The 411 Initiative For Change

The 411 Initiative for Change is a Canadian non profit organization that provides programming to schools and community groups merging contemporary arts, culture, heritage, education and social development to empower and inspire young people.

Abandoning traditional infrastructure of educational instruction 411 leverages young people’s interest in contemporary musicians, art and pop culture to engage young people on common global issues.

411’s innovative programming has already captured the attention and hearts of over 300,000 young minds across Canada. Through fusing pop culture with inspired dialogue and life shaping information about peer pressure, discrimination, identity, global citizenship and respect through the context of common social issues impacting young people.

Young people drive the economy and shape the future direction of policy and change. Although they are drivers of change, their opinions are often overlooked. 411 recognizes the strength in engaging young people - particularly at their early critical stages of development when they are shaping their socialization skills. Engaging and influencing young people effectively can shift the outcomes of our communities - locally and globally. 411 works with young people to provide them with the motivations, skills and support to become more engaged and active citizens in their communities.

What We Do:

• Gear our work and programs towards young audiences;
• Use contemporary arts as the media to present our program key messages and engage young people;
• Produce arts education and industry programming which provides a platform for young people's expression;
• Produce programming on issues of importance to young people such as health, social, gender, integration and children's rights issues;
• Ensure that all our events and projects include Canadian artistic content;
• Offer arts-based educational programs and workshops to schools, youth-centred organizations, and public open access venues; and,
• Work in partnership with schools, community organizations, media, and governments.

Interviews with 411 Artists:
Masia One and 411 on HipHopCanada
Rochester and 411 in Macleans Magazine
Rochester and 411 in the Toronto Sun
Eternia with 411 on the Madblooger
Masia One and 411 on CityTV

Articles On 411:
Girls Program  on MindyourMind.ca
Girls Program in the Metro
Girls Program  in the Winnipeg Free Press
Girls Program  in Samaritan Mag
Girls Program in Peace Magazine
Girls Program on the South West Booster
Girls Program in the Moose Jaw Times
Girls Program on St. Catherines Standard
411 on Inside Toronto
411 on the Torontoist
Arts Workshop on HipHopCanada
Arts Workshop on Canada.com
HIV/AIDS Program on Kamloops News
HIV/AIDS Program in the Leader Post

Articles by School Boards and Teachers:
Girls Program on the Ottawa Carleton Catholic School Board
Girls Program on the Living Sky School Division
Girls Program at Bruce Trail Public School
Arts Workshops on Younge Street Peace
Asian Heritage on The Peel District School Board

Interviews with 411 Executive Director Tamara Dawit
CBC Radio Metro Morning, Metro Newspaper,  CBC Radio Metro Morning , Diaspora Diaries profile  Sway Magazine, This.org