TCHC 2013 Youth Summit

Toronto Youth Summit navigate life for Changed Future

By William Doyle-Marshall

More than 1,000 young adults who reside in Toronto Community Housing turned up last Sunday to experience some of their cultural icons and exhibit their enthusiasm. It was the 2013 youth summit organized by the Toronto Community Housing Corporation at the Sheraton Center, downtown Toronto. This was intended to be a vehicle to encourage these young people to develop positive ideas and desires to emulate some of their adored images. In a spoken word presentation during the opening part of the summit, titled “Society”, Naima acknowledged that Society is concerned only of the celebrity views and government views. But she questioned “what about the innocent ones getting glued to the fight they didn’t fuel. She reminded her peers that they live under sub-financial rules where expressing “our views is completely subdued because television tells us what to do.”

   Her supporters vigorously applauded as she recounted “we have our opinions but we choose not to express them. We oppress them. We keep our mouth shut, assuming if we keep our mouth shut, that will send a different message; as if families being annihilated and forced to leave; children being violated, wasn’t a good enough, yet we still choose to be naive. Please. You blind yourself and act like you don’t see. Covering up your blood then claiming you don’t bleed,” Criticizing society’s resolve that offers double standards, Naima marked “Little boys cursing intensively. Teenage girls getting beat domestically. Older boys acting out aggressively yet we still take advantage yet we still take a back seat to fidelity.” She questioned whether citizens haven’t done enough to prove loyalty by following the law systematically.

  The poet countered with a quip about sudden reality: “You and me here, we make up the society. He says ‘yes we can’. I say, we need a plan because things just don’t happen if we clap our hands. We need to be the first drop in the ocean and take a stand. By doing that we are creating the future plan.”

                                             Summit participants showing their appreciation

                                             Beyond Sound  Empijah African Drummers

   “If I Ruled T.O.” was the summit’s theme and members of the Planning Committee brought together various high profiled individuals involved with community safety, recreation, economic opportunities, leadership and personal development. Mawuli Chai, launched the day’s activities by reading what was called the creed of the theme. This is the statement: “I am brilliantly made, unique, the grandest version of myself. I stand in my truth. I dress, speak, eat and live well. Respecting myself, my community with actions of hope, love, compassion and honour. My new name is change. So ask me what I think if I rule Toronto.”

 Eugene Jones, President and CEO of Toronto Community Housing Corporation  hopes the youth would take home something from Sunday’s summit to fortify themselves with some others in their community to bond together and start doing things. Jones would be certainly ecstatic when these young people get back to TCHC, the politicians and business leaders with their specific needs.

Armed with their personal information Jones expects the young people would tell the power brokers specifically what their needs are. He expects them to say “we want you to listen to what we want,  and make that happen. If you call us priority neighbourhoods, well make us a priority. But we don’t want to be stereotyped as priority neighbourhoods because we just want to be like anyone else. We want to grow, we want jobs, we want to go to university.”

 Politicians encouraged the gathering of youth to seize the opportunity to become elected members of the political process – municipal, provincial and federal. In addition, author and producer Dwayne Morgan’s advice that changing habits was perhaps the most powerful message of the day. “If you hang out with people who celebrate when you fail, those are not your friends. If you hang out with people who know what you want to achieve and are standing in the way of what you want to achieve, those are not your friends. If you hang out with people who, every time you get dressed to go out, they are the first ones to point out what is wrong with you, those are not your friends,” he counseled.

   As Morgan urged the gathering to have a vision for their lives, he told them they must work towards making that vision real. In order for it to become your reality, they have to pay attention to who is on their team. This means they have to make sure they are surrounding themselves with the right people in their corner.

Farley Flex, veteran music producer, broadcaster and talent search hoped the congregation of youth would get answers to their career path. He considered the summit as an opportunity for young Torontonians to change their lives. He had a booth at the summit called “Take Back your world, navigate your life which is about taking your interest, your personality traits and skills set to lead to a path that is based on passion based on living for your work as opposed to working for a living.

 The Summit Planning Committee included Amani Ousman, Charles Lewis, Dion Isaacs, Domonique Morris, Hafsa Isse, Hayad Isse, Jamall Brown, Joel Taylor, Kenney Adietly, Ladan Kite, Mariama Barvd, Naima Hassan, Najma Hassan, Nuzhaat Sabreem, Shukri Dualeh and Sorie Thullah.

Microfinance not the Magic Bullet

No Magic Solution to Poverty, says  Bob Rae

   “I am one of those people who believes that microfinance in fact represents not a fad but an understanding that development starts with each person.” Former Ontario Premier Bob Rae made this pronouncement during his keynote address to the recent International Microfinance Summit. He informed the participants that over many years there has been development as a sort of abstraction that takes place at a macro level -- way above and beyond what most people understand. That type of development often leaves a lot of people behind, Rae stressed.

                                Carol Golench, left and Jim Louttit, right president and vice

                                     president of the summit and keynote speaker Bob Rae

 Citing Northern Ontario, as an example, Rae said it’s conceivable that a model of development and investment could be created that would offer almost nothing to the people who actually live in those communities. Fearing that such a model could be devise without much difficulty, Rae advised “unless we make a change (that’s the model that is at risk of taking hold) it’s so important for governments and companies and all Canadians to understand that when First Nations raise issues, real deep issues about how development is happening, the basic question they are asking is, ‘where is the development for us?’

