Sing traditional Japanese work songs with Aki Takahashi. Learn JI GOE, a rhythmic vocal style rooted in collective movement and folk tradition. INDOOR ACTIVITIES / CYCLES / SINGING / JI GOE AND JAPANESE FOLK SONGS - MAY 2025 SINGING Friday 7 pm JI GOE AND JAPANESE FOLK SONGS May 2025 May 9 - 16 - 23, 2025 Facilitator: Aki Takahashi Raise your voice and feel the rhythm of community at this Friday Singing series with Aki Takahashi. Rooted in the tradition of JI GOE, a percussive vocal style used in Japanese folk music, this workshop invites you to use your voice as a pulse of connection, energy, and encouragement. You will learn how JI GOE supported workers rowing boats, pulling nets, or labouring side-by-side, helping them move in unison through shared rhythms. In this hands-on experience, you will sing from the stomach, finding a deep, earthy voice that carries strength and spirit. Together, we will accompany traditional Japanese work songs, learning how to keep time and lift each other up through sound. Aki Takahashi brings a lifetime of expertise as a taiko drummer, shamisen player, and folk singer, and shares her passion for bringing traditional music into today's communities with energy and heart. No singing experience is needed. Just come ready to make some noise and connect through song! For those who want to take their experience further and sing at our community celebration, we invite you to join Saturday Mingling on May 24, a lively evening of artistic sharing where community members and artists come together to celebrate the creative journey. Spots are limited, so be sure to register today! This Friday Singing - JI GOE and Japanese Folk Songs workshop is part of Jamii's May cycle, guided by lead artist Heidi Chan, and centred around the theme of Small & Mighty. Through these workshops in dancing, painting, crafting, sewing, singing, and creative writing, we will reflect on how these ancient teachings resonate with our modern lives, connecting us to nature, the cycles of life, and our community. “This is an invitation to reinterpret the meaning of Small & Mighty, finding the joy and value in doing one thing, but doing it well by slowing down and zooming in.” - Heidi Chan. Photos by Hadeal Karrar Aki Takahashi Aki Takahashi (aka. Ten Ten) is a taiko, shamisen player and folk singer. She has given shamisen and vocal performances at numerous venues and events. Aki is a member and a co-artistic director of pre-eminent Canadian taiko drumming group; "NAGATA SHACHU" and creates her own original compositions and choreographed dance pieces to accompany her music. She is also the founder of the Japanese Folk ensemble "TEN TEN" and has performed with numerous artists from a variety of other cultural backgrounds and traditions. Now she teaches shamisen and voice at the Bachido Schoolhouse: International Shamisen Community. Photo Credit: Unknown UPCOMING DATES Participants must register separately for each workshop session they wish to attend. Tue, Feb 17 February Cycle - Singing Workshop Series / The Jamii Hub REGISTER NOW Feb 17, 2026, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The Jamii Hub, 264 The Esplanade, Toronto, ON M5A 4J6, Canada Sing freely and follow what feels right. A four-part community singing series led by Martin Gomes. Free with registration. +16 more Mon, Feb 23 February Cycle - Singing Workshop Series / The Jamii Hub REGISTER NOW Feb 23, 2026, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The Jamii Hub, 264 The Esplanade, Toronto, ON M5A 4J6, Canada Sing freely and follow what feels right. A four-part community singing series led by Martin Gomes. Free with registration. +9 more

Remarkable things are made by remarkable people. Artist Form First Name Last Name Jamii's intent is to build community while empowering women in arts. Please choose one of the following that describes your gender Choose an option Pronouns (eg. she/her, he/him, they/them) Jamii's intention is to create space for BIPOC artists. Do you identify as BIPOC? Choose an option Instagram Link Email Facebook Page Link Full Address (including postal code) Phone Please enter your SIN or HST number (We will send you a T4A at the end of the year) Artist Photo (half body or more) Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Promo Photo (This can be you in action, or a photo that would describe your artform) Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Photographer's Name (For credit, if applicable) Short Bio (A Maximum of 120 Words - For Promotional Purposes) Which project/program are you involved with Jamii? Choose an option Resume (Artists for LAINI programs only) Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) WORKSHOP OR PROJECT INFO Brief description of your workshop or project What will the participants be learning or gaining from the activity? Any specific techniques or artistic skills that you plan to utilize? Supplies, Tech, Setup Info - What supplies, equipment, and/or room setup do you need from Jamii? What do participants need to bring? We appreciate your time! Is there anything else you would like us to know? Thank you! You will receive an email from us very soon! Submit

