JUST LIKE ME: A SUMMER MIXTAPE
Just Like Me: A Summer Mixtape is a one act musical with original music, poetry, movement and text that explores the impacts of gentrification on a community. Devised with the creative and brilliant youth from Soulpepper’s Summer Mixtape program (2022).
Supported by Soulpepper Theatre and Lifelong Leadership Institute.
FREE UP!
Founded by Ngozi Paul, Khadijah Salawu and L’Oqenz in 2017 as a way to celebrate and bring awareness to Emancipation Day, FreeUp! was first presented as a Toronto open-mic event. It has since grown into a platform featuring young changemakers and brilliant Black, Indigenous and Racialized artists performing music, poetry, theatrical monologues and dance, exploring the meaning of freedom.
Khadijah has served as the Artistic Director, co-producer and is a co-founder of FreeUp! - an annual nation-wide youth-led Emancipation Day celebration, wherein the CBC Gem Emancipation Day 2020 Special received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Performing Arts Program at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards.
PEELEE ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL MYSTERIES
Created with the youth of St. James Town Community Arts, Pelee Island Middle School Mysteries is a Canadian improv-based mockumentary web series.
“Nestled at the southernmost point of Canada, Pelee Island Middle School on paper seems like any other school; teachers teach, students study and hall monitors roam the halls when class is in session.
But everything is not as it seems.
There’s an untuned piano whose sounds haunt the school. A lightbulb that hasn’t burned out in over 120 years. A leak that won’t stop leaking. A portrait of a lady whose eyes follow you. And a book that holds the knowledge of everything.
The students of the school take matters into their own hands to unravel the mysteries that haunt the hallways and unearth the secrets that darken the town's streets.”
AIN’T I A WOMAN | I AM A MAN
Ain't I A Woman - I Am A Man recounts history, family, celebration, hope, trauma, desire and love within the soul and body of Black people through their visual and poetic work. The intimate exhibition highlighted the voices and perspectives of the youth experience in the African diaspora in Toronto. Curated at Design Exchange.
LOST IN TRANSLATION
A multi-disciplinary performance and gallery event that explored the diaspora experience of youth in Toronto.
Diaspora is the scattering of people from their homeland. Featured performances and work by emerging artists. An evening of music, art, poetry and discourse as we crossed borders together.
RUN REGENT
Run Regent is a health and wellness initiative I created to promote community and healthy living. A running group based in Regent Park. Regent Park was the only downtown neighborhood without a group. Fueled by the ethos that community comes first, Run Regent promotes healthy lifestyle, sustainability, and innovative culture. We connect with local initiatives for tours and community activation such as the Broadview Hotel, Ryerson Image Centre, East Room and Nike.
The African Diaspora Literature and Performance Toolkit
“The African Diaspora Literature and Performance Toolkit" is an online adaptable list of resources that provides examples about African diaspora performing arts and literature with a focus in African-Canadian creation. It is designed to be used by high school english and drama teachers in their classrooms but we invite the public to engage with the resource.
FREEUP! FREEDOM PORTRAITS
Freedom Portraits are intimate interviews on the subject of freedom with artists, community leaders and young changemakers – shoulder programming for Free Up!
Cinematography by Helen Nguyen and Haley Ma.
Edited by Haley Ma.
Music by NON.
