ABOUT
Next Generation Arts is a not-for-profit charitable arts organization serving youth in the Greater Toronto Area. Our goal is to advance education by providing structured learning activities in the arts to create accessible opportunities that enhance artistic and innovative practices for youth, the next generation of artists, arts administrators, art appreciators and the public in the Greater Toronto Area. Through programming, sessions and professional development with specialized facilitators, we provide our members with teachings and access to resources that allow them to develop their creativity and performance in various artistic fields.
Next Generation Arts works in a cyclical model in that projects, programs and events impact the community through peer-to-peer and graduate models. Through programming, mentorship and networking, we provide our members with teachings and access to resources that allow them to develop their creativity and performance in various artistic fields - overall allowing youth to become leaders in community.
At Next Generation Arts, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are at the core of our pillars. We are committed to these values and strive each day to ensure that our mission, practices and conversations create a long-lasting and positive impact for the communities which we serve.
OPPORTUNITIES
HEAL Project Coordinator (Part-time contract)
Deadline: January 2, 2025
STAFF
Jen D. fabico, Executive + Artistic Director
For more than 14 years, Jen has been a noteworthy leader in the arts, community, and education sectors. As a big believer in people and collaboration, she identifies as a female person-of-colour who resides in, works in, and works for diverse, multicultural communities. She is committed to providing access to resources, particularly in the arts and culture sector.
Jen is recognized as a strong advocate for youth and communities, credited with contributions to multiple City of Toronto cultural festivals, artistic publications, exhibitions, and murals. Additionally, she has actively participated in community awareness and advocacy committees, working towards bringing about meaningful opportunities and positive change.
Before founding Next Generation Arts, Jen worked for a diverse range of organizations, including the Toronto Catholic District School Board, Mural Routes, Agincourt Community Services Association (ACSA), and Scarborough Arts. She has also consulted and facilitated for the University of Toronto, TTC, York University, and York Region’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, amongst many others.
Passionate about the arts and its possibilities to communities and culture, Jen continues to teach, mentor, and advocate to help youth gain access to new resources, networks, and opportunities. In celebration of Canada’s 150th year of Confederation, Jen was honoured in the University of Toronto’s 150 Neighbours initiative, recognizing individuals who made significant contributions to enhance their communities. And in 2023, receiving an certificate and medal from the Parliament of Canada, Jen was recognized by the Honourable MP John McCay, for her contributions to Scarborough-Guildwood communities.
Marianne rellin, Associate Director
Marianne Rellin is an arts administrator and designer with 10+ years of experience in marketing and communications, project management, and youth mentorship within the arts and culture sector.
Her interest in stories, systems, creative solutions, and collaborative ways of working has enabled her to cultivate a diverse creative portfolio that spans print and digital publications, branding and identity projects, site-specific installations, youth outreach initiatives, and integrated marketing and communications campaigns. Notable projects include coordinating creative placemaking initiatives in Scarborough as part of City of Toronto’s Cultural Hotspot, and creating the branding and marketing materials for Home Made Visible, a nationwide archival project by the Regent Park Film Festival that toured across Canada.
Marianne has worked for several arts, culture, and media organizations, including Scarborough Arts, York Region Arts Council, Exclaim!, and presently, the Art Museum at the University of Toronto, where she is communications coordinator. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Arts Management and Art History from the University of Toronto.
Marianne wholeheartedly believes in the power of youth’s imagination, curiosity, and creativity, recognizing their unlimited potential to spark transformation and effect positive change. She is thrilled to contribute to the support and empowerment of youth through her work at Next Generation Arts.
FACILITATORS
DAN-E-O, Music Facilitator
At the age of 13, Daniel Faraldo, known professionally as Dan-e-o, won a rap-off contest on Toronto’s “Electric Circus” dance show. Five years later, his first single “Dear Hip Hop” was featured on Beat Factory’s Rap Essentials Volume One compilation. The Canadian hip-hop classic would launch Dan-e-o’s future labelling as “legend”.
Dan-e-o’s greatest accomplishment, however, took place on April 23, 2014, when he became a father to his wonderful daughter, Melina. His fifth solo album, The Day It All Changed takes listeners along with him on his new fatherhood journey. (@daneo1010)
Patrick de Belen, Spoken Word Facilitator
Patrick de Belen is a Filipino-Canadian storyteller, arts educator, spoken word poet, writer, and filmmaker. He is most known for his collaborations with the Toronto Raptors, the NFL, and CBC, and his three spoken word EPs and multiple cine-poems he wrote and directed himself.
He was the youngest poet to win a national poetry slam championship, awarded both the national Canadian poet of honour and youth poet of honour title, and a few more storytelling accolades throughout his career.
When he is not writing or sharing, he is an educator and youth mentor, partnering with many institutions like addiction centres, mental health focused organizations, libraries, schools, jails and more—advocating for storytelling opportunities in as many spaces as possible. (@patrick_debelen | patrickdebelen.com)
Sheniz Janmohamed, Visual Arts FACILITATOR
Sheniz Janmohamed was born and raised in Tkaronto with ancestral ties to Kenya and India. A poet, artist educator and nature artist, Sheniz is a graduate of the MFA in Creative Writing program at the University of Guelph.
In the last 15 years, Sheniz has presented her poetry internationally, including the Jaipur Literature Festival, Aga Khan Museum and TEDXYouth Toronto. She has three poetry collections published by Mawenzi House: Bleeding Light (2010), Firesmoke (2014) and Reminders on the Path (2021). Her nature art has been featured across Turtle Island, including the National Arts Centre and MOCA.
A recipient of the Lois Birkenshaw-Fleming Creative Teaching Scholarship, Sheniz holds an Artist Educator Mentor certificate from the Royal Conservatory of Ontario. With over 10 years of teaching experience, she visits dozens of organizations and schools each year.
In 2022, Sheniz served as the Writer-in-Residence at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, the first writer of South Asian descent to serve in this position. At the moment, she’s writing her fourth book, a collection of hybrid essays about her grandmother’s garden in Kenya. Sheniz currently holds a position as a creative writing instructor at U of T’s School of Continuing Studies. (@shenizpoetics | shenizjanmohamed.com)
RHEE MARIZ PE, Visual Arts Facilitator
Mariz is a community leader who works with the City of Toronto amongst other organizations to help provide opportunities and experiences for youth.
She believes that the arts is a healthy way to explore one’s feelings, personality, and the world around us. Over the past 5 years, Mariz has been facilitating youth workshops and has worked with several youth groups in Toronto to manage and mentor for events of different scales.
Krystyna Czereyska, Visual Arts & Photography Facilitator
Krystyna Czereyska (BFA,ATD, MA) is an art educator and artist with an almost 40 year career teaching visual arts and photography at the high school, CEGEP/college, and university levels. Subjects taught range from painting and drawing, printmaking, sculpture, as well as darkroom and digital photography. A background in Art History & Gallery Education was developed during her early years with the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Education Department.
During the 1990s Krystyna served on the Kodak Advisory Council for Secondary Education in Photography. Over the years, she has given numerous art and photo workshops for various organizations including the Ontario Society for Education through Art, the Quebec Art Teacher’s Association, the Photo Educator’s Forum Conferences (TMU) and Scarborough Arts.
A key portion of Krystyna’s teaching career has been with the York Catholic District School Board. Her last formal post was as Instructor in the Regional Arts Program, at the Board’s “Arts Focus” High School.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Althea Wilson, Chair
Alykhan Suleman, Secretary
Michael Man, Treasurer
Farah Hoosain, Director
Helen Norva Stratigos, Director