youthLEADarts Inc
Listen. Empathize. Act. Drive.
youthLEADarts empowers vulnerable youth with confidence, creativity, employable skills, and hope to LEAD the future.
WHY?
Youth drug use, violence, poor nutrition, school drop-out and suicide are all symptoms of inequality, discrimination, poverty and despair. youthLEADarts engages youth in activities that empower them to take charge of their own life success while acting as LEADers in their community.
STARTING WHERE THE NEED IS:
Founded in 2020, LEAD is a Canadian national arts-based education program in Vancouver BC, Barrie ON, Montreal QC, Little Harbour, NS, Lismore, NS and Pictou County, NS: communities where the need is great to reach vulnerable youth.
ADMINISTRATION & TEACHING TEAM:
Our program team are acclaimed teaching artists and youth mentors. The management team currently donate their time for all coordination and virtual administration. Marilyn Field, M.S.M., Founder of DAREarts (Thrive) and youthLEADarts, guides the team.
Become part of our growing initiative …
Please help empower vulnerable kids across Canada
Your investment is seen in the kids’ smiles.
The kids rely on your help: past, present and future. Thank you!
What Does LEAD Stand for?
Listen. Empathize. Act. Drive.
Listen
Listening is as important as speaking in communication.
What do you think is important when you listen?
Empathize
Empathize means imagining how someone else feels.
How does it make you feel when someone does that for you?
Act
Actions speak louder than words.
What is it that you want to say? How do your actions reflect this?
Drive
Drive yourself and your ideas to completion.
What gives you the power to keep going? How and where can you share your ideas with a larger community?
Watch this Space
Check back often to read about our latest happenings and announcements.
Breaking News: youthLEADarts Awarded $10,000 Free to Play Grant in Nova Scotia!
youthLEADarts Nova Scotia is pleased to announce that they have received a $10,000 grant from Free to Play through the Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia! The grant will be put towards creating an outdoor adventure space designed by our...
Read MoreWith Love and Dedication, it all Works Out in the End…a Message From LEAD Graduates
This article was conceived and written by teen author, Brooklyn, a grade 9 student who is part of the youthLEADarts writing and communications team. Nathaniel is a graduate of the youthLEADarts program, as am I. Currently, Nathanial is a grade...
Read MoreNova Scotia Youth Clean Up Lismore and Big Island Beaches for World Oceans Day 2026
Today is World Oceans Day. World Oceans Day is observed annually on June 8 to celebrate the global ocean, raise awareness about its critical role in sustaining life, and inspire collaborative action to protect marine environments. The concept was originally proposed by...
Read MoreLEAD Youth, Ayva, is Developing a Graphic Novel Based on LEAD Values
Ayva is a young artist currently in grade 7. Below is an interview she gave during a youthLEADarts after school program that speaks to why art is so important to her and why it can be also be inspiring and...
Read MoreYoung LEAD Artist’s Limited-edition Paintings Sell Out for a Good Cause
It was a stunning, sunny day and young art-trepreneur, Jules, just about to graduate to high school, had planned her work and was working her plan! Jules has always loved art and the act of creating. I met her when...
Read MoreFor the Birds…Nova Scotia Youth Design a Community for Our Feathered Friends
It was a great sunny day at Little Harbour Community Centre in Nova Scotia when youthLEADarts welcomed community partner EastCut’s Senior Sawyer, Robert Ennis to lead a birdhouse making workshop. The youth were completely engaged and completed the task on...
Read More
The Mentoring Team
Our Teaching Artist Leaders in BC, ON, QC and NS engage the youth in live and virtual creative workshops using all artistic disciplines. As the young people create and accomplish together, they practice the LEAD values that empower them with skills for success.
Marilyn Field
Founder/ National Coordinator
Visionary, Mentor, Teacher, Musician
Lori Sherritt-Fleming
President, West Coast Mentor
Author, Playwright, Performer
Shelley MacDonald
Vice President, East Coast Mentor
Performer, Educator, Film-maker
Deirdre Potash
Central Canada Mentor
Artist Educator, Entrepreneur
Trisha De Luca
West Coast Mentor
Creator, including ‘After-school Power Programs’
Roy Mulder
East Coast Mentor
Photographer, Videographer
Each youthLEADarts workshop or program is designed to assist youth in discovering their strengths, addressing their challenges and developing communication and leadership skills within short, invigorating and fruitful timeframes. With strong roots in communities across Canada youthLEADarts, as it evolves, will continue to empower youth by developing accessible programs that help them to find their voices as LEADers who drive the future.
Download Our Donation Package#youthLEADarts
See yourself and your friends featured on our website by using our hashtag #youthLEADarts in your arts and leadership posts.
Make sure it is OK with your adults first, and check its alright with the people in your pictures and videos too. And please make sure the content is “family friendly”.
A Word from One of our Youth Ambassadors/ Graduates
Elijah is a recent graduate of Trent University in Math and Spanish. He joined Marilyn Field’s empowering arts education program as a 12-year-old who was living in a marginalized Toronto suburb. On program days, Marilyn would call him early in the morning to make sure he got on the bus for the daylong workshops in downtown Toronto.
Through the arts education program, he was able to see what was possible regardless of the odds. He pursued that vision without fear. Today, we are so proud of him for finding his inner leader; to stay in school and succeed, to find his passion for writing poetry, swimming, and for mentoring other young people.
Ask Your Questions...
Contact Us
Contact us to find out more.
youthLEADarts respectfully acknowledges the history, the legacy and the important contributions made by First Nations, Inuit and Métis People across Canada, also known as Turtle Island. We are committed to reconciliation and are grateful to the Indigenous Artists/Elders from the Mi’kmaw, Haudenosaunee, Anishinabek, Cree, Dene, Ntle’kepmx, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw who have guided us in our process. Through our program design, we are committed to amplifying Indigenous voices,land stewardship and continued collaboration.
