A couple weeks ago, we worked together to make a zine about writing -- why we write, what it means to us, the pain/joy/love associated with the process. We scanned it in and uploaded it. Check it out for yourself and drop us a line if it moves you: info(at)torontostreetwriters.ca

Toronto Street Writers has a new sister program, Impossible Words. The twice-monthly literary salon runs out of the Academy of the Impossible. It pairs up culturally, stylistically and geographically diverse Canadian authors with young writers on stage for a raucous conversation and a lot of fun.

Registration for the new year of Toronto Street Writer is almost at capacity! But drop us a line at info(at)torontostreetwriters.ca if you're dying to sign up. We've got a full calendar of guest authors, writing prompts, and discussions lined up. See y'all very soon!

Our yearly Canada Day final event was a phenomenal success! Check out some of the media attention:

• Open Book Toronto ran a series of interviews with participants Krystle McKenzie, Richard Chang, Rob Saffrey, Jenna Anne Kennedy and Caleb Trudeau.
• An online article at Toronto Is Awesome about the Toronto Street Writers and the event.
• An Examiner article about the writing group and the event.

Here are a few choice shots of the Street Writers party and launch of our new anthology of writing, West of What We Know. All photos credited to Ryan Singh.

Once again, we especially want to thank our sponsors: Canadian Heritage though the Celebrate Canada Fund, the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Lakeview Lunch, Chapters-Indigo Eaton Centre and Penguin Books.

The Toronto Street Writers launched their new anthology of writing and art by inner-city, West of What We Know, on Sunday July 1st, 2012 at the Academy of the Impossible in Toronto's west-end.

The event featured readings by young poets, hip hop lyricists, playwrights, and short story writers whose work appears in the anthology. In celebration of the Queen's 60th Jubilee, there was an impromptu crown-making workshop where audience members will be encouraged to express what the monarchy means to them.

The Street Writers are a celebrated group of young writers from many different cultures and walks of life across the city. The group meets weekly, ten months out of the year, and is coordinated by award-winning local author Emily Pohl-Weary. Young writers work with professional authors, musicians, artists and screenwriters to generate the skills and confidence needed to express their realities, process difficult experiences, and pursue careers and professional opportunities in the arts.

West of What We Know is the fifth annual anthology of youth writing that the Street Writers have published.

To order your own copy, please send $10 (includes postage) to: Toronto Street Writers, c/o Academy of the Impossible, 231 Wallace Avenue, Toronto, Ontario (Canada), M6H 3G1

We've got a Facebook page, where we post news, updates, curiousities and calls for submission.

It's a great way to find out what we're up to from week to week.

SEE YA THERE!

Launch of new work by the Parkdale Street Writers!
Performances by amazing contributors!
Plus: Special guests Rose and Nic from LAL and Abstract Random!

Canada Day - Friday, July 1, 2011
7 pm at Gladstone Hotel, 2nd Floor
1214 Queen Street W, Toronto

FREE! fun! SNACKS! cake!
books! DJ! art! READINGS!
PERFORMANCES! nice people!

Do you want to MAKE YOUR OWN FILM? Do you love MOVIES, TELLING STORIES and PERFORMING?

Acting for the Camera was a FREE weekly workshop led by professional film director Dominic Desjardins. Participants learned how to:

• develop acting techniques
• brainstorm script ideas with writer Emily Pohl-Weary
• all about the industry from producer Rayne Zukerman
• make in their own short films!

Dates and Length

CHECK BACK FOR MORE INFO ABOUT NEXT WORKSHOP

On March 8, 2011, the Street Writers took to the stage at the Art Bar Reading Series in Toronto. A former participant, after watching the night's footage, emailed to say it was more fun than the Academy Awards! Heh. We modestly agree. :)

Check out photos by Nadia Alam:

And video by Michael Healy:

Check out the Global TV news segment on us, in a segment called Making a Difference: "How local authors and artists are helping young writers in Parkdale get a chance to find their voice and share their experiences. Susan Hay reports."

It features PSWers Addi Stewart, Dizia Raposo-Ferreira, Muffin-M'randa Rachael-Star Jones, Jeff Vallejo, Ben Cope, Michael Healy and Lily Tung (with special guest author Kristyn Dunnion)!

The Toronto Sun recently ran a fantastic article about our group: Why funding the arts doesn’t just cater to the black tie set:

"Too many people think the arts are the exclusive domain of people who attend black tie galas or high-priced theatre openings. But the arts are accessible — and they make a difference on the ground. Parkdale Street Writers, an arts group, is doing just that. Making a difference."

and

Writers work on everything from short stories and poetry, to graphic novels, hip-hop lyrics and screenplays. The positive benefits for the young writers are impressive, says Pohl-Weary. “The main change I see in them is the building up of their confidence. They gain the ability to speak their minds. It’s as much about communication and speaking your thoughts, your feelings and, in some cases, you trauma. People come out of their shells.”

Also, Shameless Magazine ran this lovely profile of Parkdale Street Writer Marlene Leung on their blog:

Shameless: What is the most important thing we can do in order to change the world?
Marlene: Love each other and love the planet. (Sorry that’s two things).