“ACTOUT has brought a new perspective on what our club can offer to the youth of Toronto…
it has put us on the map with offering creative arts programming for youth.”
Anna Sturino ∙ Social Development Coordinator, St. Alban’s Boys’ & Girls’ Club

ST. ALBAN’S BOYS’ & GIRLS’ CLUB – HISTORY

With more pressures being placed upon working parents in the late 1980s, St. Alban’s acquired a license and, in 1988, opened a pre-school. In 1996, through new governance, the organization became more self-sufficient. This new leadership and the reallocation of resources to front line workers resulted in longer service hours, increased participation, and more diverse programs with increased membership and positive input from the community. With this, the application to manage the Jane & Finch Boys’ & Girls’ Club was approved.

THE BACKGROUND...

The youth of Toronto are facing many complex and inter-related challenges including poverty, violence, health epidemics, social marginalization, unemployment and underemployment. Recognizing this, ACTOUT was developed to provide youth with the opportunity to transform their often challenging life experiences into positive and educational productions.

ACTOUT is governed by a group of qualified educators, entertainment professionals and street certified youth workers who use the arts as a way to educate, motivate and stimulate our youth.

The emphasis has been, and will continue to be, on the creation of shared learning experiences focusing on problems defined by youth.

THE MISSION...

Help youth help themselves by providing a creative forum for development of leadership and interpersonal skills while enhancing communication, team work, and critical thinking.  We encourage and promote the voices of these youths through creative productions in interdisciplinary arts.

THE OBJECTIVES...

ACTOUT encourages the youth to partake in something that proves to be beneficial not only in the present, but also in their future. It is important for them to be able to take away with them more than the underlying message. Therefore, we strive to meet the following objectives with all projects.

BUILD SELF-ESTEEM...

Enable youth to use production tools (audio, visual, print) to promote their own development · provide youth with the means to represent and express themselves within the projects · develop a sense of accomplishment upon completion of all tasks.

DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS...

Teach co-operation and team work through group discussion, analysis, and action · develop a capacity for critical thinking, organization, public speaking and professionalism · provide access to information and people within the industry to inspire dedication and commitment.

INTEGRATE YOUTH INTO THE COMMUNITY...

Participate in projects which implicate youth into activities of the community · develop initiatives which build awareness of social issues · provide a platform for discussion of social and community issues and concerns · sensitize others to some of the issues facing at-risk youth.