Karen Emerson, Artistic Director
E-mail: karen@childrenspeacetheatre.org
Karen is a visual artist with a long history of social activism. She studied at the Ontario College of Art, the Toronto School of Art and Ryerson University, and spent many years prior to joining Children’s Peace Theatre creating workshops for children and youth and using the arts to raise awareness and understanding of issues of peace and social justice. Karen has a strong connection to the community of Crescent Town and believes deeply that art can change the world one person, one community at a time.
E-mail: karen@childrenspeacetheatre.org
Karen is a visual artist with a long history of social activism. She studied at the Ontario College of Art, the Toronto School of Art and Ryerson University, and spent many years prior to joining Children’s Peace Theatre creating workshops for children and youth and using the arts to raise awareness and understanding of issues of peace and social justice. Karen has a strong connection to the community of Crescent Town and believes deeply that art can change the world one person, one community at a time.
Jamaias DaCosta, Manager of Programs and Development
E-mail: jamaias@childrenspeacetheatre.org
Jamaias DaCosta is a facilitator, spoken word performer, writer, deejay and radio geek. Jamaias facilitates workshops and trainings in safe space curation, anti-oppression and social justice training with a focus on art, Indigenous education and decolonial thought.
Jamaias is Manager of Programs and Development at the Children’s Peace Theatre; and works with Monique Mojica at Chocolate Woman Collective. She is also the co-host and producer of The Vibe Collective and producer of Indigenous Waves radio shows, both on CIUT 89.5FM. Jamaias sits on the advisory Board of Mixed in Canada and is a self identified mixed settler of Kanien’keha:ka, Cree, Irish, French, and Jamaican (Colombian, African, Portuguese, Sephardic Jew) ancestry.
E-mail: jamaias@childrenspeacetheatre.org
Jamaias DaCosta is a facilitator, spoken word performer, writer, deejay and radio geek. Jamaias facilitates workshops and trainings in safe space curation, anti-oppression and social justice training with a focus on art, Indigenous education and decolonial thought.
Jamaias is Manager of Programs and Development at the Children’s Peace Theatre; and works with Monique Mojica at Chocolate Woman Collective. She is also the co-host and producer of The Vibe Collective and producer of Indigenous Waves radio shows, both on CIUT 89.5FM. Jamaias sits on the advisory Board of Mixed in Canada and is a self identified mixed settler of Kanien’keha:ka, Cree, Irish, French, and Jamaican (Colombian, African, Portuguese, Sephardic Jew) ancestry.
Duane Hall, Social Innovator
E-mail: innovator@childrenspeacetheatre.org
Duane Hall is an artist and social change agent who is passionate about utilizing a creative approach to discussing mental health and the human condition. He is a founding member, and Event Curator, of Spoke N’ Heard, a collective of diverse creatives, intellects and social innovators that provide a platform for the voice of art in Toronto. Through community programs, creative events and awareness campaigns, Duane desires to facilitate opportunities for conscious learning, growth and understanding.
E-mail: innovator@childrenspeacetheatre.org
Duane Hall is an artist and social change agent who is passionate about utilizing a creative approach to discussing mental health and the human condition. He is a founding member, and Event Curator, of Spoke N’ Heard, a collective of diverse creatives, intellects and social innovators that provide a platform for the voice of art in Toronto. Through community programs, creative events and awareness campaigns, Duane desires to facilitate opportunities for conscious learning, growth and understanding.
Sharrae Lyon, Social Innovator
E-mail: connector@childrenspeacetheatre.org
Sharrae is a filmmaker, actress, dancer, writer, facilitator and healer who believes in the powerful role of science fiction and futurism in carving new pathways to more sustaining, life-giving and affirming futures. Her practice is informed by studying indigenous healing modalities (yoga and qi-gong), neuroscience and biology in understanding the individual and collective capacity towards transformation. Sharrae is an alumni of Black Women Film! and has been apart of the DOC Institute and Laidlaw Foundation's Documentary Film Mentorship program. Currently, Sharrae is directing her screenplay "Delayed Echoes." Her dynamic facilitation style has taken her to powerfully transform space and time with individuals, groups and organizations across Canada, Detroit's Allied Media Conference. Her practice is informed by decolonizing our relations and expanding understandings of what it means to be human in a time that calls for more love, healing and regeneration
E-mail: connector@childrenspeacetheatre.org
Sharrae is a filmmaker, actress, dancer, writer, facilitator and healer who believes in the powerful role of science fiction and futurism in carving new pathways to more sustaining, life-giving and affirming futures. Her practice is informed by studying indigenous healing modalities (yoga and qi-gong), neuroscience and biology in understanding the individual and collective capacity towards transformation. Sharrae is an alumni of Black Women Film! and has been apart of the DOC Institute and Laidlaw Foundation's Documentary Film Mentorship program. Currently, Sharrae is directing her screenplay "Delayed Echoes." Her dynamic facilitation style has taken her to powerfully transform space and time with individuals, groups and organizations across Canada, Detroit's Allied Media Conference. Her practice is informed by decolonizing our relations and expanding understandings of what it means to be human in a time that calls for more love, healing and regeneration
Myia Davar, Network Lead, Youth Social Infrastructure (YSI) Collaborative
E-mail: myia@youthsi.org
Myia is a curiosity-driven grey-area explorer and never wants to stop asking why. She is energized and inspired by the work and vision of young people and committed to the poetry of complexity (systems, processes, relationships, stories, and bodies). Myia has worked for twelve years intervening in health and education systems in Canada and the US through mental health and addictions supports for youth and women; community development, network coordination, leadership and health promotion work with racialized communities, and broader youth engagement, policy and advocacy work across Toronto. To Children's Peace Theatre and Youth Social Infrastructure Collaborative Myia brings experience and passion for co-creating magic moments and transformative youth-led spaces, creating spaces and conversations for social and emotional justice, and local economic development, social determinants of health, and community arts frameworks.
E-mail: myia@youthsi.org
Myia is a curiosity-driven grey-area explorer and never wants to stop asking why. She is energized and inspired by the work and vision of young people and committed to the poetry of complexity (systems, processes, relationships, stories, and bodies). Myia has worked for twelve years intervening in health and education systems in Canada and the US through mental health and addictions supports for youth and women; community development, network coordination, leadership and health promotion work with racialized communities, and broader youth engagement, policy and advocacy work across Toronto. To Children's Peace Theatre and Youth Social Infrastructure Collaborative Myia brings experience and passion for co-creating magic moments and transformative youth-led spaces, creating spaces and conversations for social and emotional justice, and local economic development, social determinants of health, and community arts frameworks.
