George Brown College special events students organize Graffiti Street Party fundraiser for SKETCH
Students in George Brown College’s special events management program put on events throughout the year to raise awareness and funds in support of student scholarships and charities, and this year is no different.
For their final project, a group of students are putting on a Graffiti Street Party which features the five pillars of hip hop; break dance competitions, rap battles, live graffiti, live DJs, and knowledge.
The event will raise money for student scholarships the agency SKETCH who provide creative training initiatives for street-involved, homeless and at-risk youth.
“With this event we are really trying to engage the five senses,” said Harpreet Atwal a student organizing the event. “There is a wall space, that we are actually allowed to paint on, and we have an artist who has already signed with us who will paint a freestyle painting on the wall. We have also reached out to public figures like Kathleen Wynne and Norm Kelly to come out.”
Ontario Premier Wynne sent her regrets and best wishes for a successful event. While Toronto city councillor Norm Kelly hasn’t confirmed if he will be attending.
Notable performers include Toronto hip-hop duo Plaitwrights, emcees Looch Bodega, Johnny Toxsic and Jakob Bell who are going to be participating in the Graffiti Street Party Cypher.
As special events students in their fourth semester they have to execute an event that covers all that they have learned over the past two years.
“I think the main thing that we do, especially being part of the college system, is to give our students as much hands-on experience as we can, while still promoting a safe learning environment for them to help them make well-informed decisions but still provide a safety net for them at the same time,” said Ijaz Jamal, the special events management coordinator and a full-time instructor at George Brown College since 2009.
Jamal explained that from a student perspective, it’s not all about the money; the main goal is to put on an event where our students are going to be able to make a positive memorable experience for the guests.
Atwal is really excited for the event, she believes that the success of the Graffiti Street Party will truly be a reflection of the generous financial support and personal dedication George Brown will receive from members of the community.
SKETCH is going into its nineteenth year of providing creative training for at-risk youth. It was SKETCH’s model of youth engagement that made George Brown students believed this is the ideal charity to support for their event.
The event will be held at District 28 at 28 Logan Ave. on Thursday, April 7 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on http://www.graffitistreetpartyto.com.
Student tickets: $20 *With valid student photo ID
General tickets: $25
At the door: $30
