Nia - African-Canadian Arts and Culture Centre of Excellence

YCF convened a group of youth, artists and community leaders to form an interim board of directors that will lead the creation of Nia, an innovative arts and culture centre to be located in one of the city’s 13 priority neighbourhoods. With fifth-round YCF funding, Nia will begin the development phase of establishing the facility, which will focus on education, self-determination, self-identity and community development for youth, with a particular focus on youth who are racialized and vulnerable to involvement with the criminal justice system in Toronto’s most underserved communities. Nia’s vision is to empower young people to use the arts as a means to engage in social change.