Carol Golench, co-chair of the summit said from the beginning her committee has been dedicated to shining a light on microfinance – a fast growing poverty reduction tool with a number of goals in mind. Educating the community about microfinance is a main objective, because individuals can make a difference when they learn about solutions to poverty. The Microfinance Committee has been establishing a forum for dialogue and action and has been  raising the profile of organizations that make an impact through domestic and international microfinance initiatives.

 Rae who served as Interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, informed his listeners that First Nations people are not asking the question in a greedy or a self-interested way. “They are simply looking around them and saying: ‘how does what you are doing connect to who we are and where we are and the conditions we are facing?’” he continued.

  The keynote speaker advised that micro-financing allows governments and developers to make the connection between the people on the ground and the world of development and to see that in fact make progress can be made in real terms in terms of the conditions of life. “Our objective is not to create masses of wealth that doesn’t trickle down really on very many people. Our objective is to improve the real condition of people,” Rae emphasized.

  The former Ontario Premier reflected on the search for what he termed ‘a magic bullet’ to solve the problem of poverty. The World Bank’s theory of creating mega projects that resulted in mammoth debt; agricultural projects and the host of fads after fads that have not worked, were among failed examples Rae spoke about. He made the emphatic point that “we face under-development in Canada” just like India, Pakistan, Africa and elsewhere where Canadian non- governmental agencies operate.”

 In his keynote address Rae noted that Canadians often think of development as something happening somewhere else. But he reminded the assembly which included students, development workers and advocates that they can see poverty right here in Canada. Then he told a story of his most recent experience of a visit to Martin Falls where the cost of living is going through the roof and children or the community as a whole has no access to the Internet.

   Throughout the day panelists, presenters and participants acknowledged the need for serious action to rid the country and indeed the world of the pangs of poverty. Betty Ann Lavallee, national chief, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples said her community is currently looking at all sectors that can help alleviate poverty. Consequently they are looking at every possible aspect. Some First Nations affiliates are involved in the fishing industry, a multi-million dollar enterprises on the east coast. Some are involved in mining. Others are working in windmills and alternative energies.

  Ian Smillie, international development specialist and author said a lot of the problems of development are not in the country that is poor. They are here, he stressed. Action is require by our governments that have to do with trade and tariffs and subsidies and all kinds of things that cannot be addressed in the village in India or Africa or even in the capital city of those poor countries, Smillie argued. Lots of Non-Governmental Organizations in the south need allies in the north and they want to work on these issues, he counseled. “I think the future for northern NGOs to a large extent is going to be around advocacy and policy issues,” the development specialist concluded. 

CHRY 2013 Fundraising Campaign

CHRY Fundraising Campaign Your Favourite Broadcaster  

By William Doyle-Marshall

      One of Toronto’s leading community broadcasters, CHRY Radio 105,5 fm, centers its current fundraising drive around the station’s new branding to be known as the leading source for diversity. Now in its 26^th year of broadcasting the station will conduct its annual fundraising drive from October 16 to October 26. 

                                Campaign team getting ready for CHRY's 2013 community outreach

A 24-hour-24-deejay session non-stop set the tone for the campaign. It began at noon on Monday.

The cast of top class participants in the 24-hour project are DJ Grouch, Turnstyles Crew; DJ Smartiez, the Essentials; DJ Fase, Fat Thursdays Stolen Moments; DJ Romeo, Demolition Crew; Dr. Jay – the Soca Prince; DJ Ritz – Stylus Award Winner; DJ Mensa – National Redbull three style champion; DJ Starting from Scratch – the world famous; Big Jacks- grand groove deejays; DJ DOC  - diplomat sound/tour dj; DJ Mel-Boogie – core djs dropping dimes; DJ Black Reaction- the Black Perfection Shelling Kingz; DJ Royale – grand groove djs; DJ Red X – the CD King musical mashup; Bozack Morris – Black Rap; Rootsman Sound – keeping it rootical; DJ Hot shot – on the rise; DJ Baby Yu – the remix kid; DJ Marxman – planet X wake-up show KOS; DJ Ononymous – core djs soul suite; DJ Spoonz – 2010 Stylus Award winner; DJ Soca Sweetness – the Hive Stylus Award winner: Soca DJ of the Year; DJ Makem – two time Toronto Redbull, 3 style champion and 4 Korners – I*am artist, Toronto Raptors. To check for yourself (the website www.24djs.ca 

CHRY says proudly this is easily one of Toronto’s premiere events for DJ’ing and DJ culture and the largest creative music broadcast in the country. “24HRS/24DJS places the campus of York University at the epi-centre of the media map,” the station’s website boasts. With a radically diverse and talented line-up of Canada’s top radio and club DJ’s #24HRS/24DJS resonates internationally via social media and is exceptional in its ability to be shared on several mediums with shear thousands of participants simultaneously from multiple digital cable channels (across southern Ontario) to web streaming, mobile apps and further across the GTA on 105.5FM. 

