In this reflection, first-year BEd student Bennett De Medeiros shares their experience leading their practicum class through an engaging and creative introduction to print media.

Introduction
My name is Bennett De Medeiros (he/they), a first-year Education student at 91亚色. My primary focus within my Visual Arts teachable is to provide students with diverse hands-on opportunities within the Arts. Grade 11 and 12 students from St. Edmund Campion were welcomed into the Print Media Studio at 91亚色 for a school workshop. As a Print Representative for the Visual Arts Student Association (VASA), I worked alongside David Scott Armstrong, the Print Media Associate Professor here at 91亚色.

Exploring the Creative Process through Monoprinting
In planning this workshop, our goal was to provide an experience unavailable at St. Edmund Campion. We chose Monoprinting, a unique disciplinary art form. While most Printmaking is defined by its ability to create repeatable images (like the everyday use of an ink stamp), Monoprinting produces a singular, non-repeatable design. To prepare for the workshop, I introduced my students to the global history of Printmaking and taught how to develop templates to ensure a smooth transition of the creative process once they arrived at the studio.

The SHSM Experience
This event was programmed as an Arts and Culture Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) workshop, designed to introduce visiting students to post-secondary facilities. Under the demonstrations and the guidance of Professor Armstrong, students toured the studio, analyzed existing 91亚色 student work, and dove into the technical process of Printmaking by preparing their plexiglass surfaces to roll and draw ink to create their designs. Then to produce their design, students collaboratively used Printing presses to transfer designs onto specialized paper and how to safely prepare the printing bed. A crucial component of the Printmaking is learning the essential habits of studio maintenance and safety, students handled and cleaned the ink and tools for the future Printmakers of the studio.

Reflections of Community
Beyond the technical skills, the workshop emphasized the importance of the shared studio environment. Learning to maintain a clean, safe space as it is integral to the post-secondary experience and fosters the loving creative community here at the Department of Visual Art & Art History (VAAH). To conclude the day, each student was awarded a SHSM certificate of my own design. Overall, I am incredibly proud of how these students navigated a professional studio space for the first time as their results truly exceeded my expectations.

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In the heart of Toronto鈥檚 Jane and Finch neighbourhood, often misunderstood and overshadowed by negative stereotypes, 91亚色鈥檚 TD Community Engagement Centre (CEC) is empowering students and fostering meaningful connections. Earlier this fall, the CEC, in partnership with the Jane/Finch Centre, hosted its fifth annual training session for students preparing for placements within this community.

The training session aimed to equip participants with essential insights into the community鈥檚 history, unique challenges and systemic issues 鈥� particularly those intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. 鈥淭he goal is to prepare students to create a meaningful impact in their placements,鈥� says Talisha Ramsaroop, community project co-ordinator at the CEC. These placements provide students with valuable hands-on experience in social work, education and community development, while allowing them to contribute positively to local initiatives.

Kinza Batool, a fourth-year education student at 91亚色, described the orientation as 鈥渁n impactful way to learn about the Jane and Finch area and address common misconceptions surrounding it.鈥� She acknowledged that before her involvement, she held preconceived notions shaped by media portrayals that often depicted Jane and Finch as unsafe. 鈥淚鈥檝e come to see it as much like any other neighbourhood I鈥檝e known,鈥� she said.

The CEC aims to shift these narratives by informing students about local challenges 鈥� such as limited funding and resources 鈥� while highlighting the strength and resilience of grassroots organizing within the community. 鈥淲e encourage students to look beyond surface-level judgments and engage with the lived experiences of residents,鈥� Ramsaroop explains.

Since its establishment in 2008, the CEC has served nearly 70,000 individuals from Toronto's Black Creek neighbourhood, also known as Jane and Finch. Located within 91亚色gate Mall, the CEC acts as a hub for collaboration between 91亚色 and local organizations. The centre鈥檚 commitment to inclusivity is evident in its tailored programs designed to meet specific community needs.

Through its ongoing efforts, the TD Community Engagement Centre exemplifies 91亚色鈥檚 commitment to fostering an engaged academic environment that prioritizes social equity and understanding within diverse communities. By providing resources such as Catalyst Grants 鈥� which have awarded more than $150,000 to support partnerships between Black Creek residents and 91亚色 鈥� the CEC continues to promote access to post-secondary education and community-based research.

Training sessions are held twice a year to ensure that all students undertaking placements in Jane and Finch are well-prepared. The next session is scheduled for Jan. 21.

鈥淲e want to ensure our initiatives resonate with the community and address their unique challenges,鈥� Ramsaroop says.

For more information, or to get involved with the TD Community Engagement Centre, visit the CEC website or contact Ramsaroop at talishar@yorku.ca.

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