Learning Centre
at 6 St. Joseph House
Opening ourselves to new possibilities.
Fall Programs
Our programs fall into three streams:
Two Program Streams |
Two Themes |
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ArtLife |
“Sparking the Imagination” |
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LifeSkills & Wellness |
“Practical Hands-on Learning from the Heart” |
If you don’t see what you’re looking for on our calendar, let us know. We’re always searching for new ideas about how to make learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
YOU CAN register for a course by dropping by the House, going online at http://www.6stjoseph.ca/site07/learning-centre.htm, or by sending an email to info@6stjoseph.ca Courses are free-of-charge to low income persons and are available on a first-come-first-served basis. For those who can afford to pay, we appreciate your donation.
Fall Schedule
ArtLife
VISUAL ART
A1
The Artist in Everyone
Learning to Draw & Paint with Confidence
With Dan Buckley
Every Wednesday, 3:00 – 5:00 PM (ongoing)
This introductory drawing and painting class supports aspiring artists in the pursuit of some technical facility for seeing and rendering a variety of subjects. Each week Dan suggests a new subject and the class works on it in a variety of media: acrylic paint, chalk pastel, pencils, etc. This supportive environment makes it easy for newcomers to dip their toe in, while providing a creative atmosphere for the more seasoned artist. Drops-in are welcome. A great starter course! All materials, acrylic paints, pencils, chalk pastels, are supplied, though feel free to bring your own.
Mandela Sensory Art
Crafting a Personal Symbol
With Judith Mullett
Fridays, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Dec. 7, 14, 21
Mandela, which means “wholeness and circle symbolizing a safe refuge of inner awareness,” is used by many cultures for understanding and personal growth. The Mandela is about centering a person’s being and is used as a vehicle for exploring art, science and religion. This workshop will integrate the nine archetypes for inner discovery and understanding. The goal is to create an individual Mandela comprised of a journey into self, using different media and materials. All materials supplied.
A3
Illuminating Our Lives Through the Art of Living in
Colour
A Water Colour Painting Adventure
With Stephanie Barwick
Mondays, 1:00-4:00 PM
Oct. 29, Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26, Dec. 3, 10, 17
Embark on an 8-week water colour painting adventure through the colours of the charkas (energy centres in our body). This journey gives you a deeper appreciation for an understanding of colour and how it affects your life. We explore many alternative approaches for living our lives more creatively and harmoniously and we also have a lot of fun in the doing of it! No artistic background needed! Attendance in the first class is mandatory. All materials supplied. To register, contact Stephanie directly, 416-714-7149.
A4
Poetry in Motion
Inner Expression Through Words & Movement
With Naomi Hendrickje Laufer
Fridays, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Poetry in Motion is creative expression through words or verse in a poetic or narrative form about a given theme, followed by creative movement and exercises to music reflecting this theme. The course develops and enhances an individual’s inner expression through journaling and emotional exploration that will allow participants to collectively discover their own artistic capacities. Course requirements: comfortable clothing.
THEATRE & STORYTELLING
A5
The Art of Storytelling
& How to Tell Your Own Story
With Molly Sutkaitis & Hildy Stollery
Tuesdays, 7:30-9:30 PM
Nov. 6, 13 (with Molly) 20, 27 (with Hildy)
An introductory course in the fundamental techniques of story telling. Learn how to present your stories effectively to a live audience of one or many. Topics include: the origins of storytelling; listing types of stories; how one generation passes their stories onto another younger generation; how to unleash the creativity within each of us through storytelling; how storytelling can improve our confidence in social environments; assembling the elements of our own story to be able to tell it to others.
A6
Introduction to Playwriting
A Playwright Shows Her Hand
With Helen Posno
Thursdays 3:00-5:00 PM
Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
To write a creative play and learn the various levels of discernment presenting dramatic scenes and a full play. Curriculum will include in session 1) developing atmosphere; 2) character delineation; 3) character interweaving complexities; 4) plot progression and building tension; 5) story windup, rehearsal and presentation of the finished product. Materials required: pens and notepads.
