Compiled by Shaundra Selvaggi

Monday, September 20

Manifesto Festival 2010

The Manifesto Festival Of Community & Culture features seven days of incredible events across the city, culminating in a massive free outdoor concert at Yonge & Dundas Square in the heart of downtown Toronto.  Growing to be arguably Canada’s largest hip hop festival in just three years, Manifesto brings together hundreds of artists & performers with thousands of attendees to showcase the city’s talented arts community and strengthen its foundations by building a collective sense of pride and possibility.  Check themanifesto.ca for more  information on featured artists and venues.

Tuesday, September 21

JCA Open House

Everyone is welcome as the Jamaican Canadian Association shares information about JCA programs and services and community agencies available to children, youth and families in the area.  Representatives from the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto and The Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto will be on hand for a special forum.  3:00 – 7:30 pm.

Wednesday, September 22

African Women Are As Strong As The Baobab Tree

Baobab Youth Theatre Group presents African Women Are As Strong As The Baobab Tree, an original Canadian production by Sauro Agostinho.  The play chronicles the life of an African woman as she endures and survives an abusive relationship at hands of her husband. Her resilience is seen through her ability to provide for her family on a meager income and with little to no financial support from her estranged husband. Opens September 22 to October 2, 2010. Berkeley Street Theatre. Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8pm with 2pm matinees on Saturdays.

Thursday, September 23

I-dentity

I-dentity tells the story of Melanie Haywood’s personal struggle and development as a person of mixed racial background, living a dual cultural life – both as a West Indian and a Canadian. Being from a small island in the Caribbean, Melanie found herself the teacher since her early childhood, telling children and adults alike about her background; discovering very early that she didn’t quite fit into the “mould” of identified racial groups.  Opens September 23 to September 25.  Studio Theatre – Harbourfront Centre. 8 pm.

Friday, September 24

The Clothing Show Fall 2010

Canada’s largest vintage and new independent designer show will feature over 300 booths of retailers, local designers, jewellery, accessories, vintage and eco-friendly clothing.  Menswear & Eco sections, runway shows and an art gallery are new for 2010.  Make it a weekend; the show runs Friday through Sunday.  Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place. 3 -9 pm. Visit www.theclothingshow.com for more details.

Saturday, September 25

Season of Africa

The Royal Ontario Museum presents a Season of Africa: a thought-provoking series of exhibitions and events inspired by African art and culture. Walls and Barriers: In association with the El Anatsui exhibition, the Institute for Contemporary Culture (ICC) presents Walls and Barriers: A Collaborative Project, an innovative education project by diverse youth from secondary schools and community agencies across the Greater Toronto Area. Unprecedented in its scale and conception, it involved more than 500 young artists and teachers who created a public art installation inspired by and in response to the work of El Anatsui. Walls and Barriers will be on display in Canada Court at the ROM from September 25 until October 23, 2010.

4th Annual Diabetes Walk for Hope

The Diabetes Hope Foundation hosts its 4th Annual Diabetes Walk for Hope in support of children with diabetes. Proceeds from the walk are directed to Diabetes Hope Foundation’s initiatives: Scholarship Program, Diabetes Summer Sports Camp for Adolescents, At-Risk Youth Diabetes Retreat, Kids in Transition Program and Interim Medical Assistance Program. Etienne Brule Park. 9:30 am.

Sunday, September 26

Word on the Street Festival

The Word On The Street has grown from a small festival of 40,000 booklovers to become Canada’s largest, annual book and magazine festival. Its original mandate: to foster the awareness and appreciation of the written word in our culture, promote local artists, bring the people of Toronto together in a celebration of reading and champion literacy as an essential element of a healthy community. Queen’s Park.  11 am – 6 pm.  www.thewordonthestreet.ca

“Our School”

Labelled segregation by opponents and equal opportunity by supporters, “Our School” is the story of the establishment of Canada’s first State-funded Africentric school that divided a city and unleashed a fury of emotions.  Our School will be screened as part of the 2010 COMMFFEST Global Community Film Festival.  Rainbow Cinema (Front Street East at Jarvis). 4:45 pm.

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