Karen Emerson, Artistic Director
E-mail: karen@childrenspeacetheatre.org
Karen is a mother, artist, and activist. She joined CPT in 2005 as the Visual Arts Director and stayed on to bring her passion for social justice to the fore of the work. She brings her years of experience working with diverse communities within the grassroots, arts, education and women’s health sectors to create systems change. Karen is currently pursuing her Masters in Environmental Studies at York University where her research considers the recurring questions in activist spaces about what it means to decolonize the processes and practices in our personal lives, within the community arts sector, and within social movements. She is committed to pushing against her own privilege as a white settler to hold space for young people and communities seeking equity and justice. Karen has also studied at the Ontario College of Art, the Toronto School of Art and Ryerson University. She 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 East Toronto and believes deeply that artistic practice 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 (Kanien’keha:ka, Cree, Irish, French, and Jamaican (Colombian, African, Portuguese, Sephardic Jew)) is a community arts programmer and facilitator, spoken word performer, writer, and deejay. Jamaias's artistic practice is deeply rooted in decolonial praxis and identity politics. As the Program Manager at Children's Peace Theatre, Jamaias has been collaborating with the CPT team to create land-based storytelling and mentorship opportunities for Indigenous and Black youth with projects like Dear Native Youth, Project Future and most recently, Soil Spirit Society.
E-mail: jamaias@childrenspeacetheatre.org
Jamaias DaCosta (Kanien’keha:ka, Cree, Irish, French, and Jamaican (Colombian, African, Portuguese, Sephardic Jew)) is a community arts programmer and facilitator, spoken word performer, writer, and deejay. Jamaias's artistic practice is deeply rooted in decolonial praxis and identity politics. As the Program Manager at Children's Peace Theatre, Jamaias has been collaborating with the CPT team to create land-based storytelling and mentorship opportunities for Indigenous and Black youth with projects like Dear Native Youth, Project Future and most recently, Soil Spirit Society.
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
Zainab Amadahy, Intergenerational Lead: Soil, Spirit, Society
Zainab Amadahy is a researcher, organizational development consultant, author, and educator currently based in Toronto. Her background in community service is in the areas of Indigenous knowledge reclamation, curanderismo, non-profit housing, women’s services, migrant settlement and community arts as well as medical and photovoltaic technologies. Among her publications is "Indigenous Peoples and Black Peoples in Canada: Settlers or Allies” (co-authored with Dr. Bonita Lawrence, 2009) and the futurist novel Moons of Palmares (Sister Vision Press, 1998).
Zainab Amadahy is a researcher, organizational development consultant, author, and educator currently based in Toronto. Her background in community service is in the areas of Indigenous knowledge reclamation, curanderismo, non-profit housing, women’s services, migrant settlement and community arts as well as medical and photovoltaic technologies. Among her publications is "Indigenous Peoples and Black Peoples in Canada: Settlers or Allies” (co-authored with Dr. Bonita Lawrence, 2009) and the futurist novel Moons of Palmares (Sister Vision Press, 1998).
Adam McLaren, Space Animator and Volunteer Coordinator
E-mail: facilities@childrenspeacetheatre.org
Adam McLaren is an Anishnaabe from Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation Reserve. He is a musician, a poet, a writer, and an activist who is involved with the Soaring Eagles Youth Movement. He fronts the Indigenous punk band, the Handsome Savages. Adam is a student of life who believes in the interconnectedness of all things, and life-long learning.
E-mail: facilities@childrenspeacetheatre.org
Adam McLaren is an Anishnaabe from Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation Reserve. He is a musician, a poet, a writer, and an activist who is involved with the Soaring Eagles Youth Movement. He fronts the Indigenous punk band, the Handsome Savages. Adam is a student of life who believes in the interconnectedness of all things, and life-long learning.
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.
