WHO ARE WE?
JAYU is a Toronto-based charity dedicated to sharing human rights stories through the arts. The iAM Program program offers equity-deserving youth ages 12-29 free arts mentorship.
iAM programs are free and designed for young artists between the ages of 12 – 29 living in Ontario with no previous experience required. Equity-deserving is inclusive of Black and racialized folks, people with disabilities, Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), 2-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer (2SLGBTQ+), newcomers to Canada and people experiencing homelessness or precarious housing.
PROGRAM DETAILS
In this online workshop hosted on Zoom led by @alexia.cousineau, we'll use writing, and especially editing, as tools for our development. We'll look for ideas, questions, and directions that might be hiding in that first write, develop them into theories, and play around with form, structure, and literary devices to see what can help the poem do what we want it to do.
Come curious, come messy, and come ready to revise.
DURATION
September 23, 30, October 7, 14, 21, 28, November 4
7 pm - 9 pm
LOCATION
Zoom (link will be shared closer to program date)
NEED TO KNOW
Program will be hosted online
If you do not have access to a device to join the call, we can see if we can accomodate based on our equipment availability.
REGISTRATION CLOSES SEPTEMBER 18
Please Note: Registration does not guarantee placement in this program. Confirmation emails will be sent prior to the program start.
If you have any inquiries, please contact Des, core iAM Program Manager at desiree@jayu.ca
MEET YOUR MENTOr
Alexia Cousineau (she/her) is a queer franco-Ontarian community-based artist and poet from Timmins, Ontario. Alexia is the editor of the poetry anthology Local Matter, published in August 2026. Alexia was a past winner of Wordstock Sudbury's Poetry Slam and Guelph Poetry Slam, as well as a finalist in Toronto's Poetry Slam. Her written work is featured in The Literary Review of Canada, Sulphur Literary Journal, as well as many local zines. Alexia is the chair and founder of Anaphore Sudbury, an artist collective creating opportunities for emerging voices and interdisciplinary collaboration in the Sudbury community.