Dealing with loss, tending to the garden
This session supports participants in understanding and navigating loss, grief, and mourning while building awareness of how these experiences impact emotional well-being. Through guided discussion and reflective learning, participants explore coping strategies, tending to themselves like a garden, and practical ways to support both themselves and others during times of loss in safe and compassionate […]
Wellbeing market stress management
This session invites participants into the “Wellbeing Market,” where fruits of all kinds are used as interactive tools for learning about stress management. Through prompts, discussions, and activities, participants explore key themes such as setting boundaries, using the body as a source of strength, and developing skills for emotional regulation and managing big feelings in […]
Winter blues and seasonal depression
This session supports participants to understand how seasonal changes can affect mood, energy, and overall mental well-being during the winter months. Participants will explore the experience commonly referred to as the “winter blues” and learn about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), including its signs, symptoms, and impact on daily life. Activities will also engage in learning […]
Mind and body connection
This session supports participants in understanding the connection between the mind and body to strengthen mental well-being and manage stress. Through a somatic and strengths-based approach, participants will learn to recognize how stress shows up in the body and practice five self- and co-regulation techniques using the S.C.O.P.E. approach. The session encourages participants to build […]
Singing Together report 2023 – 26
This report explores how singing and music-making can support the mental health, social connection, and overall wellbeing of newcomer communities during settlement. It draws on evidence showing that participatory music activities can create accessible, low-barrier spaces for expression and belonging, particularly in contexts where language and cultural transition can be challenging. By examining both lived […]
Prescribing arts and culture
The Social Prescribing Arts & Culture: A Toolkit for Service Providers was created to help service providers understand how social prescribing and arts and culture can support wellbeing, especially for newcomer communities. It offers an introduction to how creative and community-based activities can strengthen connection, belonging, and wellness, along with practical guidance for making accessible […]
Connection manual: Mothers and children program guide
The Connections Manual is a guide for service providers and organizations to deliver group-based interventions for mothers and young children experiencing violence in relationships. Grounded in research and practice, this resource provides a structured curriculum that supports mothers in understanding the impact of violence, substance use, and trauma on their relationships, parenting, and child development. […]
A scoping review of community arts for newcomers in Canada
Date: TBD Author(s): Esther-Joelle Asare, Andrea Charise, Mariangela Castro Arteaga, Christen Kong Participatory, community-based creative practices, including community arts programs, may foster connection, expression, and cross-cultural understanding, offering a distinctive lens for newcomer wellness research and practice. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine Canadian studies of arts engagement initiatives in community that address […]
Community Arts Interventions for Newcomer Wellness
Date: March 2, 2026 Author(s): Christen Kong, Mariangela Castro-Arteaga, Hiba Irfan, Andrea Charise, Esther-Joelle Asare This environmental scan was conducted by FLOURISH: Community-Engaged Arts for Social Wellness Collective (FLOURISH) at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) in collaboration with Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services (Access Alliance) in 2024–2025. This environmental scan explores key […]
Creative interventions toolkit
The creative interventions toolkit is a practical guide that helps community members, facilitators, and organizations prevent and respond to interpersonal violence. Developed by Creative Interventions, it offers a community-based model that empowers everyday people to support survivors and take collective action beyond traditional criminal justice responses. Special feature: Includes step-by-step tools, exercises, and real-world stories […]