Arts for Change Showcase invites Peel to Celebrate Community

MISSISSAUGA – ACCESS is excited to announce this year’s Arts for Change Showcase taking place on Saturday, July 14, 2012. The Showcase will be an afternoon full of inspirational performers, stimulating artistry, networking and community-building. With the support of the Youth in Action Grant from the United Way of Peel Region and the Region of Peel, administered by Rapport Youth and Family Services, the Showcase will take place at the Gateway Centre for New Canadians (3450 Wolfedale Road, Mississauga) from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.

Through this Showcase, ACCESS strives to inspire youth to work towards change in their communities through expression using a variety of artistic mediums such as music, dance, visual arts, spoken-word.

The theme of Arts for Change is Celebrate Community. Change begins in our own backyards; this year we have decided to celebrate the youth, the organizations and the community that make change possible. Arts for Change aims to reach out to our very own neighborhoods to fill the afternoon with opportunities to network with local youth leaders; expressing themselves through artistry.

Tickets for the show are now available at ArtsForChange.ca. ACCESS' Community Outreach & Communications Coordinator, Aminah Haghighi, stated:

“There are so many great organizations in our community that target the same demographic; youth leaders looking to make a positive change. Events like these substitute collaboration for competition. Arts for Change is a great venue for organizations to work together to support youth.”

The Youth in Action Grant is an opportunity focused on youth-led projects that offer creative youth-initiated ideas to address community issues in Peel Region, awarded by United Way’s Young Leaders Council. ACCESS is excited to use this opportunity to enhance its Arts for Change Showcase.

Through this celebration of community, ACCESS is proud to announce that all proceeds from Arts for Change will be invested back into our first ever "Youth Making a Difference Award" and ACCESS' local youth programming.

Tickets for groups and individuals are available for purchase at ArtsForChange.ca.

About ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. ACCESS is a youth-run, non-profit organization that facilitates education and empathetic leadership development through initiatives that engage, inspire, and motivate youth to drive positive change, locally and globally. ACCESS envisions the empowerment of generations of leaders through education in order to inspire meaningful development in their own communities.

Sponsorship Inquiries: Mark Llanes, Director of Finance | mark@accesscharity.ca Media Inquiries: Aminah Haghighi, Outreach & Communications | mina@accesscharity.ca

Youth in Action grant will allow Peel youth to use Arts for Change

ACCESS has received a Youth in Action Grant from the United Way of Peel Region and Region of Peel to host the Arts for Change Talent Show. Annually the Youth in Action Grant is awarded to recognize youth in Peel between ages 14 and 24 that are making a positive impact in their community through various projects. This marks the third consecutive year that these grants have been awarded; in 2010 ACCESS received the grant for its Youth Making a Difference Workshop.

“It is great to see so many youth making a difference in their community,” says Amanda Bordonaro, Co-Chair of the Youth in Action Review Panel and Executive Member of United Way’s Young Leaders Council. “All of the grant recipients have demonstrated tremendous leadership and it is important that we recognize and nurture their achievements. The youth are the future leaders of Peel Region. It is an amazing feeling to know that there are so many young people dedicated to making a positive impact in the region.”

The grant in the amount of $2000 will fund this year's Arts for Change Talent Show, with proceeds going towards local ACCESS projects. The community partner selected to administer the grant with ACCESS is Rapport Youth & Family Services.

The program was developed by United Way of Peel Region’s Young Leaders Council, a group of volunteers between the ages of 20-35 years old who are committed to creating a legacy of volunteerism and spirited giving within the Peel Region.

Details on the 2012 spring Arts for Change Talent Show will be announced in the coming months. For more information on ACCESS' local projects, visit the Youth Programming page and check accesscharity.ca/artsforchange for show updates.

About ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. ACCESS is a youth-run organization aiming to provide needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies, enabling them with the opportunity to obtain an education for a successful life. ACCESS also aims to educate North American youth about related world issues, and to inspire them to make a difference globally. More information about ACCESS is available here.

Media Inquires: info@accesscharity.ca | 647-893-7504 Partnership or Sponsorship: mark@accesscharity.ca Talent Show + Youth Programs: ann@accesscharity.ca