Two Cities, One Mission: YPC Alberta Joins the Artivism Cohort
Plus: more time to apply, and what's actually happening this summer :)
I have two pieces of news today, and they’re both good.
The first is simple: we’ve extended the Artivism Cohort application deadline to June 30. If you’ve been meaning to apply, or you know someone who has, this is your sign to actually do it.
The second is bigger. This summer, the Artivism Cohort is happening in two cities, thanks to a new partnership with YPC Alberta.
Why This Partnership
ECHOFORM and YPC Alberta share something simple but not always common in how civic programming gets built for young people: a belief that youth don’t need to wait until adulthood to participate meaningfully in their communities. We both build programs where creativity isn’t a side activity to “real” civic work, it is the civic work.
So rather than trying to stretch one program across two cities, we’re running two cohorts, each shaped around the youth it’s built for, under one shared mission.
Edmonton: The Artivism Cohort
Civic education has historically been designed for adults, taught in classrooms, and disconnected from the real experiences of young people, especially equity-seeking and newcomer youth.
ECHOFORM starts with story.
This is an 8 to 12 week hybrid cohort for youth ages 16 to 30 across Canada, with a particular focus on urban and underserved communities, young people navigating dual identity and migration, racialized, LGBTQ+, disabled, and economically marginalized youth, and anyone already engaging with social issues through art, writing, or organizing who’s ready to go deeper.
Mandatory onboarding is July 3, followed by eight weekly civic exploration labs (Fridays, 6 to 8:30 PM) running July 10 through August 28, each built around a different theme: Belonging & Justice, Globalism of Climate Futures, Media Literacy & Digital Culture, Civic Engagement & Democracy, Health Equity, Global Citizenship & Systems, Arts, Storytelling & Public Imagination, and a closing Mentorship Circle. A retreat follows in September, and everything culminates in a public showcase on October 3 in Edmonton, where participants’ zines, toolkits, and other creative work will be exhibited.
Sessions are held in person at Edmonton Public Library, Stanley A. Milner, with food and refreshments provided every time, and virtual participation is welcome for anyone outside Edmonton. Every participant, whether attending in person or online, receives a scrapbook of the cohort experience, and those who meet the attendance threshold receive a certificate of completion.
Calgary: With YPC Alberta
In Calgary, YPC Alberta is running its own Artivism Cohort for youth ages 13 to 17, exploring the intersection of art and civic engagement. Sessions take place Sunday afternoons from July 26 through August 23, with each one followed by a weekly community challenge: participants identify environmental or infrastructure issues in their own neighbourhoods, document what they find, and share it with local decision-makers and community leaders.
Everyone who completes the program receives a certificate, and outstanding contributions throughout the cohort are recognized with additional awards. Specific locations, session times, and how to apply will be announced soon, follow along for updates.
Apply Before June 30
If you’re in or around Edmonton and between 16 and 30, applications are open now through June 30 at echoxform.org/apply. If you’re connected to Calgary youth ages 13 to 17, keep an eye out for YPC Alberta’s application details, coming soon.
And if neither applies to you directly, the most useful thing you can do is share this with someone it does.
Warmly,
An̄urika (Rika) Onyenso (she/her)
Founder & Managing Director, ECHOFORM
linktr.ee/echoxform
ECHOFORM acknowledges the Indigenous peoples whose lands and territories we live, gather, and work upon. We honour the enduring relationships First Peoples hold with these lands and commit to civic storytelling grounded in truth, accountability, and respect.