Q Summit Mentorship program is an arts-based initiative that combines professional development, mentorship and creative consulting for youth ages 14 to 24 who identify within and/or allies of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. This is a safe space for youth to openly express themselves through a variety of art-forms, including poetry, spoken word and other visual creations. Taught by professional artists and educators, participants can explore their identity and develop their self-expression.
This is an 18-week program that will end with an event showcasing participants’ work during the program. Developed in collaboration with our program mentors, Q Summit seeks to support youth in the 2SLGBTQ+ community and their allies in navigating new changes and creating a safe space to learn, express and develop through art.
Q Summit is taking a break for the Spring and Summer seasons. Please check back in August to apply for Fall & Winter 2022/23! In the meantime, check out and order a hard copy of Into the Queer-Verse, an anthology of works by the 2021/22 cohort of Q Summit!
Program Objectives
- Expression: Find and amplify your authentic poetic voice.
- Practice: Take part in a series of workshops led by industry professionals where you will learn about / deepen your understanding of what it is to create poetry & spoken word pieces. Learn different styles of poetry, rhythm, timing, editing, presence, breath work, etc.
- Performance: Under the mentorship of professional artists, create written poetry pieces and perform in a final showcase event in the Spring.
- Build Community: Surround yourself with like-minded artists in a safe and welcoming environment.
Past Events & Creations
Into the Queer-Verse: A Q Summit Poetry Showcase
Join the Q Summit poets for Into the Queer-verse, a free live poetry reading on Thursday, April 7th from 6-8pm! 🌈
Covering a range of themes from ancestry & chosen family to fairytales & utopias, and everything Queer in between, the poets have managed to create pure magic through their journeys on and off the page.
Q Summit is a mentorship program for 2SLGBTQ+ youth, led by Melly “Belly” Davidson and Martin “No Mess” Gomes. Under the guidance of these two mentors, this year’s 6 participants dedicated their time from October 2021 to March 2022, meeting weekly to develop their poetic voices and spoken word prowess.
All supportive folks are welcome to join virtually and bring good energy for this night of performances!
You won’t want to miss this!
Queer As In Here | 2021 Digital Anthology
Meet Your Mentors
Melissa (Melly) Davidson
Melissa Davidson is a Queer diasporic writer and mover, with lineage from Lebanon to Jamaica to Canada. They compete in local and International slam competitions like CUPSI and FEMS. Melly is a street dancer and artist educator. They currently live in Tkaronto. Above all, they wish to emote the good kinds of sticky.
Martin Gomes
Martin (he/him/they) is an Afro-Latinx, queer, citrus fruit lovin poet born & based in downtown Toronto. His official poetry journey began under the tutelage of Britta B at JAYU, a charitable organization that shares human rights stories through the arts and engaging conversations. His unofficial journey began with his first exposure to poetry: A Goofy Movie 2 and an episode of Fresh Prince where Will writes poetry under the guise of Raphael DeLaGhetto. Since then, he has gone from student to mentor at JAYU teaching both level 1 and level 2, and the Guelph Humber x JAYU poetry collaboration. He currently runs spoken word & beatboxing workshops with Unity charity. His goal is to create spaces that encourage folks to be their most authentic, genuine selves in a raw, real, “non-Disney” type of way. (He messes with Disney though, don’t get it twisted.)
Meet our Past Mentors
A Letter to My Queer Younger Self is a poem created by Q Summit participants during the Q Summit Winter 2020 session in collaboration with their mentors and facilitators Cassandra Myers and Emily Dial.
Program Funder
Q Summit is proudly funded by the Johansen Larsen Foundation. Learn more about the Johansen Larson Foundation by visiting: www.jlfoundation.ca
Social Media
Facebook: @Johansen-Larsen Foundation
Twitter: @jlfoundation2
