Literature for Life’s International Women’s Day Celebration is 1 Night Away!
Friends and Supporters of Literature for Life!
The time has come to celebrate International Women’s Day with us during The Opening Night Party of our “Voice” art exhibit!
Tomorrow night, March 7th, 2012 from 7-11pm at Steam Whistle Gallery you will not only have the opportunity to view our mixed media art exhibit that has been fused with the spoken word poetry of our programming participants.
In addition to the art, other event features will include live spoken word poetry readings from Literature for Life’s publication “Holla! “; a collection of poetry written by program participants AND a screening of “Women with Wordz” a documentary by Anna Piszczkiewicz about our missions, visions and values and the unique reading circles we facilitate with teenage mothers in the GTA, empowering them to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Take a minute to view the “Women with Wordz” documentary trailer:
“Holla” Anthologies will be on sale for $10 and each attendee will receive a FREE Literature for Life bookmark.
Dress Code: Casual
Admission: FREE with complimentary hors d’oeuvres. All ages are welcome. Donations will be accepted.
Address: Steam Whistle Brewing, The Roundhouse, 255 Bremner Blvd. Toronto, ON
Event links:
Literature for Life: www.literatureforlife.org
Women with Wordz: http://womenzwordz.wordpress.com
Steam Whistle Event Page: www.steamwhistle.ca/events/eventdetail.php?id=646
Women’s Words Give ‘Voice’ to International Women’s Day Art Exhibition
The exhibit is a collaboration of two groups of artists exploring women’s issues in theme with the International Women’s Day (held annually in March).
The Opening Night Party on Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 from 7-11pm at Steam Whistle Gallery will feature spoken word poetry readings from Literature for Life program participants AND a screening of “Women with Words” a documentary by Anna Piszczkiewicz about charity Literature for Life, and the unique reading circles they facilitate with teenage mothers in the GTA, empowering them to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Literature for Life’s exhibit entitled, “Voices” explores the complicated journey towards women finding their voice in modern times. In this exhibit, women have found a means of expressing their voices, their unique identities, and the many challenging and exciting moments that surround them.
The mixed media presentation is a fusion of art, photography and poetry, speaking to the journey of women, as they move from uncertain and questioning tones of voice, to a war cry in the fight for justice; and all of the voices in between.
The poetry is from an anthology entitled “Holla!’ created by the young mothers who participate in Literature for Life’s Women’s Words Reading Circle groups. The photos and artwork are contributed by many women who are connected with Literature for Life as volunteers, supporters and program participants.
The exhibition entitled Exposed: The Female Perspective highlights female artists of this generation, who are representative of the art movement today. This work shares a common focus by commenting on contemporary art as whole through the female perspective while, emphasizing the significance of process. Putting their most intimate selves on display this group of female artists explore their inner most thoughts, feelings and desires while creating a statement on societal expectations in an unedited and paradoxical movement. The audience is invited to define their own interpretation of these works. (more…)
2011 Black White & Read All Over Gala – Tickets on Sale Now!
Words of Support from Terry O’Reilly
A Celebration of The Unleashing of Intellectual Potential
Hosted by Jemeni
Support the unleashing of intellectual potential within marginalized, young mothers and purchase a ticket to
Literature for Life’s Black White & Read All Over Fundraising Gala!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 6:30 – 9:00
RBC Plaza 200 Bay St. 40th Floor.
South Tower, Toronto, ON M5J 1E3
On Wednesday, October 26th, 2011, Literature for Life stages its premier fundraising gala, Black White & Read All Over, celebrating 11 years of unleashing intellectual potential.
Now in its third year, Black White & Read All Over will feature a keynote address by Julian Falconer, “The Power of Narrative: Telling the Story of David” .
Julian Falconer will serve as the keynote speaker for Black White & Read All Over 2011
In 2010, Falconer was noted by Canadian Lawyer Magazine as one of the top 25 Canadian Lawyers. The legal trade magazine wrote that Julian Falconer, “Deserves a spot high on any list of the country’s top advocates.”
A major component of Julian’s work has involved advocacy in human rights and public interest litigation. Born and raised in a small rural town in Quebec and being the son of a black Jamaican father and a white Jewish mother from Poland, Julian learned first-hand about issues of race in society.
