I am..

I am an individual.
I respect people's decisions and life choices.
I honestly don't like to judge people.
I am proud of how far I've come. 
I am not afraid of falling because I could pick myself up.
I am an honest person.
I honor. 
I live.
I question the society we live in.
I live. 
I speak the truth even though it hurts others.
I envision a world where there's no judgement and we truly respect ourselves and others. 
I believe that we could make a change in this world. 
I am. 
I am powerful because I've been weak before. 
I am most grateful for my life on this Earth. 
I am deeply connected with others. 
I am an individual. 
                    -Anonymous NYT Participant 2016


S/O to Mahlikah Aweri from RED SLAM COLLECTIVE for her spoken word workshop at NewYouthToronto over the March Break. Very powerful woman. Her visit led to such inspiring words, writing and sharing from the youth. Thank you.

More about Red Slam Collective: Red Slam is an indigenous hip hop fusion arts movement formed in 2009 and based in Toronto; whose 4 Directions Urban Arts engagement and musical projects uplift, self-identify and promote unity through Spoken, Lyricism which Arranges Meaning (SLAM). Comprised of medicine wheel Poets, MC's, Musicians, Dancers, Graf Writers and Beat Makers they represent indigenous nation affiliations across Turtle Island and Internationally. This Collective engages children and youth; along with inter-generational native and non-native communities from coast to coast; like sweet grass interconnecting Indigenous teachings and social justice issues with the expressive activism of Hip Hop Culture. Thoughts about art and community: Toronto "The Meeting Place" brings together diverse people and artistic forms of expression. At the core and sometimes forgotten is the indigenous foundations to art in an urban setting. Art and community for us is about honoring the artistic traditions of the Anishnawbe, Mississauga, and Haudenonshaunee of this region through a youthful contemporary artistic context. As indigenous urban artists we want to build a new scene which is inspired by the shared visions of community mobilization between diverse and indigenous youth across the city.