PowerUp! 2023 Reflection and Expression Contest Now Open!
It may seem that PowerUp has come and gone, however, we know that for many of you, the experience and lasting impact remain. ❤️ OVOV invites youth participants to submit entries to our Reflection and Expression contest!
Submission Guidelines:
- Youth must have attended PowerUp! 2023.
- Youth can submit an entry in ONE category only.
- Entries should adhere to the theme: family tree, connection, identity
- Pieces must be submitted to onevisiononevoice@oacas.org by Thursday, August 24, 2023.
- Two winners from each category will receive $100 each.
Categories:
Visual Art 🎨
Take what you learned at PowerUp and create something new!
Please send us your artwork in a digital format or take a photo of it.
Permitted formats: jpg/jpeg, png, pdf
Poetry 🖋️
We hope you were inspired by our guest poets to write your own thoughts and feelings!
Maximum length: 15 lines
Permitted formats: Word document or PDF
Dance 🕺🏿💃🏿
We all love a dance party, show us what you’ve got!
1-2 minutes with audio
Permitted format: MP4, M4V, WEBM, OGV, WMV, and FLV
Spoken Word/Monologue 🎤
Speak your truth.
Audio or audio + visual, 1-3 minutes
Permitted audio formats: MP3, OGG, or WAV
Permitted video formats: MP4, M4V, WEBM, OGV, WMV, and FLV
Song 🎶
Sing (or play) your truth!
Audio alone or audio + visual, 1-3 minutes
Permitted audio formats: MP3, OGG, or WAV
Permitted video formats: MP4, M4V, WEBM, OGV, WMV, and FLV
Criteria:
- Originality
- Adherence to the guidelines (see above)
- Uniqueness
- Individual culture
Watch highlights from PowerUp! 2023
Want to attend PowerUp! but you’re not sure if you have permission to miss class?
Use this letter to send to your teacher so they better understand what the symposium is all about!
Follow OVOV on social media to stay up to date with all conference updates
Frequently Asked Questions
PowerUp! is for Black-identifying children and youth who are in care or actively involved with an Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agency or a Children’s Aid Society in Ontario. Youth participants must be connected to a worker at a CAS or Indigenous agency. PowerUp! programming is geared for youth aged 13 to 21. Agency staff supporting youth attendees can also attend.
PowerUp! is the first Canadian event specifically designed for Black youth in care to gather and feel empowered, seen, celebrated, and uplifted by their own community, elders, and workers. It is an opportunity to foster peer relationships and to strengthen connections to culture and identity in a fun, safe, and affirming way as per CYFSA requirements. To learn more about programming during the event, listen to OVOV manager Keishia Facey here or follow OVOV on social media (Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook) to stay up to date with all conference updates.
PowerUp! 2023 will be taking place at the:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Toronto Airport West
5444 Dixie Rd, Mississauga, ON L4W 2L2
PowerUp! is free for all participants! Youth attendees will also receive a swag bag. Snacks and lunch will be provided as well.
Registration for PowerUp! opened on January 5th, 2023. Please register here. Note: Registration is required for all attendees.
Staff should register youth by February 17 to guarantee their spot.
We understand that this event may bring up a lot of strong emotions for youth who attend. There will be a resource packet outlining immediate supports youth can access before, during, or after the symposium in the swag bags and a resource spotlight during the event.
A mental health counsellor will be onsite during and available immediately after the event to support or debrief. We strongly advise that workers check in with their youth before and after the event and be available to support, connect, or debrief.
Resources
Support is only a text or call away! Reach out to talk to someone or get connected to supports, programs and resources.
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