MUSIC
A7
Understanding Popular Music
Music Appreciation from Ragtime to Hip-Hop, Volume 1
With Whitney Smith
Sundays 2:30-5:00 PM
Nov. 4, 11, 18, 26, Dec. 2, 9, 16
Popular music exerts an enormous influence on our lives, and has throughout the 20th century. This course explains how what we know as popular music came to be, primarily through Irish, African and European art music traditions. All styles from folk, ragtime, blues, jazz, swing, pop, rock’n’roll, soul, funk, rhythm’n’blues, reggae, hip hop, among others, are explained and demonstrated by Whitney on guitar, piano and through recordings. No musical experience or knowledge necessary.
Stream 2
LifeSkills & Wellness
L1
Empowering Individuals with Addiction Challenges
Developing New Life Skills & Relationships
With Liam Carey
Fridays, 7 PM – 9 PM, Oct. 19, 26, Nov. 2
The goal of this course is to empower individuals enough to want to change. Reading and writing abilities will be discussed, Inspiring dialogues will emerge from our discussions around the light and dark side of religion, and how some myths can help us map out our lives. Participants will learn how to express feelings in helpful ways. Drawing pictures of people’s faces deal with the subject of feelings. In the case of those struggling with addictions, many individuals do not like their lifestyle but feel forced to endure it. This workshop is a stepping-stone to other life skills workshops and recovery programs. After attending about two months of further life skills courses the hope is for Pre-Employment Preparation.
L2
Who Am I?
Discovering Our Meaning & Increasing Our Self-Worth
With Catherine Stampe
Mondays, 7:00-9:00 PM
Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26, Dec. 3, 10, 17
Participants are provided with encouragement in the search for finding your own meaning and developing confidence and self-esteem. The philosophy of self-love may sound simple, but the process, which this course deals with, is a focused one. Individuals in the group will work together to seek to discover who they are, find what is important and how to be balanced, complete and at peace for ourselves alone.
W1
Practical Hands-On Healing
Discovering Self-Healing
With Angelo Corriero
Thursdays, 5:30-7:00 PM
Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29
Learn how to achieve immediate deep relaxation, relieve pain, awaken inner peace and activate your own healing abilities. Through a series of simple yet powerful hand positions, you will learn to feel, sense and find the not so subtle power of your own healing potential in just minutes. Angelo Corriero is a healer and medical intuitive who utilizes his gift of healing and ability to see the human aura to facilitate healings in others. For more information, www.angelocorriero.com
W2
Making Thankfulness a Way of Life
With Rita Citron
Tuesdays, 2:30-4:30 PM
Grateful people tend to be more tolerant, love more and give more. In this course a different theme is introduced each week, for example: thanking ourselves, our bodies, thanking people in our lives, noticing big and small miracles, the gift of giving, learning from adversity, developing mindfulness, accepting and appreciating each moment. People share their stories, and we record them in The Book of Gratitude. Journals, along with instructions are also given to individuals if they want to keep a “gratitude journal” at home. Extensive psychological studies in the field of positive psychology have consistently shown that practicing gratitude through journal entries and groups result in a multitude of benefits: greater life satisfaction, better mood, health, energy, resilience.
Other programs
The Sunday Café
Every Sunday, 12:30-2:00 PM
The Sunday Café is a place where meaningful and cooperative dialogues occur around questions that participants perceive to truly matter. In some cases these dialogues may form the basis of a new Yellow Door Learning Centre course. Each Café is usually facilitated by a member of the 6 St Joseph House community, though we welcome facilitators and participants from everywhere! For more information on other styles of deliberative group gatherings, see www.conversationcafe.org and www.theworldcafe.com . Let us know if you would like to host as Sunday Café.
We make learning easy.
Our Yellow Door at 6 St Joseph Street is always open between the hours of 9 A.M. and 6 P.M. for you to come in and have a look around. The House runs on the good work of volunteers, so if you are interested in volunteering, give us a call and ask for Darlene, our House Manager.
The Yellow Door Learning Centre
@ 6 St Joseph House
6 St. Joseph Street, Toronto, ON MK
416-923-8836 — info@6stjoseph.ca
Awakening Compassion in the Creative City
6 St. Joseph House is a creative resource centre for individuals who are at a crossroads in their lives — our goal is to develop more creative and compassionate ways of responding to the challenges of livelihood and homelessness. Please feel free to visit us at 6 St. Joseph St. or come to our community lunch — every Tuesday @ 12 noon.
6 St. Joseph House is a project of The Seeds of Hope Foundation,
a registered charitable organization.