Julian was selected as one of University of Toronto’s 100 most notable graduates of the twentieth century, and is a recipient of the Alumni Honour Award from the University of Alberta for Community Contribution. In May 2007, Julian was appointed by the Toronto District School Board to chair an independent inquiry into the safety of students across the school system. The School Safety Panel’s work resulted in a five volume report entitled “The Road to Health” which represents the most comprehensive review of youth and safety issues delivered on the Ontario school system.
Buy tickets now: Black White & Read All Over – October 26th, 2011
Tickets are on sale for $100. A tax receipt will be issued for 50% of the ticket price. (more…)
Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon
On October 16, 2011, join Team Literature for Life at the annual Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and help our staff, program participants and supporters raise $15,000 toward our vital programming!
100% of funds raised will go towards Literature for Life programming. Here’s how you can help!
TO RUN
1. CHOOSE YOUR RUN. Visit this page to register online, and choose from the following options.
- The Marathon (starts at 9:00 AM and is 42.195 km)
- The Half Marathon (starts at 9:00 AM and is 21.0975 km)
- The 5K (starts at 12:30 PM)
2. REGISTER. Complete the form, selecting “Literature for Life” in the “Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge” menu, and create a username and password for your online fundraising account. Once you’ve reached a minimum of $100 in donations, we will waive your registration fee.
3. JOIN OUR TEAM. Click on “Team” at the top of your fundraising page, and click “Join a Team” in the left-hand menu. Search for “Team Literature for Life” and click to join.
4. RAISE FUNDS. You can customize your fundraising page, and you can email friends and family to invite them to sponsor you.
5. STAY MOTIVATED! We’ll email you with fundraising tips, event details, and stories about our organization. We’re also here to answer any questions you may have.
TO SPONSOR
Visit your favourite team member’s fundraising page and make a donation online! We’ll post the links to our runners on our website and Facebook event listing. You can also sponsor Literature for Life by visiting our team page (link to come).
For more information, see our event page on Facebook, or please contact Team Literature for Life Committee Chair Matt Blair at 416-457-9031 or mblair@literatureforlife.org.
Fundraiser Dj’d by Juno- Award- winning artist K-os raises $21 000 to Facilitate Literature for Life Reading Circles
Photos courtesy of Ryan Emberley for www.thecdaily.com, Spiro Mandylor for www.itsallstyletome.com, and Melissa Curry
Over 500 patrons gathered at the spa-inspired venue C Lounge on July 28th, 2011 for “Words;” a fundraiser celebrating the power of words and literature presented by Kobo and Hamilton Watches to benefit Toronto charity Literature for Life.
Hosted by Literature for Life, Lauren Shirreffs, and The Gingerich Group, the evening featured a lineup of crowd favorites including spoken word poetry by Dwayne Morgan and Jelani “Jwyze” Nias, and live music by Andria Symaniw, Mike Celia and Don Cash.
All performances were introduced by CBC News Toronto co-host, Dwight Drummond and were followed by the highly anticipated dj set orchestrated by Juno Award- winning artist K-os.
Drummond answered the call for his support by saying “Literacy and a single mom played very important roles in my life, so I’ll be there.” Co-host Anne-Marie Mediwake also took to the stage to lend support for the cause.
Named as one of the weekends can’t miss events in NOW Magazines Big 3, the long- weekend, bbq themed party with a purpose, accessorized with cotton – candy and popcorn machines, a photo booth, rose petals, tea lights and cupcakes raised $21, 000 with popular installations that included, a silent auction, raffle and live fashion art sketches by acclaimed fine artist Becky Dileo.
All proceeds will go towards Literature for Life’s unique reading circle programming that unleashes the intellectual potential of marginalized young mothers by helping them discover the joys and benefits of reading and learning.
For pictures of the WORDS event including the red carpet check out the Events section of LiteratureforLife.org
Stay tuned for more pictures and footage from WORDS and dont forget to join our Facebook page!
For more information please contact: Tamara Shelly, 416 203 9830 x 2 tshelly@literatureforlife.org
Spider’s Web launch in the news!
Lit for Life's Jo Altilia in the ring.
Spider Jones’ Youth Empowerment Initiative launched in the Chalkfarm neighbourhood last week, and Literature for Life was proud to be there along with him inside the ring. The launch was covered by The Toronto Star and CTV.
More from The Toronto Star:
“…in addition to basketball, Jones’ initiative will seek to provide youth with other activities like boxing, broadcast skills and literacy programs that encourage children to learn.
The Youth Empowerment Initiative is a pilot program that will also provide youth in Ward 7 with computer training and other mentoring programs. It has already helped provide the Chalkfarm neighbourhood with a swimming pool and a community centre.
