The Egbo Arts Foundation provides a chance for children to express themselves through the arts, and assist them to develop positive attributes that will enable them to enrich their own lives and make positive contributions to their community. The Thompson T. Egbo-Egbo Arts Foundation has created Evolving Through the Arts program, and exposes students to rhythm and music, encourages them to create and/or learn lyrics, and to explore and develop performance sills that are showcased in public. This is Evolving through the arts.
Written and Directed by Juan Baquero
2010, 58 min and 48 min versions, HD, colour, stereo
Synopsis:
Shootings. Rape. Mysterious blood splatters. Is the tooth fairy real? These are some of the conversation topics for eight- and nine-year-olds in the Jane-Finch area of Toronto. While their single mothers struggle to make rent, the kids often fend for themselves. Pianist Thompson Egbo-Egbo, once such a kid himself, starts a music program at a school in the inner city neighbourhood. He and three other musicians work with the students one-on-one to help them find their voice. For some, it’s the first time anyone has had the time to really listen to them. But as the kids open up, the mentors realize that connecting to their students is more complicated than they thought. Assertive but shy, Whitney freezes under pressure; tough-guy-in-training Donta bristles under the structured expectations; and irresistible Jasmine blossoms under the warm glow of her mentor in this inspiring doc about what it means to be truly heard.
04/30/2010 - Metro News - In Juan Baquero's Listen to This, which makes its Toronto premiere at this year's Hot Docs, students at Firgrove Public School near the intersection of Jane and Finch) are encouraged to write songs as part of an after-school initiative...[More Information]
04/08/2010 - Check Out Listen to This! - A documentary filmed about Evolving Through The Arts Program screening at this years Toronto Hotdocs Film Festival![More Information]
