Carmen Ocampo Velázquez (She/They) is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist, curator, and psychologist originally from Colombia. Her experience centres on healing, identity, and social change through collaborative engaged art. Drawing on a clinical psychology background spanning over 30 years, she catalyzes creative processes that foster individual and communitarian resilience and empowerment. Carmen holds a Master’s in Environmental Studies and is the founder of Matiz Project, a transdisciplinary collective harnessing the transformative power of art to deconstruct social narratives and reclaim collective voices. Currently, she serves as an Art & Wellbeing Facilitator and Board Member at Lakeshore Arts (LSA).

REGISTERED – Q Summit 2026
November 30 @ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Q Summit is…
A portal? A club? A lucky break? The feeling of drawing a spiral with 3 markers? A bunch of guys being dudes? An avant-garde Trust-fall? A Trans-Queer-Utopian Diorama made out of borrowed denim and pocket trash?
Q summit is a 2-month long poetry intensive for 2SLGBTQ+ youth (ages 19 to 29) who want to deepen and invigorate their writing practice through guided exploration in a dedicated cohort! Join facilitators Melly and Mart in this stylistic and experimental program that fosters Queer connection, and creative development. Weekly thematic workshops will consist of writing, reading, research, discussion, sharing, living, laughing, loving, and ultimately—collective inquiry into our Queerness as it relates to poetic subject, form, medium, and creative approach. Participants will write towards a collective anthology of new work and a final live performance. Participants can expect new chops, new tricks, new worlds, and new friends.
Register by: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Spots are limited so register now!
For full program details and registration information, visit lakeshorearts.ca/q-summit-poetry-intensive-2026