Other organizations involved include Doorsteps Neighbourhood Services, Greenwin Inc., TD and Literature for Life.
For Jones, the desire to empower youth comes from personal experience. In 2006, he told the Toronto Star how fearful he was as a young kid, and called low self-esteem the “number 1 predator of our children today.”
“It steals your confidence away. It steals your joy. It steals your aspirations. It fills you with self-hatred. It fills you with doubt,” he said.”
The beginning of a new paradigm for Toronto’s most vulnerable communities
From news release: On Thursday June 23 at 12:00PM, Spider Jones and his Believe to Achieve Organization join TD, Greenwin Inc., Doorsteps Neighbourhood Services and Literature for Life to launch Spider’s Web Youth Empowerment Initiative, and a community basketball court sponsored by TD.
This pilot project, headquartered at 160 Chalkfarm Drive in Toronto with day to day operation being supervised by Doorsteps Neighbourhood Services, will offer underserved youth in Ward 7 a safe haven where they can learn the skills necessary to overcoming adversity through boxing, computer training and mentoring. Literature for Life will provide a literacy program encouraging children to read and participate in learning.
Motivational speaker/journalist, Spider “Chuck” Jones will be joined by a TD representative, as well as Kevin Green, President of Greenwin Inc. and Ward 7 City Councillor, Giorgio Mammoliti to launch the initiative, which will ultimately cater to all Ward 7 youth.
“We need to engage our children in these turbulent times and teach them how to make the right choices and deal with peer pressure,” says Jones. “Education is the liberator of all. It’s not where you come from in life; it’s where you’re going that counts.”
Adds Councillor Mammoliti: “This is a great example of how the private sector has stepped up to the plate to support a community in need. My vision for the future of the community I represent and neighbourhoods throughout our city is to have the public and private sector work together to deliver these types of programs in underserviced areas.”
“With the swimming pool, community centre and now, the basketball court, literacy and mentorship program, this site has become a community hub,” says Green. “That’s been the goal from the start.”
“Literature for Life is pleased to be involved with Greenwin properties, TD Bank, The Spider Jones Believe to Achieve Foundation and Doorsteps Community Services to support the literacy component of this project. Each partner brings a unique piece to the project and together we are working to keep the community engaged in positive social change.” says Jo Altilia, Founder and Executive Director of Literature for Life.
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A note from Literature for Life: This new private and public sector partnership has evolved to change a community. Chalkfarm is notorious for being in need of social change as captured in an article published by the Toronto Star in the Winter of 2011. This partnership is the beginning of a new paradigm for Toronto’s most vulnerable communities!
This partnership is interesting as the current political climate has highlighted the need for such collaborations with recent discussions of privatization and the need for social change to curb violence among the youth. The positive social impacts are numerous.
Another noteworthy aspect is the value of education outside of the classroom that is promoted within this initiative.
Literature for Life, will conduct the literacy programming within this partnership using their unique reading circles that often includes Hip-Hop literature by authors Tracy Brown (White Lines) and Sister Souljah (The Coldest Winter Ever, Midnight).
With an office located within the Centre of Social Innovation , Executive Director, Jo Altilia is aware of the positive social outcomes when public and private sectors work together. Partnerships with book publishers has enabled the Toronto-based charity to sucessfully promote the benefits of reading and literacy to marginalized individuals and communities using literature as a tool to break the cycle of poverty.
A Gingerich Group Shop Night in support of Literature for Life
To kick start a slew of Shop Nights for our friends, family and clients this summer, we would like to invite you to our very first Shop Night with Gingerich Group!!
With many participating brands catering to the special woman and/or mother in your life, you are sure to walk away with something perfect, unique and fashionable.
There will be fabulous door prizes, yummy treats and of course… something bubbly to sip on (of course!).
And a percentage of sales goes to Literature for Life!
VENDORS TO BE ANNOUNCED
Address: 545 King Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 1M1
Phone: 416.686.7321
545 King Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 1M1
About Shop Nights with GG: The Gingerich Group combines exceptional service, premium brands, and innovative thinking to present a unique package to our valued clientele. More than just an agency, Gingerich Group adds value by collaborating, styling, merchandising and creatively seeking the newest and best for our client base.
The Gingerich Group also offers creative services to better serve our valued clients: event planning, corporate copy, social media.
Email: lauren@gingerich.ca