Choose how you would like to join the Jamii Family & take action: Connect we us. And let's take it from there. GET INVOLVED GET INVOLVED Creativity grows when people feel connected. There are many ways to be part of what we do, from supporting free arts programs to participating in hands-on community projects. Explore the opportunities below and find the path that feels right for you. DONATE Your support keeps Jamii’s programs free so everyone can participate without financial barriers. Donations of any amount directly sustain our workshops, events, and community projects. If you can, consider paying it forward and helping us continue offering accessible, creative opportunities for all. DONATE NOW VOLUNTEER Become a Jamii volunteer and help create welcoming, arts-filled experiences for neighbours of all ages. Volunteers support workshops, events, and community moments that spark connection and belonging. If you believe in the power of the arts to bring people together, we’d love to meet you. APPLY COLLABORATE Jamii welcomes artists interested in meaningful collaboration. We work with dancers, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, writers to co-create engaging workshops, performances. If you’re excited about community-rooted arts, we’d love to connect and explore working together. GET IN TOUCH RUN Run with Jamii at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon and support free arts programs in our neighbourhood. Choose any distance, fundraise $300 or more, and we’ll reimburse your registration fee. Join a team, make memories, and help strengthen community through the arts. SHOW YOUR INTEREST CONTACT Have feedback, a suggestion, or something you’d like to share? Reach out to us anytime. We welcome questions, ideas, comments, and concerns that help us grow and continue building meaningful arts experiences with our community. GET IN TOUCH PARTNER Partner with Jamii to bring arts-based experiences to your workplace, school, organization, or community. Together, we co-design creative workshops and events shaped around shared goals, with partnership funds supporting Jamii’s free programming for all ages. Let’s build something meaningful and community-driven. GET IN TOUCH WORK Join Jamii’s team and help shape community arts experiences in The Esplanade and beyond. Our staff contribute to building connections, supporting creativity, and strengthening neighbourhood pride. Explore opportunities to work with a small, dedicated team committed to accessible arts programming and meaningful community engagement. SEE OPPORTUNITIES CREATE Take part in one of Jamii’s creative community projects and see your ideas come to life. From photo exhibitions to murals to short films, these hands-on projects place community members at the centre. Join in, create something meaningful, and make memories with your neighbours. SEE PROJECTS SUBSCRIBE Stay connected with Jamii through our monthly e-newsletters. Join thousands of neighbours who receive updates about free programs, workshops, events, and community stories. We send 1–2 emails a month, always relevant and community-focused. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. SUBSCRIBE ARTIST HANDBOOK This password-protected section is for artists who are confirmed to work with Jamii. It includes essential forms, policies, and shared agreements to support smooth, respectful collaboration before workshops and events. If you’re an artist working with us, you’ll receive access details directly from the Jamii team. CHECK OUT

Once a month on Tuesday, The Jamii Hub is home to a creative writing club! Join our creative writing club, engage with fellow writers in Toronto. INDOOR ACTIVITIES / TUESDAY DISCOVERING / Creative Writing DISCOVERING Tuesday 7 pm Creative Writing WHEN | Third Tuesday of each C ycle from 7pm to 8:30pm (Check upcoming dates below) WHERE | The Jamii Hub @ 264 The Esplanade AGE GROUP | 16+ FREE ADMISSION | REGISTRATION REQUIRED | NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE NEEDED Join us for Creative Writing at Jamii — an invitation to explore self-expression and discover your unique poetic voice. In this transformative journey from heart to pen, your poetry becomes the content for a spoken word piece. If you choose to take the leap from writing to performance, share your spoken word piece at our Saturday Mingling, every 4th Saturday of each month at 7pm. These workshops offer a welcoming space where the enchantment of poetry and storytelling comes to life. REGISTRATION IS CLOSED May 2025 WHAT IS POETRY FOR? May 20, 2025 Facilitator: Jody Chan MORE INFO November 2024 