HARAMBEE

Are you looking to meet people working in your field? Are you a recent grad searching for that dream career?

Spice Youth Toronto in collaboration with the Consulate General of Grenada in Toronto

presents ...

HARAMBEE - a networking event

‎'Harambee' is a Kenyan tradition of community self-help events, eg. fundraising or development activities. Harambee literally means "all pull together" in Swahili, and is also the official motto of Kenya and appears on its coat of arms. Harambee events may range from informal affairs lasting a few hours, in which invitations are spread by word of mouth, to formal, multi-day events advertised in newspapers. These events have long been important in parts of East Africa, as ways to build and maintain communities.

To advance professionally these days one must build a network of likeminded people to assist us with the fulfillment of our aspirations. This event will facilitate this process by linking young professionals and recent grads with people in their respective fields. We will have representatives from all career fields in attendance: finance, human resources, hospitality, entrepreneurs, social services, legal, skilled trades etc

Come out and mingle ...

Carpe Diem!

Caribbean Week 2010

Caribbean Week in Canada is a celebration of the sights, sounds, colours, culture and unique vacation attributes of the Caribbean. Tourism officials, the media, artistes, performers, celebrity chefs, sponsors and strategic partners and the Caribbean Diaspora will converge on the cities of Montreal and Toronto during the period October 21-29, 2010.


Arranged by the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Caribbean Week offers many opportunities to reach various market segments in Canada through a combination of events targeting the media, trade, consumers and the Caribbean Diaspora.


The Rum and Rhythm event, scheduled for October 29, 2010, will be full of the sights, sounds, rhythm and taste of the Caribbean and it our pleasure to announce that Eddie Bullen will be the headliner.  For those of you who have not had the pleasure of hearing Eddie, here is a bit of background.





Pianist, songwriter, arranger and producer Eddie Bullen moved to Toronto from Grenada in 1980 and has become, in every way, a standout amongst the latest generation of multi-talented artists.  His lengthy career has yielded an abundance of awards (including a Juno) and recognition for his outstanding talents.  Eddie gives his audience a taste of contemporary jazz, flavoured with Caribbean and Latin rhythms.

This  quote from the New York Times says it all ..."Eddie Bullen keeps audiences in Canada and throughout the Caribbean on their feet and begging for more with his distinctive style.  His compositions are audacious and sexy, titillating the senses ...”


http://www.eddiebullen.com/


For more information on Caribbean Week click the link below...


http://www.caribbeanweek.ca/calendar-of-events.asp

Update!

This year has been quite busy for Spice Youth Toronto. We literally got off the ground running. Here are a few things we've accomplished so far:

1. September 13: BBQ and Oildown Fundraiser at Greens Restaurant and Bar. Spice Youth Toronto held a BBQ to bring the community together and raise funds for its future initiatives. The Oildown, not surprisingly, sold out first. DELICIOUS!!! We were able to surpass our goal of $800 ... what a feat for a first-time event. The event was well-received by the community and we are truly grateful for the support of the Grenadian Public.

2. September 18 & 19: Grenada Day (Coronation Park/Keele & Eglinton) and Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life. Spice Youth Toronto volunteered at Grenada Day at the information booth. This platform was also used to introduce the public to the committee and invite people to join us on the AIDS Walk the following day. On the 19th, Spice Youth Toronto formed a team and participated in the AIDS Walk for Life. It was a humbling event. Spice Youth was able to raise more than $500 for the cause. HIV/AIDS is a disease that affects many people and does not discriminate. Young black people are the most afflicted by this terrible disease. Spice Youth took part as an act of community awareness. We also made some partnerships, and hope to host health seminars so that our community is better educated about this disease and others.

3. October 16: Annual General Meeting (Oakwood Village Library and Arts Centre). Spice Youth Toronto held its first AGM at the Oakwood Library to an audience of thirty. The turn-out was great and we were surprised and happy to see that so many men showed up. The Constitution (once revised will be posted here) was introduced and we received a lot of suggestions and comments, which will be incorporated at our next executive meeting. We also gave financial updates, a year in review and information on upcoming events. Our featured speaker was Mr Otis Celestine, community activist and Grenada's 2010 Soca Monarch winner. He highlighted the importance of community organisations especially those that are youth-led, and shared his experience with such groups. Mr Celestine also offered words of advice to the executive body. His presence was much appreciated. The Consul General of Grenada in Toronto, Ms Jenny Gumbs, sent her words of support to us by way of a letter, read by her secretary Desiree Charles.

The minutes of the AGM and the letter from Ms Gumbs will be posted in another blog.

UPCOMING

Tuesday November 10, 2010 - Networking Session in collaboration with the Grenadian Consulate in Toronto. More details will be added soon.

Look out for us in 2011. Your support is appreciated and we hope to have you on board in our future endeavours.

As a united body, may we forever ASPIRE. BUILD. ADVANCE.

WELCOME! WELCOME!

Welcome to Spice Youth Toronto's official blog page/newsletter!

Spice Youth Toronto is the youth arm of the Grenada Association, Toronto. We are a collective of Grenadian youth who are committed to the creation of an integrated network of Grenadians residing in Toronto.

OUR VISION/MANDATE

1. To provide information on employment resources, education, immigration, transportation and housing as a means of facilitating the settlement process for Grenadians who are new to Canada

2. To promote Grenadian culture and heritage through the promotion of and hosting of events that are in the interests of the Grenadian community

3. To launch a mentorship program whereby young Grenadians will be linked with professionals in their career/education field so as to form relationships

4. To develop programs and projects that will aid in the advancement of Grenadians here and at home, this includes but is not limited to, health seminars, financial workshops, self-development programs and fundraising drives

***** We also hope to hold events that would bring the community together such as family picnics, sport days, cook-ups, game nights, nature walks and other outings.

Stay tuned for other events and projects! And Thanks for your support!

Let us unite so we may ASPIRE, BUILD, and ADVANCE.