KUPE Needs A New Home - TDSB & KUPE Partnership

KUPE NEEDS
A NEW HOME
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION | DO NOT DISCLOSE OR REPRODUCE

KUPE {Kids Understand Practically Everything} Arts
Society was founded in 2009 to develop and
administer arts programs to the kids of Toronto.

Outside The Box Youth Music Program {OTB} is
the first initiative started by the group. OTB is
a FREE music education program provided to children
between the ages of 7 to 13 in the Parkdale area of
Toronto.

The OTB program is designed to inspire youth and
provide opportunity to kids who would normally
have no access to musical instruments or lessons due
to social and or economic barriers.

We rely on a staff of volunteer teachers, primarily
local musicians who are actively recording and/or
touring, to administer the curriculum that is taught
using contemporary music written and/or performed
by Canadian artists.


We have been very fortunate to be able to use the
space (3-4 rooms) at Masaryk-Cowan Community
Centre in Parkdale for the past 2 years. (pictured to
the right)

The centre has been accessible to the youth in the
community we serve and provided the much needed
segmented space that is necessary to run our
program. So, why do we need a new home?

To expand the program to offer our
services beyond the present 8 week
program

To engage more youth in the
community using the arts

To allow for other city programs to
function in the space at Masaryk-Cowan
Community Centre


+ Parkdale Collegiate Institute – Jameson Ave.

The TDSB could host KUPE’s Music program
at one of their schools in the neighborhood,
either at Parkdale Collegiate Institute and /
or Parkdale Junior & Senior Public School.

Parkdale Junior & Senior Public
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION | DO NOT DISCLOSE OR REPRODUCE School – Seaforth Ave.

Our program engages some of the most ‘at-risk’ and
often underserved students in the school system.

A core value of our program is mentorship and
connecting young people with supportive, caring adults in
the community. A TDSB partnership would compliment
the Student Success and Transitions initiatives at local
schools.

Kids are able to continue to build much needed arts skill
sets that we believe positively impacts other phases of
their development and awakens their multiple
intelligences.

Schools are seen as safe environments by parents. By
being hosted in a school, we could engage with students
whose parents wouldn’t normally allow them to engage in
activities outside of school because of their cultural values
and beliefs.

If we were hosted at Parkdale C.I., it would have benefits
directly related to Transitions because students would
already feel connected, comfortable and cared for in a
high school setting.


KUPE gets a safe operating environment from which to
run programming TDSB has an opportunity to associate
with a true community grass roots program.

We would be willing to explore how to compliment ESP
programs in schools using music as a way to build positive
youth-police relationships.

Because our curriculum focuses on teaching music using
Canadian songs performed and or written by Canadian
artists we give newcomers the opportunity to experience
Canadian culture.

Our teachers, all of whom are volunteers, are excited
about the ways in which they can contribute to the
classroom directly. For example, we can help schools
connect with local musicians and provide some support
with special event planning and promotion.

KUPE can continue to make a difference in the lives of
young people in the community of Parkdale.


ABOUT KUPE ARTS SOCIETY


KUPE {Kids Understand Practically Everything} Arts Society was
founded in 2009 to develop and administer arts programs for the kids
of Toronto. Outside The Box Youth Music Program {OTB} is the first
initiative started by the group. OTB is a FREE music education program
provided to children between the ages of 7 to 13 in Toronto. OTB was
created as a direct response to the decreased availability of music
programming in the Toronto public school system. The OTB program
is designed to inspire youth and provide opportunity to kids who would
normally have no access to musical instruments or lessons due to social
and or economic barriers.

OTB gives kids a chance to experience first hand, how to play an
instrument, sing, write and explore music with local musicians in the
Canadian music industry. The program begins with a focus on musical
instrument etiquette, rudiments of playing and songwriting. OTB
believes that exploring songwriting and practical use is a more effective
method to teaching music theory. With this approach we aspire to
make the lessons as fun and as captivating as possible for the kids. This
program is unique because it utilizes the expertise and experience of
studied, active and seasoned musicians to teach classes, so kids have the
opportunity learn first-hand about the music industry.

