The youth are patient and quiet as the elder pours water onto the earth as a form of libation. Then comes a part when the youth get a chance to remember their ancestors by calling out his/her name into the circle and water is poured for them in the memory there of. 

"The first instrument of sound we are introduced to is the drum. While you're in your mother's womb you hear her heart beating," says the elder, Peter Ponsa, who instructs the group of youth and adult allies on how to play a drum. Some endure and others enjoy the sensation of the sound.

On the grounds the youth are becoming increasingly symbiotic at their drum playing pattern. Eskor Mbeko-eedm a.k.a. "Q" takes centre and sends his feet, hands, joints, elbows and neck flying. Girls giggle and the fellas try not to. Mature youth encourage the dancing and participate in slow movements but it is Q who is redefining the way these youth are seeing themselves dancing from a cultural perspective.

"I'm just freestyling. I love to dance. At one point I wasn't in touch with my true self; my true self is the African me, never mind the fact that we're in North America," Q says. "We are all immigrants from various parts of the world coming to North America as one to build up this continent. This dance is me being in touch with all the agony my race has endured."

Somebody signals the youth to make their way to the auditorium and it looks like they're right in time to witness the internal reflections of the youth of Elevated Grounds. The group delivers a performance centered on the theme of stress.

"My friend had a self mutilation problem until he found the right vein," tells Danien Lloyd about the loss of his friend. It apparently isn't a written monologue. The audience realizes this as he draws on laughter to clarify that his frustration isn't a joke. "Stress isn't restricted to adults. We feel it too."

Closer to the doors are youth representatives of the Rexdale Adolescent Warriors (RAW) serving some tasty corn soup that they prepared. RAW has been successful in getting a grant to help with starting a catering company.

By the show's close, the lyrics of Michael Jackson's "Heal the World" a song that pays homage to altruistic deeds is sung beautifully by Nathan Gray. The day ends young and the host directs the attention of the audience toward the organizers and participants who receive a big round of applause for all their hard work.

"This isn't a venue," tells Victor Beausoleil, the Youth Engagement coordinator for RAW. "It's a progress!"

Words by: Sanjay Misra + Photos by: Joseph Campbell