TRADITION OF ORAL POETRY November 19, 2024 Facilitator: Leen Amarin MORE INFO May 2024 ROOTS May 5 - 12 - 19, 2024 Facilitator: Hidetaka Ishii MORE INFO April 2025 EXPLORING SELF THROUGH ANDEAN COSMOVISION April 15, 2025 Facilitator: Paulina Muñoz MORE INFO October 2024 TEKA LANG (JUST WAIT) October 22, 2024 Facilitator: Patrick de Belen MORE INFO April 2024 MOTHERLAND April 7 - 14 - 21, 2024 Facilitator: Sharon Zarita Adhiambo MORE INFO March 2025 WRITING FROM THE HEART March 18, 2025 Facilitator: Damilola Olajire (SmilingPen) MORE INFO September 2024 EXPLORING OUR EMOTIONS September 24, 2024 Facilitator: Asha P MORE INFO March 2024 MIGRATION March 3 - 10 - 17, 2024 Facilitator: Patrick de Belen MORE INFO February 2025 CRYSTAL CLEAR CONVERSATIONS February 18, 2025 Facilitator: Joshua "Scribe" Watkis MORE INFO June 2024 FOUND June 2 - 9 - 16, 2024 Facilitator: Jäjé MORE INFO February 2024 FORRÓ February 4 - 11 - 18, 2024 Facilitator: Carolina Leite MORE INFO Calendar No events at the moment UPCOMING DATES

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Summer 2022 Community Projects/ Photo Exhibits/ THE RED CHAIR SESSIONS THE RED CHAIR SESSIONS Summer 2022 Summer 2022 As part of Jamii's 5th Annual National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrations Exhibited at The Esplanade & Princess St. David Crombie Park Nadya Kwandibens’ The Red Chair Sessions showcases Indigenous Peoples inextricable relationships to the land, ancestral bloodlines and waterways through a striking series of portraits. The photo exhibition, unveiled on National Indigenous Peoples Day June 21, 2022, is a selection of 8 portraits from the wider series. This selection was made with the intent to highlight the importance of water, memory and intergenerational stories. Unveiled on Monday, June 21, 2022 On display from June to November 2022 Filmed and Edited by Recro Digital Marketing Jamii Statement: Jamii’s 2022 theme is titled “Water is Memory”. It is an invitation to (re)connect the memory cells of water to the stories of our community. In “water” we recognize and honour that our neighbourhood, the Esplanade, was under water less than 200 years ago, and the meaning of “Esplanade” is “boardwalk by the water”. We also embrace the unseen waters that bring life to our surroundings as we acknowledge the river that crosses underneath our community. This theme is an opportunity to bring “water” to the forefront of our programming, addressing both issues of environmental degradation, climate change and access or lack thereof to clean drinkable water in many Indigenous communities across so-called Canada, such as our partnering community in Pikangikum First Nation. In “memory”, we dive into exploring how the shared and life-changing memories we create with our community can impact and enhance social cohesion and health outcomes of our community members. You belong to a community if you share its collective memories and thus, memory works as an important agent of social cohesion. All of the artists and contributors to Jamii’s 2022 season are invited to enrich this theme with their own perspective and interpretation. Nadya Kwandibens’, The Red Chair Series showcases Indigenous Peoples inextricable relationships to the land, ancestral bloodlines and waterways through a striking series of portraits. The photo exhibition is a selection of 8 portraits from the wider series. This selection was made with the intent to highlight the importance of water, memory and intergenerational stories. About Photographer Nadya Kwandibens: Nadya Kwandibens is Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) from the Animakee Wa Zhing #37 First Nation in northwestern Ontario. She is an award winning self-taught portrait and events photographer, a Canon Ambassador, and has travelled extensively across Canada for over 10 years. In 2008 she founded Red Works Photography. Red Works is a dynamic photography company empowering contemporary Indigenous lifestyles and cultures through photographic essays, features, and portraits. Red Works specializes in natural light portraiture and headshots sessions plus event and concert photography. Red Works also provides image licensing, workshops, presentations and print products. Nadya’s photography has been exhibited in group and solo shows across Canada and the United States. In 2018, Nadya won the Ontario Arts Council’s Indigenous Arts Award. Jurors stated, “Nadya is an intrepid, ground-breaking and influential artist. She has brought an Indigenous voice to portrait photography that recontextualizes images and shows us our true selves.” In addition to commissioned works, Nadya delivers empowering photography workshops and presentations for youth, universities, and community groups. She currently resides in Tkarón:to on Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Mississauga of the Credit River & Dish With One Spoon