Youth showcase – Using Hip hop as a social work tool
Friday 16 February
Blueprint Pathways is a national not-for-profit organization that uses Hip Hop as a tool to do social out reach work for vulnerable youth. This week they were at the Notre Dame High School on Broadview Avenue to showcase their work with a group of youth from all over Ottawa. The event was a unique blend of hip hop, pep talks from community leaders, an award ceremony for outstanding program participants and a special award to its founder Steven ‘Buddha’ Leafloor, BA, MSW, M.S.C, Ashoka Fellow Canada, by Ontario’s Attorney-General and Minster of Justice, MPP Yasir Naqvi.
Blueprint Pathways had received a 3-year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to offer its uniquely-engaging youth program to communities in Ottawa. On Friday, June 2nd, 2017, they held an exciting presentation and information session at Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre. Some of the agencies participating included: Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB), youturn Youth Support Services, The Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, and the M.F. McHugh Education Centre. Blueprint Pathways and its sister organization, BluePrintForLife (www.blueprintforlife.ca), have worked extensively across Canada with a variety of marginalized youth, including those who are in conflict with the law, Indigenous, recent immigrants, special needs youth and youth connected with alternative schools and education.
