Meet the Youth Mentees for Cultural Hotspot: KGO & Poetry as Gathering

Scarborough Arts is excited to welcome Chizaram Eje and Gracian Ndi as the 2026 Youth Artist Mentees for Cultural Hotspot: Poetry as Gathering in KGO, presented in collaboration with Tender Possibilities.

Meet the Mentees

Chizaram Eje 

Chizaram is a multidisciplinary artist who writes creatively through poetry and narrative essays, where she explores a variety of subject matter - from her personal journey through youth to the mundanities of everyday life. She also sketches portraits, using visual media to express her perspective on the likeness of her muses. 

Gracian Ndi 

Gracian Ndi (she/her) is a black queer poet, writer and visual artist. Her disciplinary work deeply explores themes of inherited trauma, fractured environments, and identity. Through poetry, Gracian maps the complexities of memory and belonging, creating profound spaces for healing, connection, and systematic reflection.

Chizaram and Gracian will work alongside poet and facilitator Farhia Tato to help shape a community-based poetry program in Kingston–Galloway/Orton Park. Throughout the mentorship, they'll gain hands-on experience in arts facilitation, community engagement, and program development while contributing to poetry workshops and creative programming that bring community members together through shared cultural experiences.

We're excited to have them on this journey and can't wait to share what they'll create with the community. 💙

This project is supported by the City of Toronto through the Cultural Hotspot Signature Project initiative.