Territory. Filmed and Edited by Recro Digital Marketing Artistic Statement by Nadya Kwandibens: The Red Chair Sessions is an ongoing open-call portraiture series that places importance on the acknowledgement and reclamation of Indigenous lands and the revitalization of Indigenous languages. This series ultimately disrupts colonial narratives, centres Indigenous Peoples who have been here since time immemorial, and reminds us that we are all guests on Indigenous land. The colour red represents Indigenous Peoples on the Medicine Wheel and, in this series, signifies Indigenous Peoples’ inherent connection to the land and to ancestral bloodlines. Whether sitting on or standing beside the red chair, one feels grounded and firmly rooted; the act itself and the resulting portrait serves as a reminder of our responsibility to steward the lands upon which we walk. Accompanying each photograph is text in the subjects’ respective Indigenous language, or a mix of languages, and can include: names gifted/given in ceremony (written in either English or syllabics), the Nation to which they belong, and the placenames of traditional and Treaty areas that each session occurs. In this way, Indigenous voices are amplified and become a refusal of the colonizer’s language while pointing out the erasure of Indigenous history. The series is also a celebration honouring the many achievements of Indigenous Peoples and presents a positive perspective for future generations. Supported by:

Because we care about everyone connected to The Esplanade community: from the young women who grow up in the neighbourhood and look for opportunities, to the seniors who face isolation and invisibility.  ABOUT/ OUR WHY Why we do it: Because we care about everyone connected to The Esplanade community: From the young ones who are looking for opportunities to engage and create, to the seniors who face isolation and invisibility. We believe that our programming makes a difference in our neighbours' lives; enhance social cohesion within the community, and contributes to a sense of pride, identity and belonging. That's why we offer inter-generational programming that is free and accessible by all, along with an inclusive, accepting and welcoming environment where all people can connect, gather and create together. We believe that offering both access and engagement opportunities in the arts contributes to a more cohesive, united and supportive community. Jamii serves The Esplanade neighbourhood. A unique community! The pioneering vision of diversity this community was built on encompasses cultural, multigenerational, socio-economical diversity while also embracing universal design for accessibility. It is one of the most unique community. READ: LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ESPLANADE DESIGN. The Covid-19 pandemic Itinerant Performances After two weeks of social, programming, and economic chaos, on March 30th, we decided to produce what would be the first of a series of 20 performances in the streets and courtyards of the Esplanade community for neighbours to watch from their balconies, porches, and home windows. READ: HOW JAMII RESPONDED TO THE PANDEMIC Play your part. Your role in Jamii READ: Who are the people who are making a difference and their role in shaping Jamii? Jamii's programming is free and accessible. Why is it vital? By removing ticketing, we are removing barriers of accessibility that would otherwise limit the ability of our diverse audiences to enjoy quality arts. Providing free events removes that financial burden so often associated with quality arts experiences. READ: WHY FREE PROGRAMMING IS IMPORTANT How it all started... Genesis story "When I decided to organize a small one–day arts gathering for my neighbours back in 2009, I witness a drastic impact: from one day to the next, we (neighbours) started living with each other rather than living next to one another: we had created a shared memory. " - By Isorine Marc, Jamii's founder. READ MORE ABOUT THE GENESIS STORY. Take action. Your next step READ: How you can get involved and join the Jamii family to make a difference in our community. Laini: programming for young women What's the inspiration? In 2011, we partnered with theatre company CORPUS, and invited a 13-yrs old to accompany CORPUS on a theatre tour through Cambodia. This was the seeds to Laini, our intentional programming for girls and young women in our community. READ: THE INSPIRATION BEHIND LAINI Why we continue doing it? The need Things have changed since the first years of Jamii, but the work is not done yet. From the new generation of young women who are looking for opportunities to grow as tomorrow's creative leaders, to our seniors who are facing isolation and invisibility, the need to be there for our community is constant. It is not "something you can fix" - it is a decade-long journey for lasting impact.

