Throughout our 14 years of operation, the most significant thing that we have learned is the power of capacity building through partnerships between individuals and groups. No project would have happened without the participation and help from numerous sources working together.

 

Ongoing - MonkeyBiz

MonkeyBiz.ca was our first major web development project that sought to provide online access to information on education, jobs and career related issues. The site has since expanded to include local arts and culture news and provides young people with a vehicle to publish their creative work.

 

Ongoing - Photovoice Hamilton

Photovoice is an international project that uses photography as a tool for social action. In 2005 this project was brought to Hamilton to explore the unique economic, cultural and social issues that affect our community. This project is supported by the Hamilton Community Foundation and is a partnership project between: The Social Research and Planning Council of Hamilton, St. Joseph's Healthcare, the Mental Health Rights Coalition, Canadian Mental Health Association, Worker's Arts and Heritage Centre and the CCMA.

 

2005 - PlanetYouth

PlanetYouth.ca was a web development project devoted to providing youth with a place to tell their stories and to display their creativity. Over 100 street involved youth were recruited to write stories and poems that reflected their lives. The site later expanded to include space to upload artwork, post reviews and maintain a blog (online journal), thus functioning as an online portfolio space for youth.

 

2005 - Project Hope

This is an annual art exhibit for youth organized through partnerships between numerous organizations, including Hamilton's Public Health and Community Services Department, The Hamilton Public Library and Youth Net program, The Salvation Army Suicide Crisis Line Education and Resource Centre, Lamplight, The Community Child Abuse Council, and Alternatives for Youth.

 

2005 - The Sign Project Art Exhibition

In October 2005, the CCMA was pleased to host The Sign Project art exhibition. A group of local artists set out to explore issues surrounding advertising and the ownership of public space. To this end, the group created hundreds of signs made of reclaimed materials such as: wood panel, tarpaper and house paint, and blanketed the downtown core with their work.

 

2004 - Skateforum

Skateforum.ca was created with the intent of facilitating a place to discuss issues affecting the skating community, and to provide an online home for the Hamilton Skateboard Assembly.

 

2004 - Careerstudio

Careerstudio.ca considers modelling to be a very important part of the educational process. This website provides appeals models by connecting peers with other peers, and peers with mentors. It also offered inspirational stories about young people who have found success in careers that they love.

 

2003 - Youth Employment Services Database

This database project arose out of the Hamilton Youth Employment Summit in 2003, where survey participants overwhelmingly identified the lack of access to reliable and accurate information on local employment services and programs as the single most significant barrier to youth employment in our community. To alleviate this problem, the CCMA set out to create an easily accessible, accurate and up-to-date database of all local programs and services.

 

1999 to 2001 - After School Arts Program

Fifteen inner city students were engaged in numerous artistic activities lead by local artists and supervised by interning social workers; who also offered help with schoolwork. The motive behind this program was to evaluate a method for addressing the root causes of crime and victimization through a community development model.

 

1998 - Connect Magazine

Connect magazine was a guide written and produced by youth for youth. The magazine dealt with a variety of issues and topics ranging from music to fashion to education and employment. Not only was this intended to be a resource for the community, but also a learning experience for those involved in its creation.

 

1997 - The View From Here Photography Project

Seventy-five disposable cameras were provided to street involved youth in Hamilton and Brantford with the hopes that they would document the trials and small victories they encounter on the streets everyday. The results were amazing, and an exhibition of their photographs was presented at the Art Gallery of Hamilton as well as the Glenhurst Gallery in Brantford.

 

1995 - The Hughson Main Art (HMA) Collective

The HMA gallery was an artist run centre that led to the development of the Community Centre for Media Arts. We implemented an extensive exhibition schedule the profiled with work of emerging artists.