions, interests and as well they were able to receive peer support from one another.

A very fun-filled evening for the Regent Park community because of “ The JAM ” event. Although the line up was very short this month, the Regent Park residents were very excited to see what was in stored for them this end of the month. We moved the event to familiar territory which is at the Daniels Presentation Centre. At this time of the year, this is a much preferred venue for the sunny outdoor feel, and the open space. We had so much fond memories there before we started moving ‘ The JAM ’ events at the Daniel Spectrum! The Focus House Band led the introduction of the performance as usual, and played a little longer than usual because there was a performance cancellation as short notice. Their energy  was always there at a constant level whatever transitions that were given to them. Pete Townsend followed up with a powerful spoken word poetry performance… I was a little confused why he was doing poetry instead of a musical performance. But then again, I was ...

This week at Boyz 2 Men, we figured that it was time to practice what we have been preaching, and set out to the basketball courts to get some healthy exercise. After a lot of big talk, sibling rivalries and friendly competition were on display in an intense matchup involving the majority of our Boyz 2 Men crew. Though there were some excellent individual efforts, and a handful of highlight reel plays from some of the older boys, the teams that passed well and used all of their players on offense were the ones that had the most success. Jerry put on a clinic while he was on a team with Said in a showdown against Natnael, Noor and Nazmul. It was a close game, with Natnael keeping the boys in it, but eventually the two man team of Jerry and Said came out on top in a close 10-8 final when Said hit the long jumper to win it. After finishing up on the courts, Jerry and the boys headed over to grab some celebratory pizza and recap the game. They all agreed that it was good to finally get ...

Were back again for the March radio blog to all the catchdaflava radio listeners and Regent Park Focus blog readers. This month,  the catch da flava crew is back for some more exciting news and topics. All the youth were excited going into the march break and also to celebrate the easter weekend with their family and friends. For some, it is a time for repentance and reflection for this lenten season. For the majority of the  world's population we celebrate this as "Women's History Month", along with International Women's day. As for the catchdaFlava crew, i think its safe to say that we can start by talking about the Toronto mayor Rob Ford going head to head with Toronto Star   and lashing out at them over the topic of the Toronto Mayor having a drinking problem and will need to seek treatment. A few city council along with many witnesses, came forward to express their concerns with his behavior. There were also alot he has to tackle w ith with regards to TTC...

The attendance was massive and the crowd's vibe was pumping. We had the community's involvement as always and eager to check in on who's going to be the new surprise guest performers in the line up. You never know which discovery of new  talent you are going to see each and every month, and find yourself asking:  "why haven't I heard of these great talents?" We kicked off the event with the "Flash Mob" dance crew from the YLTP and Access Alliance . The spectators gave them a warmhearted applause for the captivating, poppin performance. The Focus House Band followed through once again with some of their originals and some, covers... Always the community's regular favorite. This party also delivered some spoken word artistry from Marcus Lomboy , sending inspiration for young poets out there in the community to continue their passion for wordplay wizardry. He seeks to educate and inspire youth while spreading a message of creativity ...

Today was the last day of March Break for the Divas. To celebrate, we went to the movies and watched Jack the Giant Slayer. The theatre we went to was Rainbow Cinemas, a smaller theatre company that hosts an old fashioned theatre in the st Lawrence market. It was a unique experience when compared to a regular theatre like Cineplex. The front of the theatre featured a grand piano and we even got to see someone passionately play on it. Before the movie started, the girls admired some of the art that was for sale in the theatre's small gallery. The film was fun to watch; it featured gruesome giants and an epic betrayal (we won't spoil the story for you though!!). Overall it was an enjoyable experience that brought a swift conclusion to our March break. Saeema Saifuddin

During our March Break Madness the Diva’s did an art activity that gave them the room for creativity, and at the same time express themselves. Their   task was to make a collage using magazine pictures and words that can describe their personality. This activity is to help encourage nonverbal expressions. It will allow the divas to become more aware of their personalities. The girls all understand that everyone is different, and that how a person may carry themselves describes there personality. The girls couldn’t wait to get started on the task. Some of them wanted to paint, or just draw there collage. Anything is accepted because this art work is describing how they view their personality. After working hard on their masterpieces the Divas each talked about their collage and how it describes their individual personality. Giving each Diva the opportunity to talk about their creation, gives the other girls a chance to see what their peers are really thinking about themselve...

This week, the boys got a treat. Through a partnership between Focus and Rainbow Cinemas, the boys had the opportunity to go to the movies for free! Since it was the boys were on March break we were able to go to an afternoon showing of "Jack the Giant Slayer". Before we left, some of the boys thought that the movie was intended for a bit of a younger audience, but most enjoyed it when we talked about it in discussions afterwards. Their reactions included "It was sick because of the action but the ending was kind of dull". Some of the boys also thought that the war scene could have been more dramatic. They all liked the action and the special effects that were used with the giants in the movie. Some of the boys were surprised that there weren't more fight scenes between Jack and the Giant, as it sounded like in the title, while other boys felt that some scenes were too predictable and reminded them of a lot of movies that they have seen before. The boys...