Explore Jamii’s decade-long journey in The Esplanade community through our season reviews - your visual guide to Jamii's impact! A Deep Dive into Jamii's Past Programming Year-in-Reviews This is a captivating journey through the vibrant tapestry of artistic experiences that have unfolded over the past decade in The Esplanade community. Since 2011, Jamii has passionately dedicated itself to enhancing togetherness by providing free, accessible artistic programs to everyone. We believe in the transformative power of shared experiences, and our commitment to building a connected community is reflected in the diverse array of events that took place in The Esplanade. From captivating shows to collaborative workshops, each program has been a stepping stone toward our goal of a stronger, healthier, and more resilient community. Join us in reliving these moments, as we celebrate the memories that bind us together and look forward to the continued enrichment of our neighborhood and beyond through the magic of the arts. HERE IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE PAST FEW YEARS OF JAMII'S MAGIC IN THE ESPLANADE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND! 2025 CHECK OUT 2024 CHECK OUT 2023 CHECK OUT 2022 CHECK OUT 2021 CHECK OUT 2020 CHECK OUT 2019 CHECK OUT 2018 CHECK OUT 2017 CHECK OUT 2016 CHECK OUT 2015 CHECK OUT 2014 CHECK OUT 2013 CHECK OUT

EMERGING ARTISTS Jamii's RBC Emerging Artist Program SABRINE S. HAKAM, PHOTOGRAPHY & CURATION LEARNING EXPERIENCE WITH JAMII Since the start of 2023, I have successfully exhibited two portrait series with Jamii, one of which was created directly through my involvement with Jamii. The first exhibit (Power in Portraits) in January was an opportunity for me to introduce myself to the community ahead of the self-portrait workshop that I hosted from Feb-May 2023. The self-portrait workshops culminated in an exposition titled Calyx that was created by community participants with my artistic guidance. Over the summer, I also had the experience of mentoring a young Indigenous photographer, Morningstar Quill, who was working with Jamii at the same time. This experience was an important and critical interaction for me to have as a newcomer to Canada in order to engage with someone with a similar passion from a radically different community. Together, we brainstormed ideas, techniques and created a portrait series together. This year, I also got the chance to experience being the subject of a video interview which was a first for me. Through this experience, I had the chance to rehearse my introduction as an artist, which is a necessary skill to master in order to connect to an audience. In late summer/early fall of 2023, I launched an exhibit/talk series centered on the uniqueness and importance of cloths, fabrics and prints across different cultures through displays and community-engaged talks. Recently, I completed a talk series titled ‘The Jungle Book: A Postcolonial Analysis’, which explored the ways in which Rudyard Kipling's classic novel has been read through a postcolonial lens through a series of discussions and viewings of the many adaptations of The Jungle Book. Jamii also offered a unique opportunity to play the role of a mentor for another artist: During the summer of 2023, I had the opportunity to act as a mentor for Morningstar Quill, a young photographer from Pikangikum. Together, we discussed our techniques, subjects, and goals as photographers. During her time in Toronto, Morningstar and I worked on developing her ‘brand’ as a photographer by designing a logo for her social media profile and drafting an artistic resume. Despite a busy schedule, we managed to create a portrait series in which Morningstar had the chance to express anything she chose through my method. The results are my favourite collaboration yet as the series, featuring the two of us, is evocative of the profound connection we made with one another through our shared passion for photography and for our respective cultures. On a more personal level, I learned a lot from Morningstar about her community, her culture, and her inspiration. Having never been formally educated on the history of the Indigenous people of Canada, it was truly a learning experience for me to spend time with her and learn about the Canada that she comes from. All of these new activities and experiences have given me the opportunity to develop my own understanding of my role as an artist. It has given me the aptitude and opportunity to network with people from different backgrounds and to gain a better understanding of their artistic journey. Most importantly, it has integrated me into the community through my art and created opportunities for connection that I never had before. SEE PROJECT SEE ARTIST'S PAGE SABRINE S. HAKAM: Sabrine S. Hakam is a Toronto-based artist and thinker whose style of symbolism-infused portraits foster discussions on identity, representation, and power. Sabrine holds a PhD in Geography (Arts) from King’s College London, as well as an MSc in Urbanisation and Development from the London School of Economics, an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Oxford, and a BSc from New York University. Her work situates itself at the nexus of academia and art in order to humanize the subjects of academic work. FUNDERS:

