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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Art builds communities

Young people learn to reflect on people, places around them

By: Matt Preprost

Posted: 09/24/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

JOHN WOODS/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Cam Forbes (left) of Art City and Amanda Shindak of the Coalition of Community-Based Youth Serving Agencies set up a community art project.

For Mah Rakhshani, art was her first language, communicating in brush strokes and scribbles before learning the lay of the English language.

"I don't know where art will take me, but having art in my life is special," said the 10-year-old elementary student. "Sometimes when I'm sad or I don't know what to do, I always turn to art."

Rakhshani was one of more than 200 youths who jumped at the chance to take part in a community art project this summer led by Art City and the Coalition of Community-Based Youth Serving Agencies. The project, We Are Community, was meant to help youth reflect on the character and people of their neighbourhoods.

"In school, you do a lot of independent art, you don't really help other people. I learned how to help others create art," Rakhshani said about the project, on display at Portage Place Shopping Centre through fall.

Four community groups formed the coalition in 1995 in response to increased gang violence in the inner city. It has grown to include 18 agencies that offer free after-school programming for kids.

The coalition has since become a resource-sharing network, providing a wider range of programming for hundreds of youths and low- to no-cost training for front-line social workers.

"At the time the agencies decided they would get together... they all faced the same issues and challenges, and were all competing for the same dollars," said Amanda Shindak, the coalition's co-ordinator. "Once they gathered, they realized they were stronger together and working united."

For example, if one agency can't afford to offer arts programming, youths are referred to partner agencies like Art City or Graffiti Art Programming, much like Rakhshani, who uses the Spence Neighbourhood Association's services. The coalition also works together to offer summer camp and leadership programming, Shindak said.

"We really believe that youth that have better access to services like recreation or creative opportunities, are going to be stronger as adults," said Cam Forbes, executive director of Art City. "They're more resilient and less likely to fall through the cracks and become involved in things like crime."

The bulk of the coalition's funding comes from the United Way, which contributed more than $150,000 this year. Art City received $30,000.

"Without the United Way, the coalition wouldn't exist," said Shindak. "A lot of agencies wouldn't have access to the amount of resources we provide them."

The coalition will hold its annual conference Sept. 28, with a focus on front-line staff and a panel on community-building, Shindak said.

Winnipeg police Chief Keith McCaskill, along with inner-city activists Allan Wise and Jamil Mahmood, are expected to participate.

For more information on the coalition, visit www.ccbysa.com. For information on the United Way's 2011 campaign and how to donate, visit www.unitedwaywinnipeg.mb.ca or call 477-5360.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 24, 2011 B2

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