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Beyond 3:30 Mural Program
Toronto CREW has partnered with a new program called Beyond 3:30. Beyond 3:30 is designed to provide a free, safe and stimulating place for middle school students (Grades 7, 8, 9) to gather on school nights between the hours of 3:30 and 7:30 p.m., allowing them to engage in quality after-school programming such as dance, visual arts, sports, and culinary classes.
Through the sole support of the Toronto CREW Foundation, Arts for Children and Youth was hired in eight schools from challenged neighbourhoods to work with the students in the creation of a permanently installed large-scale mural that engages young people in educational and skill-building activities. The artist is female and the registrants are typically about 75% female; the focus of the program is on public art, architecture and education (as they discuss how the mural's design and location will affect the traffic flow, attitudes). Each program also includes visits from a female architect who discusses gender issues related to the arts, artistic placement, real estate and structural concerns from the perspective of an architect.
Students in some of Toronto's most challenged neighbourhoods now have access to participate in the arts and a chance to express themselves. More than an after-school program, Beyond 3:30 is levelling the playing field and providing opportunities to many Toronto youth!
Beyond 3:30 is an innovative collaboration led by the Toronto Community Foundation, Toronto District School Board's Model Schools for Inner Cities initiative, and Toronto Foundation for Student Success.
Learn more about early successes of the program with the Beyond 3:30 mid-term report HERE.
Habitat for Humanity’s “Habitat University” is helping low-income women learn construction skills to prepare them for jobs in the home-building industry. Funds raised at this year’s Annual Toronto CREW Golf Classic will be used to support Toronto Habitat for Humanity’s “Habitat University CREW Leader” training program, which will train women to acquire construction and building skills. The charity is being supported over three years totalling a $75,000 commitment by Toronto CREW. Habitat University feeds into Habitat’s Women’s Build Program: helping people living in poverty to learn hands-on skills so they can gain employment in the construction and home-building industry.
About the Toronto CREW Foundation
In 2006, the Toronto CREW Foundation was established by a formal agreement with the Toronto Community Foundation when Toronto CREW decided it wanted to increase the impact of its existing outreach activities. By teaming up with the Community Foundation, Toronto CREW is better able to connect their philanthropic goals with specific community needs. The strategic priorities of the Toronto CREW Foundation are to support the advancement of women in real estate and business, and the advancement of women’s issues and education.
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