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY CELEBRATIONS / 2022 INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY Jamii's Annual Celebrations 2022 - 4th Year! 4th Annual National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrations June 21, 2022 at 4 pm David Crombie Park - The Esplanade & Princess St In honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day, Jamii hosted an array of Indigenous artists and mediums on The Esplanade. From live music, and traditional dance and music with EJ Kwandibens and his daughter Sagatay, to drumming with Sara Luey, Tracy Barker, and Maggie Asselstine, storytelling with Monique Diabo, photo exhibit unveiling and panel discussions, hosting by Jim Adams - our community was graced with stories of Indigenous resurgence, resistance and joy. We paid special respects to our relationships with water through our 2022 theme "Water is Memory" and invite the audience to reflect through discussions on water protection, water teachings, and water as life. The photo exhibit is showcased at The Esplanade & Princess Street until the early Fall of 2022. "The Red Chair Sessions"Photo Exhibition Jamii produced and unveiled a photo exhibition featuring Nadya Kwandibens' work as part of National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations in David Crombie Park. This exhibition, presented from June to December 2022, is a selection of 8 portraits from the wider series called “The Red Chair Sessions”. Watch the video below to learn more about “The Red Chair Sessions” and how it showcases Indigenous Peoples inextricable relationships to the land, ancestral bloodlines and waterways through a striking series of portraits. Visit The Red Chair Sessions for more information about the photo exhibition! Credits Live at the Kisanii Hub Produced & Presented by Jamii Jamii Team: Isorine Marc, Iris Unlu, Afnan Yakot, Yusra Yacout, Nadifa Daud Mohamed, Maysam Ghani Host: Jim Adams "The Red Chair Sessions" Photo Exhibit: Nadya Kwandibens Live Performer: Red Rhythm & Blues (Aqua Wawaskone, Valentina Morelli, Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk) Drummer: Sara Luey, Tracy Barker, and Maggie Asselstine Dancer: Sagatay Kwandibens & EJ Kwandibens Storytelling: Monique Diabo Stage Manager: Julia Beaulieu Event Photographer: Ana Higuera Event Videographer: Recro Digital Marketing Photos by Ana Higuera

INDOOR ACTIVITIES / LAINI / MUSIC WORKSHOPS LAINI Youth Wednesday & Thursday After School A Jamii initiative to encourage girls and young women to explore art and leadership! MUSIC WORKSHOPS January to March 2024 - Grades 1 to 12 Led by Raha Javanfar Attention parents of girls with a passion for music! This electrifying musical expedition is designed exclusively for children from grades 1 to 12. Our series of free music workshops are set to unlock the secrets behind sound's evolution into captivating melodies and how music becomes a profound language for self-expression. By tinkering with an assortment of both DIY and existing musical instruments, your daughter will uncover the mysteries of melody, rhythm, and dynamics while mastering the art of collaborative band play through the essential skill of active listening. Beyond just mastering musical techniques, these workshops aim to cultivate leadership, teamwork, and attentive listening skills. The grand finale will showcase a performance where the young maestros will unveil their collaborative musical masterpieces to their families. We recommend participants bring a water bottle, any instruments they might have (though not mandatory), and, of course, an insatiable curiosity! Join us as we embark on this exhilarating musical journey where imagination and creativity take centre stage! Raha is a musician, performer, theatre designer, and educator. She has worked as lighting/projections designer, writer, director, music director, and performer for many prestigious companies including Tafelmusik, Soulpepper, Canadian Stage, Crows Theatre, and Opera Atelier, amongst others. Raha is currently a Slaight Music Associate at Soulpepper Theatre for which she was the Creator and Music Director of Sympathy for the Devil. She was one of six co-creators of Now You See Her, an anti-patriarchy, Dora nominated play by Quote Unquote Collective, produced by Nightwood Theatre, in which she also performed the role of Daria. She co-wrote and co-directed Kensington: The Musical, along with Beau Dixon, for the students of Sheridan College. The Shape of Home, a musical song cycle co-created and co-music directed by her, Beau Dixon, Hailey Gillis, Frank Cox-O’Connell, Andrew Penner, and Marni Jackson won a Dora award for Best Musical Direction. Photo by Zahra Saleki

