Our Programs | Unity Charity Youth Empowerment

Schedule

Unity offers both drop-in and registered programs for youth ages 13-29, online and in cities across Canada. All of our programs are completely free!

Hybrid

Jan

—

May

Multiday

The Source - Halifax

All

All Levels

Halifax

Virtual

Drop in

Oct

—

Feb

Thursday

Unity Hub Sessions

All

All Levels

Halifax

Drop in

Oct

—

Dec

Wednesday

BOSSY BOOTCAMP

Dance

All Levels

Toronto

Drop in

Oct

—

Dec

Friday

Open Jam Collective Popping: Get that work!

Dance

All Levels

Toronto

Hybrid

Oct

—

Jan

Saturday + Tuesday

Toronto Collective x Unity Graffiti Program

Graffiti

All Levels

Toronto

Online

Oct

—

Dec

Tuesday

Spoken-word Poetry

Spoken Word

All Levels

Virtual

Toronto

Unity Weeks and Workshops in Schools, Annual Unity Festival

The Inspire Program offers free, educational, short-term initiatives, performances, events, and workshops that inform young audiences about Hip Hop art forms and their power to positively express stress and anxiety.

Engage

Weekly Drop-in and Registered Programs Online and in Community Spaces

Unity’s ENGAGE Programs are high impact, weekly ‘Hip Hop meets mental health’ workshop series where participants learn historical and technical elements of Hip Hop art forms, while building transferable skills, creating relationships, and accessing resources that help improve overall resilience. Unity delivers these programs in partnership with over 30 community organizations across Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Manitoba.

Empower

Unity Artist Facilitators, Unity Artist Network, Volunteers

Unity seeks to EMPOWER youth and young Hip Hop artists by providing employment, professional development, volunteer and leadership opportunities to further support their personal, creative, and economic development. Unity’s primary EMPOWER opportunity is our Artist Facilitator roster, a front-line team of Hip Hop artists from Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba that deliver all of our INSPIRE and ENGAGE programs across Canada, with many Artists recruited from Unity’s ENGAGE programs.

Our Impact

From 2019-22

25000

+

Youth were inspired through Unity Weeks and the annual Unity Fest

72 %

Of youth learned positive ways to express their stress

63 %

Of youth gained an interest in exploring Hip Hop art forms, events and programs

67 %

Of youth became more aware of the community, mental health, arts-based and wellness resources available to them

6463

+

Youth accessed free, weekly Hip Hop meets mental health programming

87 %

Of participants on average gained protective factors and employability skills

96 %

Of youth on average reported that the programs fostered inclusive spaces

96 %

Of youth on average reported improved resilience

60 +

Artists annually gained creative, business, mentorship & facilitation skills

86 %

Of emerging hip hop artists on Unity’s Roster reported developing peer and industry networks

90 %

Of artists reported increased confidence and resilience

94 %

Of artists reported that Unity’s training opportunities were applicable to their work both within and beyond Unity

Testimonials

I went on stage, scared and confused, and one of their performers came up to me and said “you know why you are here, because you have a lot to say, so here is the microphone!” All of a sudden, I heard only the crowd. I could breathe air in my lungs, feeling the confidence as I exhaled. It was the greatest experience and a total confidence booster.

— UNITY Youth

Always a source of joy and tolerance and being in the moment with it, it felt really good to have that kind of community to back me up whenever I wanted to explore things, whenever I wanted to question things, whenever I wanted to show off my art form or learn from my missteps. Having that kind of safety net made me feel very comfortable and it was really one of the best things to happen to me during this phase of my life.

— UNITY Youth

Having a dedicated space that’s really well curated, or built or facilitated can make all the difference in [...] how willing and able you are to practice your art.

— UNITY Youth

Hear more from Unity Youth

Schedule

The Source - Halifax

Unity Hub Sessions

BOSSY BOOTCAMP

Open Jam Collective Popping: Get that work!

Toronto Collective x Unity Graffiti Program

Spoken-word Poetry

Inspire

Unity Weeks and Workshops in Schools, Annual Unity Festival

Engage

Weekly Drop-in and Registered Programs Online and in Community Spaces

Empower

Unity Artist Facilitators, Unity Artist Network, Volunteers

Our Impact

Inspire Programs

Engage Programs

Empower Programs

25000

+

72

%

63

%

67

%

6463

+

87

%

96

%

96

%

60

+

86

%

90

%

94

%

Testimonials

Get Involved