Brother. That's the word Che Kothari uses to describe Norman Alconcel, also known as Big Norm.

They chuckle as they reminisce on times spent together in the past, whether it was hanging out at Andy Pool Hall on Tuesday nights, or hanging out at the Manifesto Studios, the home where this brotherhood became interweaved in planning the Manifesto festival of community and culture. "Norman's a perfect example of why Manifesto exists," says Kothari. "It's a festival like Manifesto that allows it to come together and create a platform where now 30,000 people can witness Norman's excellence."                                    

But Alconcel, 26, didn't always have such high hopes for the future. He never really expected to make it far in the entertainment industry, although he knew that hosting and making people laugh was something that he excelled at. It was under Kothari's influence that Alconcel started pursuing his dreams.  
                     
"With Che giving me all these opportunities, it allowed me to not only showcase my skills, but really realize my potential and believe in myself," Alconcel says.    
  
He began by running errands for the staff at Manifesto Community Organization. Now he's the Executive Director of YOUnited Neighbourhoods, an organization spun out of Manifesto, which seeks to redefine some of Toronto's designated priority neighbourhoods by showcasing and celebrating the artistic wealth they contribute to Toronto.                                

Kothari, Executive Director of Manifesto Community Organizations, has always set his sights high, conjuring up colourful images of the dreams he has and the positivity he hopes to instill in others through Manifesto.                                        
       
As a graduate of Ryerson University's Image Arts program, Kothari felt that through photography he would be able to create history, something that led him to believe he had a voice in the community. 

                                       
     
It was during Kothari's second year of university that he met Ryan Paterson, who was studying New Media. Paterson is currently the Creative Director of Manifesto Community Organizations. Together, Paterson and Kothari produced Function magazine, an annual retrospective of the work of the students of Image Arts. The duo gradually moved on to facilitating weekly drum & base and hip-hop nights on Wednesdays at Element Bar. It was a partnership that led to a strong connection and mutual friendship.                          

"Working with Che is like a union experience, a union partnership," Paterson says. "Neither of us sees anything as impossible, so in that sense, our visions and our skills and our talents and our hearts and spirits just really connect in an interesting way."

The result of Paterson and Kothari's partnership was Manifesto -- the community organization that has been producing a citywide arts festival for the last three years. This year's festival culminated with an outdoor concert at Nathan Philips Square featuring hip-hop veterans Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek along with a host of other local Toronto artists. Alconcel was one of the hosts for the festival.

This year also gave birth to the One City series, allowing for more artists to be showcased, as well as numerous organizers and promoters to get involved, something Kothari felt couldn't happen in just five days.                         

Josue Salazar, Website Director, has only good things to say about Kothari, Paterson and Alconcel, whom he has come to know and love.
               
"Personally, they just inspire everybody," Salazar says. "They have this vibe that inspires everybody around them to do amazing work."        
            
And the one thing Kothari hoped to come out of Manifesto is for people to be inspired.    

"The key thing for me is knowledge and inspiration and love and positivity. If someone left with one of those things, I would be a very happy person."

Words By: Alexandra Yeboah + Photos Courtesy Of: Manifesto