The program enlists local musicians such a Morning Electric, Mike Celia,
Amber Ladd, Macro Fiesta, DJ EfSharp, Bent By Elephants (Alex
Whyte), The Subnodes (Ekow Nimako), Adam Faux, James Robinson,
Christopher Morgan, Maiko Watson, YES YES YA’LL (local hip hop
event promoters) among others, to teach the classes and volunteer.


In the Fall of 2008, OTB was created when Sway - a Toronto-based musician, entertainer, journalist, media host and public
servant and a few friends - developed this successful curriculum and began promoting the first semester of the program to local
schools in the Parkdale region of Toronto. The response was overwhelmingly positive and immediate. With 30 kids signing up
within only a few days and after enlisting the help of other local musicians to serve as teachers, the first wave of graduates
from the Outside The Box Music Program began their learning experience. The first semester's curriculum was based on
Feist's "1,2,3,4". The song was taken apart by each instrument and used as a guideline to teach chords, notes and scales. At the
end of the program, the kids created a recording of the song - Click here to access the OTB MySpace page to hear their work of
art. It's really inspiring!!!

In the Spring of 2009, the second semester of the program was started and was sadly put in jeopardy due to the Toronto civil
workers strike that took place at that time. The strike prevented Parkdale’s Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre from opening
and thus the OTB program was put on hold.

In Fall 2009, Outside The Box program registered another 48 students. The students who participated in the first two
installments learned the song "February Air" by the singer Lights and the kids that returned for their second round learned a slightly
more challenging song, "Gimme Sympathy", by the band Metric, both groups recorded at the end of the semester.

As of June 3rd, 2010, KUPE Arts Society will have presented another successful semester of OTB to 45 kids in the Parkdale
community. This year’s songs were K’Naan’s Wavin’ Flag and Bedouin Soundclash’s Walls Fall Down.

With necessary funding, Outside The Box will continue to grow and serve other communities. OTB will soon have sister
programs offering visual art and photography. This program deserves to grow and KUPE Arts Society is working to make that
happen.


Marcus (age thirteen) is the first student who
bounds over to us when we pay OTB a visit on
recording day. He's a classic drummer type—he
bangs on everything—and is very excited when
he learns he's going to be on the internet. (He
wants everyone to know that if they try really
hard, one day they might be on the internet too.)
When we ask him why OTB is important he
pauses for a moment to focus: "Because if you're
at home and you don't start doing homework,
you'll just...be a couch potato." …

…Estelle is visibly moved when talking about
OTB and what it means for her kids. She praises
the program's spirit, its non-competitive
atmosphere, and its openness to kids of many
ages, backgrounds, and levels of musical
confidence. After we're finished our interview,
she comes back in to say one last thing. "It's
about community, it's about opening up a new
http://torontoist.com/2010/06/yes_they_knaan.php#more aspect of life to the kids."


“Attendance by the program's participants has
been almost perfect, and some of the kids arrive
hours before the lessons begin. Says Sway, “The
kids have been ecstatic for [it].” Parents and
children are often anxious to stay involved, but
the program caps participation at two semesters.
“This is not a Royal Conservatory sort of thing.
We want to provide that introduction, and really
spark that creative interest, for them to say, 'I
want to be a drummer' or 'I want to be in arts.'
But moving forward, who knows?” While most
high schools provide instruments to their
students, the old-saw of “slashed arts funding”
has put many elementary school music programs
at the kind of disadvantage that begs for
programs and resources like this one. ”

http://www.eyeweekly.com/torontonotes/article/47700


“With arts groups now minus millions of dollars
in federal funding, it’s getting harder and harder
for Canadian kids to get a shot at a bright
musical future. Yet funding or no funding, a new
youth music workshop is hoping to change all
that. Dubbed Outside the Box, the recently
launched program is now offering kids between
seven and 13 free music classes in Toronto and is
hoping to go national by 2010. ”

http://exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=127&csid2=844&fid1=34952


“When mom works two jobs and dad is never
around, what’s a kid to do? This was the question
hip-hop artist Sway faced as a child growing up
in Toronto’s Malvern suburb. But, when he
picked up a guitar, he says it completely changed
his life.

