About Us
Our Mission
We create safe and inclusive spaces for youth and emerging artists to express themselves in a positive way. Through our Edutainment methodology, we empower performance artists to create meaningful art rooted in self knowledge and self expression. We believe art has the power to transform the lives of many youth we often see lost to the system and its streets.
Our programs provide youth with platforms to perform, learn and develop leadership skills. Our model encourages youth to dive deep into their stories while using art as a cathartic practice to explore their vulnerability and create room to best deal with their mental health.
We believe safe platforms encourage self-expression and self reflection. In many cases it is an opportunity for youth to experience the power of community healing through art and vulnerability.
We also provide a stage and platform for emerging artists to practice and perform at a professional level. We continue to create opportunities for these artists to develop skills, acquire resources and build their networks. Our goal continues to be to bridge the gap between emerging and professional artists.
Awards
2018
Toronto Arts Foundation - Mayor's Youth Arts Award
2017
Toronto Arts Foundation - Mayor's Youth Arts Award Finalist
2016
Toronto Foundation - Vital Ideas Harmony Movement - Harmony Award
2015
Toronto Foundation - Vital Youth CBC Metro Morning - Torontonian of the Year (Randell Adjei)
2014
Upon A Star Books - Community Impact Award
2013
City of Toronto - Identify N Impact Award
History and Accomplishments
In our 10th year of operations, RISE continues to grow exponentially each week. Through Covid-19 we have still been able to remain consistent, and make a big impact on thousands of youth and the community-arts sector across the city. To date; we’ve organized over 500 events, including our 46 Monday nights each year, (now virtual) gathering over 28,000 recorded attendants.
In our 7th year of operations, RISE continues to grow exponentially each week. Our consistency has made a big impact on thousands of youth and the community-arts sector across the city. To date; we’ve organized just over 400 events, including our 46 Monday nights each year, gathering over 28,000 recorded attendants.
In 2018, we were invited to create a live event installation for Scarborough’s first ever Nuit Blanche. It was a massive success with over 2000 attendees throughout the night. We also partnered with the City of Toronto’s Arts Services to create our very first film titled, ‘Within’. The film documents the lived experiences of people who grew up and or live in Scarborough. It premiered at Scarborough Cineplex with over 500 patrons.
In 2016, we received the 'Vital Ideas' Award following our ‘Vital Youth Award’ in 2015 from the Toronto Foundation. We received one year funding from Youth Opportunity Fund (OTF) to support our Monday Nights, which then followed with 3 year funding from OTF to expand into a new location and support our other initiatives.
We’ve also received The 'Harmony Award' from Harmony Movement, and the Agents of Change award from the Centre for Social Innovation. Randell Adjei (founder of RISE) was nominated for Torontonian of the Year in 2015 by CBC. RISE also partnered with the AGO to deliver a weekly Friday Night Show in the month of September ‘16. We also piloted three RISE (Multi-media & behavioural management) programs in partnership with the TDSB In Two Junior Public schools and one high school that will resume in the 2017-2018 school year.
In 2014/2015’s fiscal year, RISE partnered with various organizations. The lists includes; UNITY Charity, Vibe Arts, Manifesto Toronto, The Toronto Youth Equity Strategy and PAN AM Games to provide the community with socially engaging opportunities.
RISE partnered the City of Toronto Economic Development to initiate and execute the Equity Strategies Planning. We assist TYES & Toronto Police Services (TPS) in developing and engaging youth under Pre-Charge Diversion programming. This initiative has recently successfully gained multi-level government funding to be expanded throughout four quadrants of the city.
We worked with the Pan Am Games to assist with the Youth Summit, providing workshops for 35 youth leaders recognized by Pan Am. RISE has also received the Street Level Advocate Award from the City of Toronto, the ‘Identify and Impact’ Award from the City of Toronto, the Yinnergy Award from Malvern for exemplary Youth Leadership.
Our Programs and Activities
RISE Monday’s
RISE Edutainment provides youth with opportunities to express their creative voice, develop innovative leadership skills, while enriching professional artistic practice. Every Monday, RISE organizes a showcase inside the Burrows Hall Community Centre. As our primary program, it draws youth from across the GTA, due to its popularity. We are currently expanding our programming to the west-end of Toronto. Each Monday RISE attracts 80-125+ artists and art lovers of all art forms, youth and activists across the GTA. With a huge surge in untapped talent, RISE quickly experienced a need to help emerging artists reach new levels of artistry.
Frequency Fridayz
Starting in 2020, with help from the City of Toronto Culture Division, Ontario Arts Council, Red Cross and Toronto Arts Council, every last Friday of the month RISE hosts a “Frequency Fridayz” Showcase. Showcasing the abundance of talent the city has to offer, each show is curated, and live streamed to an audience virtually on our Youtube Channel.
Edutainment Convention
With help from the City of Toronto Culture Division (2013), RISE established its annual ‘Edutainment Convention’ aimed to enhance access to resources for underprivileged youth artists; essentially “bridging the gap between emerging and professional artists”. This 3-day convention consisted of full-day emerging artist discussion panels, artist workshops, mentorship with industry professionals and Q&A sessions with granting officers. In 2016 we changed our model and focused the program as an intensive weekend retreat to enhance and encourage intimate learning and collaboration.
Artist Development Workshops
On top of our Edutainment Convention, RISE continues to positively influence youth through our workshops in schools, community centers and libraries. Our workshops encompass values of confidence, community building, and self- expression in the name of healing. Activities include skill building in the areas of character building, writing various forms of poetry, enhancing stage presence and live performance. After several community consultations where we learned that there was interest from our stakeholders to learn skills outside of the arts, we began incorporating health and nutritional vegan cooking classes along with financial investment program. All programs are meant to help the individual grow holistically with their community.
416RISE
Each year since our inception, we have hosted our annual ‘416RISE’ celebration, with the purpose of spreading awareness of the power of community and Edutainment. 416RISE is a culminating event that includes outstanding artists and youth that have enriched their craft through the participation in RISE programs throughout the year. It is also our way to help bridge the gap between emerging and professional artists, providing a larger platform. From 2014 to 2018 we’ve hosted the event within the ‘Ada Slaight Hall’, in 2019 we will be hosting the event inside the Sugar Hall at Artscape launchpad.