We set up Jamii as an Arts Organization with an intention of both community building & nurturing women in leadership and now Jamii  is an amazing "tool"to accomplish our magic. But really, it is the people (staff, board, artists, audience, participants, donors) and organizations (partners, funders, sponsors) who are doing it all. Without them,  Jamii wouldn't be. ABOUT/ OUR HOW How we do it: Jamii is an Arts Organization that is transforming the lives of hundreds of people through memorable artistic experiences. It is the people at Jamii (staff, board, artists, audience, participants, donors) and our partners, funders, and sponsors who do it all. Without them, Jamii wouldn't be. The story we tell Jamii - About Since 2011, Jamii (Swahili for "community") has enlivened The Esplanade – one of downtown Toronto’s most unique & diverse communities. Through the production of over 130+ memorable arts-based experiences that recognize and celebrate all people while nurturing female leadership, Jamii strengthens community and lifts spirits. READ: WHAT DOES JAMII DO?. Behind the scene The Board of Directors Jamii is blessed to be supported, advised and guided by an amazing team of wonderful individuals who are deeply committed to Jamii’s mission and long-term sustainability. To each members of our Board of Directors, our heart is full of gratitude for your leadership. Thank you, thank you, thank you. READ: WHO IS ON THE JAMII BOARD. Tremendous local support The Community If we do all what we do, it is thanks to an amazingly supportive community. Local groups, residential buildings, and the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association are all very supportive of our initiatives and never shy stepping in to help us out making magic in our streets. READ: WHO IS THE ESPLANADE COMMUNITY? Those who define Jamii Audience-Participants What would be the point of producing projects, events, workshops, if no one was to come and enjoy them? How we do the magic depends on who shows up at our events and workshops and who joins in to co-create with us. Audience and participants are the recipients of our work and without them, Jamii would be meaningless. Isorine Marc Founder & Alchemist Isorine founded Jamii in 2011 and has since led the organization with passion, commitment, and endless creativity. As the Alchemist (Executive and Programming Director), she continues shaping Jamii's day-to-day operations and its long-term vision, with the support of the team, the Board, and all partners and contributors. READ: THE GENESIS STORY OF JAMII Financial support Funders & Partners Even though all our programming is free for participants and audiences, it takes a budget to bring programming to life. We are extremely grateful for the support of our public and private funders, as well as our sponsors, local businesses and local partners. READ: CURRENT FUNDERS AND PARTNERS. Financial Support The Donors Jamii is a charitable organization (80387 3207 RR0001) and thus receives donations and provides receipts for tax purposes. We are grateful for the individuals who are committed to make a difference and allow us to offer quality engagement for all. READ: YOU TOO, SUPPORT JAMII: MAKE A DONATION. Community Arts Award Award-winning! In 2020, Jamii was the Recipient of the Community Arts Award by the Toronto Arts Foundation. A milestone for Jamii. Since, Jamii has received other awards and is grateful of the recognition received for the work accomplished. READ: ACCEPTANCE SPEECH. The people - the doers The Jamii Team Behind every event, exhibit, workshops, there is a team of skilled, dedicated, talented visionaries and producers, who believe that Jamii’s impact on the Esplanade community and beyond is worth all the energy, time and efforts we are pouring into our organization. We are grateful for how much people have contributed to making what Jamii is today. READ: REMARKABLE WORK - REMARKABLE PEOPLE. One fantastic partner Canadian Stage In 2020, Jamii and Canadian Stage made a powerful commitment to one another and to the local community. They joined forces with the intention of growing capacity and leveraging resources, which is meant to increase the quality of the collective arts experience, forThe Esplanade community. READ: AN IMPACTOFUL PARTNERSHIP The Talents The Artists While we come up with ideas of projects, workshops and events we could produce, really, it is the artists we are collaborating with who are creating Jamii's identity and artistic success. It is their music, their dance, their photos their films, their skills, their talents and their leadership that give us make what Jamii is and does. READ: JAMII"S ARTISTS