                                    CHRY's Station Manager Danae Peart ready for the campaign

October is the time of the year when listeners show their support financially to the station’s operation. That is undertaken through the station’s model with the Canadian Radio and television Commission. Danae Peart, station manager acknowledges that her programmers have great shows, they connect with unique genres, and they do unique things and great things. “The listeners once per year is asked to show support for that work,” she adds.

CHRY is taking steps to ensure its listening audience continues to expand. Programme Director Randy Reid promises “we are shooting to raise the bar. We are shooting to be the best we can be in this market. We are shooting to be the best we can be in this country and it starts with all of our awareness and our commitment to be proper broadcast ambassadors.”

  Reid emphasized everything starts with collective strength and he identified the company’s major asset as its diversity. He recently reminded the broadcast team that many of them have peer programmers on the grid whether it’s Soca, Rock, Reggae, Chutney or language based, where they can share best practices.

The Programme Director advises programmers those who have amazing segments or interviews could share them with other programmers who might be able to identify with it. These unique upscale productions could be represented on special ‘best of’ slots programming at night. Best of Spoken Word programming’ are aired on Mondays and the ‘best of Music Programming’ are aired On Tuesday. “We have an opportunity to celebrate the best of programming of that month or that week,” the Programme Director disclosed.

  Listeners to this popular community radio station in the city’s north west end are ready to receive calls from listeners who decide to pledge generous financial support. Because CHRY acknowledges its audience as its number one priority; “24HRS/24DJS gives the best seats in the house, whether they’re live on site literally steps away from their favourite DJ or tuned in from their television, computer, smart phone or radio, the 2013 edition will be a definite must experience.”

PASO Council in Toronto

Minister Chan on transformative power, opportunity, possibility and benefit of Pan Am Games 2015

By William Doyle-Marshall

Impressive is the one word to replace ‘wow’ after viewing or experiencing the presentation by the A-team of organizers for Toronto Panam 2015 to members of the Pan American Sports Organization Thursday morning.

   Earlier Michael Fennell of PASO’s Technical Commission reported that technical coordination for the 2015 games have gone well. “The venues for competition and practice are well advanced and certainly will be up to the standard required,” Fennell reported. While there are some questions about seating capacity in some of the venues he asked his colleagues to remember that in the execution and presentation of these games the City of Toronto has to depend on heavy government support that is very interested in not only ensuring that they have excellent games but that the legacy will be of great benefit to their citizens. As a result the venue concept has been based on a good legacy plan whereas the various communities and many cities in the Greater Toronto Area will benefit greatly from the hosting of these games. Fennell announced that the sports programme and the overall games programme have now reached a fairly advanced level of finalization because they have overcome one of the main issues which was the schedule for the aquatic disciplines. There was a clash of dates with the World Championships of Swimming to be held at the same time, however FINA has taken a decision to shift their dates to facilitate the Toronto games in 2015.

                                                 Ministerial seriousness: 'We ready!'

                            Peru came to Toronto PASO meeting to bid for 2019 Games

   David Peterson, chairman of the organizing Toronto Committee was absolutely and totally impressed with three reports presented by officials to the 2013 Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) the organization. He thought the PASO’s reports on the progress of Toronto’s planning for the 2015 Pan American games were well researched, very clear and very fair.

  “They point out the good and they also pointed out the challenges we still face,” Peterson noted. But the former Ontario Premier reminded the gathering of some 350 delegates, there is still about two years to make these games the best ever. PASO delegates were told Toronto is not striving to be good but to be perfect. In order to be perfect Peterson concluded Toronto needs the help and scrutiny of everyone in the international sporting body. Because the ideas of everyone are needed, the chairman emphasized his team is open to ideas and it is transparent to make the Pan American games better for the young people and all citizens.

  “One of the realities of games this size is we have many, many, many stakeholders. We have the taxpayers of Ontario. We have the young people of Ontario. We have the people of Canada, we have the people of Toronto. We have athletes and commissions throughout the Americas and we want to make it perfect for everyone. We recognize there are compromises to be made and there are tradeoffs to be made and we aspire to the very highest goal.”

   Michael Chan, minister of Sport gave a progress report to the PASO family of nations on his government’s plans for the games. He stressed that everyone present understands the transformative power of the games, the opportunity, the possibility and the benefit of hosting a top tier international sporting event.

  Curt Harnett, four-time Olympian and winner of three Olympic medals in cycling, was announced as chef de mission for Team Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. He has decades of experience serving as a great ambassador for Canada on the world stage said Ian Troop, chief executive officer of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) as he welcomed the appointment at the PASO meeting at the West Inn Harbour Castle, downtown Toronto. More recently, Harnett has been a supporter of the TORONTO 2015 Games and the construction of the Cisco Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome, Canada’s new world-class indoor velodrome. In 2015, as the head of the largest contingent of athletes Canada has ever sent to a Pan Am Games, there is no doubt that Curt will also be a great and accessible leader for this country’s next generation of great athletes as they prepare to compete in front of a hometown crowd at the “People’s Games” in just 637 days, Troop predicted.