Creating Spaces Where Everyone Belongs

Sara Cunard, FCF Community Investment Coordinator, with Sof, facilitator of Girls+ Rock Camp at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre.

Belonging starts with something simple: feeling like you have a place to be yourself.

For many young people, especially those who are newcomer, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, or part of other equity-deserving communities, finding that sense of belonging isn't always easy. That's why programs like ArtReach matter.

Delivered by the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, ArtReach provides barrier-free arts programming that helps youth explore music, photography, and creative expression in welcoming and supportive environments. More than learning new skills, participants build confidence, form meaningful connections, and discover communities where they feel seen and valued.

At its heart, ArtReach is about creating opportunities for young people to find where they belong.

"Belonging means to feel like you are a part of a community," says Program Director Oscar Cárdenas. "We believe representation matters in the music and arts scene, and we strive to represent these communities by giving them the chance to discover a love for the arts."

For Oscar, that belief comes from personal experience. After arriving in Canada as a refugee in 2002, he found connection and community through music.

"Through free music programs, I was able to find my community," he shares. "I found healing and purpose in music."

Today, he works to create those same opportunities for others.

Whether it's through music, photography, or collaborative creative projects, ArtReach gives participants a chance to express themselves, connect with peers, and discover their own potential. The impact can be life-changing.

"The confidence growth has been incredible," says Oscar. "Many of our rock camp participants have gone from campers to booking their own shows and performing at some of New Brunswick's best festivals."

Those successes are about more than artistic achievement. They are about young people finding their voice, building self-confidence, and realizing they have something valuable to contribute.

Pride Month reminds us that strong communities are built when everyone feels welcomed, valued, and included. Programs like ArtReach help make that possible by creating spaces where young people can be themselves, connect with others, and see their experiences reflected in the world around them.

Through Community Grants, the Fredericton Community Foundation is proud to support organizations that are helping build a more connected and inclusive community for everyone.

Because when people feel they belong, communities grow stronger.