Two Barrie residents, Monica Loney and Nicholai Avigdor Melamed, have been named winners of the Ontario Community Changemakers Grant.
They are among 30 Ontario leaders who will receive $5,000 to implement their project idea, get leadership development training from an organization called 8 80 Cities, and peer-to-peer networking with other grassroots community changemakers.
Loney’s project idea is Transformative Power of Public Art. Working with vulnerable sectors of the community to encourage creative expression and give a voice to a cause, a public art piece will be created.
By providing an avenue to develop skills and empower for change, Loney’s project aims to break down barriers and prejudices within the community.
Melamed’s project idea is Taste of Barrie: Community Through Cuisine. It’s an art project highlighting local, family-owned ethnic food stores, their cuisine and the cultural connections they represent to the broader Barrie community.
The 2024 program will run from October 2024 to September 2025, including a two-day studio in Toronto. The changemakers will have 12 months to implement their projects. They will receive ongoing training and capacity building from the team at 8 80 Cities and a network of international public space experts.
The mission of 8 80 Cities is to challenge the status quo to create healthier, more equitable and sustainable cities for all people.
The principle is if everything we do in our cities is great for an eight-year-old and an 80-year-old, then it will be better for all people.
