Inside Out: youth empowerment, peer to peer interaction and community connections.

Katarina Thorsen

12 years ago

I am so excited to be part of this incredible project inspired by my hero JR:

MOUNTAINSIDE SECONDARY: Inside Out Project: Own Your Journey

Youth-run initiative using the vehicle of portrait photography and street art to learn life and transferable skills while developing self-empowerment, peer to peer interaction and community connections.

THEMES: Connection and Empowerment

CO-FACILITATORS: IAN POWELL, KAT THORSEN

Pilot Project: September 30, 2014- October 30, 2014

Mountainside Secondary School (MSS) is the North Vancouver School Districts smallest and newest secondary school, meeting the Ministry of Education requirements for funding as an Alternative School (BCEDAlternate Program Policy).

MSS functions as part of the continuum of social/emotional/behavioural supports that are available to all students at all secondary schools in the NVSD, and targets students in Grades 9-12 (ages 14-19).
MSS aims to allow for varied and alternate pathways to graduation (80 credit or Adult) or School Completion, and beyond.

MSS Core Values

Mutual respect
Genuine relationships
Flexibility
Choice
Individual accountability
Community Connections

We are proud to be part of the global art initiative INSIDE OUT PROJECT founded by JR:

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As mentioned, we are part of a global art initiative founded by French street artist JR, winner of the 2011 Ted Talk Prize. Our project is called: The Inside Out Project- Own Your Journey.

As they work through the curriculum, the students will be gaining some valuable life and transferable skills.

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We use TED TALKS to inspire and to induce dialogue and self-reflection around the theme.

When you try to be yourself there will be people who will put you down. You grow up looking up to people and not knowing who you are and being told what to do and what not to do. We all deal with pain in different ways- some do it in a sad way. Having to live in a world where judging a person we don’t even know is a good way to make yourself feel better, or even judging a person makes ‘cool.’ But in the end we are all on this earth for a reason ans we should all love ourselves the way we are and respect all of our good qualities and get rid of all the negative, cruelty thoughts. – student journal entry

We are registering our project with JR’s site on Tuesday! And our unique angle is that it is a youth run project and that by addressing their own vulnerability by connecting w people/community through portrait photography, the youth, in turn, empower the subject to feel comfortable being vulnerable in front of the camera!

The project will culminate in a large outdoor installation in the Spring. A documentary and a behind the scenes short film will also be produced!