Youths participating in Today's March Break activity were met with a blank sheet of paper and multiple crayons. They were asked to fill the paper with different shapes and patterns making sure to press hard as they colored. Once they finished filling the paper with light colored patterns they were then asked to color over the whole paper using a black crayon. Once they were done, they used a sharp object, a pencil or a pen to scratch words and or designs into the black colored paper. Doing this allowed the light colors to pop through revealing a rainbow of colors below. Before moving on to the next activity the youth were asked why they chose the colors they did and the response consisted of  it stands out, no one else chose it, I like the colour, its unique, and (of course) it's my favourite colour. Some of the youth also chose to take a different spin on this activity. They ventured towards using a colour that was not black to colour over the light coloured pattern. The...

A collage with meaning…      Earlier this week I facilitated a workshop with young participants of FOCUS in regards to their hopes for the future and thoughts on their heroes. With materials such as paint, glue, bristol boards and writing materials the girls were asked to curate a multi-media piece that answered and expressed a particular set of questions set out for them. Within these questions were inquiries such as what the girls hoped to be when they were older, why was this their choice of career, who was their hero and what had this individual done that held such significance to them.      Majority of the girls worked on the set of questions relayed to what they hoped to be when they were older.   Some of the answers to these questions included doctor and curer of cancer. Among those that chose to do their work on the hero collage was a little girl who created a work of art dedicated to her hero. This hero, also her be...

Today at Regent Park Focus Youth Media Arts Centre we had the Diva Girls come in for their first workshop of the week. Today, the girls were challenged on how internet savvy they are. We started the workshop with a media quiz, which consisted of questions about internet safety such as: meeting a stranger they’ve been talking to online in person; receiving content that they’ve felt has been inappropriate; chat room safety; giving personal information online; and more. After completing the quiz, the girls wrote about what they learned from the quiz in their journals. During the second half of the workshop, we watched a video about internet safety. It contained four different scenarios - two narrative pieces and two documentaries, and covered topics that are possible when young people and teens are online. The video featured introductions by “Gossip Girl” star Jessica Szohr.   The first video was called: “Clicking with Caution,” and it was about how easily youn...

To kick start the beginning of March Break the Diva’s talked about what it’s like to respect them and love their self’s. The girls did two exercises pertaining to self-esteem. They were to write five great things that they feel about themselves. Therefore being able to identify what makes them feel good about their selves. After sometime the girls each spoke about what they admired about themselves. The Divas each feel that they are beautiful and that everyone is beautiful in their own way. Hair, smiles, teeth, athletics, sports, ambitious, kind, giving, caring, and those are just a few of the things that the Divas feel help there self esteem and make them a better person. The Divas will develop a better respect for themselves and appreciation for their bodies. The second activity was a short discussion about how the girls feel about there body and any changes that may be taking place. Giving the girls the chance to talk about their body helped clarify any misconceptions that t...

February is a very quick but action packed month for the ‘CatchdaFlava’ crew. Why, you ask? Because it is close to Valentine’s Day and also the Black Heritage month! Furthermore, a lot of topics we get to talk about that you can’t even begin to imagine! It included ‘THE JAM’ event that featured a child soldier from South Sudan turned international hiphop star phenom Emmanuel Jal.    So let’s start with this month’s highlight already… starting off with the copkiller manhunt going on with the guy named Christopher Dorner. He was apparently a former cop, an ex marine that got terminated a few years ago, so that could have been his motivation for this rampage. The Toronto Raptors team doing well creeping up into the 9 th spot of the western conference and possibly securing an 8 th spot for the playoffs. Also note that Terence Ross from Toronto Raptors was crowned ‘king’ in the dunk competition this year in the All Star season. There were issues involving food industri...

Today at Diva’s we were continuing our healthy segment from a couple weeks ago, when the two registered nurses from Toronto public health came in to talk about healthy eating.   S ara and Chantal came today prepared to make yogurt parfaits. Which the girls absolutely LOVED. Before digging into our delicious yogurt parfaits, Sara and Chantal had us look at some pictures of take out sandwiches from the local Tim Hortons and we had to figure out the calorie content. Which sandwich had how much grams of fat, sodium (salt), etc. From the looks of things the Breakfast Sandwich had a bit more fat content then the sandwich. We also had a discussion of what type of extreme and out of this world food that we would try before we turn 50. Some of us are dare devils and are willing to try just about anything. Ex. Squid, octopus, rabbit, quesadillas. Then there are some Divas that are not risk takers and do not want to risk the chance of getting sick, so they would prefer to keep thei...