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Michèle Newton presented her Our Mosaic Lives™ – Celebrating Black Women and Girls art exhibit. Newton began her “Back to Black” journey during Black History Month 2018, interviewing black Canadian women and exploring diversity, inclusion and belonging through their shared views and lived experiences. The resulting photography, poetry, and motivational graphic elements was exhibited during January and February 2020 at the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library’s, Lakeshore Branch.

Made possible thanks to the support of Innisfil Idealab & Library, Allegra Barrie and KonvoMedia

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ART EXHIBIT - INNISFIL ideaLAB & LIBRARY

Art Exhibit - Innisfil
Art Exhibit Innisfil ideaLAB and Library
School Board

SCHOOL BOARD

A small but mighty Our Mosaic Lives™ Art Exhibit called “One Step Forward” was on display through June at Barrie Public Library’s Downtown Branch. It features portraits of local students and key inclusion statements. The Simcoe County District School Board student portraits were captured during a recent Social Isolation and Inclusion initiative.

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Inclusion is appreciating our INDIVIDUAL
Inclusion is VALUING each other - Our Mo
Inclusion is celebrating our DIVERSITY a
Inclusion is a sense of BELONGING wherev
Caring Concerts

IN THE SCHOOLS - CARING CONCERTS 

Collaborating with Errol Lee in a team of community changemakers, I visited Fred C. Cook Public School in February for their Grades 5-8 "I'm Somebody" Assembly and in April for an inspirational evening of "Parent Connections".  It's an honour to share my "Back to Black" experience as part of  Caring Concerts' comprehensive educational events with singing, dancing and meaningful messages specifically designed to teach, nurture and model positive character traits through the arts.

Special thanks to my supporters and collaborators Errol and Shay Lee, Pauline Christian, Madeline Temmer, Patrick Voo and Maria Michelle'Lee. We truly are 'Better Together'! 

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City of Barrie

CITY OF BARRIE

In partnership with The City of Barrie/Creative Barrie, we started off 2019 with a tribute to diversity and inclusion, by presenting “Back to Black”, an installation of the Our Mosaic Lives™ – Celebrating Black Women and Girls Art Exhibit.  The exhibit's photography, poetry, and motivational graphic elements were the result of  Michèle Newton's interviews with local black Canadian women exploring diversity, inclusion and belonging. The exhibit was displayed for January in the Barrie City Hall Rotunda and included a reception with official remarks and a welcome from Mayor Jeff Lehman. The exhibit has since travelled to Barrie Public Library and The YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka. Special thanks to community supporters Allegra Printing and Konvo Media.

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Back to Black Journey - Michele Newton c
Encouragement - Lisa Singh for Our Mosai
Acceptance - Shelly Skinner for Our Mosa
Inspiration - Joy Foster for Our Mosaic
Expression - Philys Og for Our Mosaic Li
Positivity - Dione Taylor for Our Mosaic
Confidence - Keisha-Ann Shaw Hill for Ou
Compassion - Ava Like Lava for Our Mosai
Perseverance - Anne Marie Rose Mighty fo
Enthusiasm - Nana aba Duncan for Our Mos
Dedication - Deanne Rose for Our Mosaic
Resilience - Rhiannon Hoover  for Our Mo
Passion - Rita McGrath for Our Mosaic Li
Mindfulness - Dominique Johnson for Our
Kindness - Shanika Edwards photographed
Collaboration - Michele Newton for Our M

GIRLS STAND TALL

We loved our collaboration with Ellie Arscott of

Girls Stand Tall to create a portrait installation for the Our Mosaic Lives™ - Celebrating Black Canadian Women and Girls exhibit held in Barrie during January 2019. These portraits are also part of Ellie's larger Girls Stand Tall project comprised of over 200 portraits. 

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Girls Stand Tall
Meet Eliana -  Girls Stand Tall collab w
I'm Eliana.

I dream of becoming the best version of myself 

who is a  loving and kind pet doctor to  dolphins and koalas.

Meet Jasmyn - Girls Stand Tall collab wi
I'm Jasmyn.

I dream of becoming an archaeologist.

Meet Kezra -  Girls Stand Tall collab wi
I'm Kezra.

I dream of becoming

graceful dancer.

Meet Khloe - Girls Stand Tall collab wit
I'm Khloe.

I dream of becoming

a teacher, firefighter girl and a golfer.

Meet Jules. Girls Stand Tall collab with
I'm Jules.

I dream of becoming a teacher,

baker and singer.

Meet Marle. She dreams of being a baller
I'm Marley.

I dream of becoming

a teacher and ballerina.

Meet Mason. She dreams of being a gymnas
I'm Mason.

I dream of becoming a gymnastics teacher.

Meet Naomi - Girls Stand Tall collab wit
I'm Naomi.

I dream of becoming

doctor.

Meet Nicolla. She dreams of becoming a w
I'm Nicolla.

I dream of becoming

a writer.

MAKING CHANGE - BLACk History Month 

Community changemakers Shelly Skinner and  Michèle Newton collaborated to co-present Making Change, Barrie's first Black History Month Kick-off Event. A partnership between Pleasure Diva Presents, City of Barrie and Our Mosaic Lives, it highlighted the role of diversity and inclusion in honouring the past, embracing the present and supporting the future. Speakers, artists, musicians and poets from across Simcoe County were featured. A portion of proceeds went to support the YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka's Immigration Services programming.

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Making Change BHM
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