Now, he’s hoping to help inspire kids do the
same, keeping them off the street and filling a
void left by music classes in schools.

“If I can get a kid off the street for an hour or
two a week, at least it’s an hour when they’re
going to be putting their mind to something
productive,” he says. ”

http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/Work/article/125768


SWAY – Founder, President of KUPE Arts Society
OTB was conceived by Sway in an attempt to provide children with an opportunity to learn music and engage in social activity. The need for a
free social program was obvious and the relief that it provided parents in addition to the exciting learning process provided for the kids has
become a reality. Sway continues to see bigger things for Outside The Box and is currently building opportunities that may allow this program
to be offered nationally in 2010.

Sway is a musician, entertainer, journalist, host and public servant. He has that star-powered charisma that is often described as "it" and
remains distinct among the generation of new multitalented, multi-media personalities. His passion and dedication to the program will
continue to fuel the people around him as OTB and KUPE Arts continue to grow.

JAREL COCKBURN – Founder, Treasurer of KUPE Arts Society
Partner at a financial advisory firm and a native of Toronto, Jarel serves as Communications Manager and Treasurer for KUPE Arts Society, the
non-profit that provides the Outside the Box program. Jarel brings over 10 years of financial and corporate development and strategic
experience to the organization.

Jarel joined the OTB team early in 2009 to assist in the development of the Outside the Box program and build out the entity around the
program – KUPE Arts. Jarel works closely with Brent and Sway on the organization and strategic matters for the organization.

ALICIA MATHLIN – Communications Director of KUPE Arts Society
Alicia serves as Communications Director for KUPE Arts Society {KUPE}. Alicia brings over 10 years of sales and marketing experience to the
organization. Alicia joined the KUPE team in 2009 to assist in the development and marketing of the non-profit organization and its flagship
program Outside The Box. Alicia is responsible for all communications and along with Sway, is the liaison for the organization to media and
the public.

EKOW NIMAKO – Operations Manager of KUPE Arts Society
Aside from being the Operations Manager and drum instructor for KUPE’s Outside The Box program, Ekow Nimako is also the lead emcee in
the progressive hip-hop band The Subnodes. He spends his days as a full-time student at York University, pursuing a BFA Honors degree in
Visual Arts and specializes in drawing and sculpture.


ABOUT OUTSIDE THE BOX: A program provided for free to children ages 7-13. Hosted at the Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre in
Parkdale Toronto.
MISSION: To improve opportunity for children to connect with music and art in their education, communities and
homes and to connect professional artists with children in an effort to make musical education enjoyable.
VENUE: Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre in Parkdale
# OF KIDS PARTICIPATED: 140+
SEMESTERS : Spring (April to June) and Fall (October to December)
LENGTH OF SEMESTER: 8 weeks
ARTISTS INVOLVED: Feist, Metric, Lights, Treasa Levasseur, Morning Electric, The Carps, Mike Celia, Macro Fiesta and more
TEAM : Sway, Jarel Cockburn, Alicia Mathlin, Ekow Nimako
WEBSITES: http://www.kupearts.org
CONTACT INFORMATION: jarel@kupearts.org


KUPE Needs A New Home - TDSB & KUPE Partnership

Recommandé

Recommandé

Contenu connexe

Similaire à KUPE Needs A New Home - TDSB & KUPE Partnership

Similaire à KUPE Needs A New Home - TDSB & KUPE Partnership (20)

KUPE Needs A New Home - TDSB & KUPE Partnership