In the coming year, we are focused on continuing to meet the evolving needs of our students as the pandemic continues. While plans continue to evolve, here are three of the projects we’re most excited about:
New & Improved
Culinary Arts
Programming
We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Recipe Unlimited that will bring new culinary arts programming to children and youth. Working closely with professional chefs, students will have the chance to explore creating and sharing meals as an act of creative self-expression, identity and community building, while building essential life-skills and healthier habits. We’re excited to launch our first workshops in the winter of 2020.
Measuring Impact
Launching a Refreshed
Evaluation Framework
This fall, we’ll deploy a refreshed suite of evaluation tools to meaningfully measure and demonstrate the impact of all of our programs. Designed by youth programming evaluation experts, we are confident this enhanced process collects and analyzes data in an accessible, relevant, and respectful way to the students and families we serve. This robust and multipronged approach will ensure we can continuously improve programs, identify areas for growth and accurately report on the power of our work.
Expansion of
our First Roots
Programming
Thanks to the generosity of Novo Nordisk and Recipe Unlimited, we are expanding our First Roots Programming from one week to 7 months of programming, focused on building wellness through youth leadership.
With COVID-19 restricting our physical presence in our partner communities, Attawapiskat First Nation and Webequie First Nation, we’ve developed a new program delivery model to ensure service. We’ll use a mix of mailed resource kits, video support and in-community facilitation from DAREarts alumni and partner community members and educators to learn with students this year.
Working in this innovative and collaborative way, young people will have the chance to learn with DAREarts throughout the school year. Each month, they’ll participate in a workshop led remotely by a mix of Indigenous and Settler artists that explore the Seven Grandfather Teachings and grow habits for maintaining good physical, emotional, spiritual and mental health.
Students and community members will also build and care for indoor gardens throughout the year, a new addition to the program that builds on previous growing activities that were a huge hit with students. These gardens will increase supply to fresh foods used in healthy eating workshops and serve as a hands-on learning and connection building tool for core leadership skill development and deepening knowledge of cultural traditions.
