Hamilton, ON
Foziya Noor
Foziya first joined We Liberate the World as a youth participant in our inaugural Rooted Threads Hamilton cohort, and has since grown into an integral part of our team. She supports our work across youth engagement, communications, and graphic design, bringing both her creativity and lived experience as a former participant into the spaces we build. Now, Foziya is stepping into a leadership role as a Rooted Threads youth facilitator, leading our Mississauga cohort alongside Celina. Her journey reflects what Rooted Threads is all about: creating space for youth to find their voice, build their skills, and eventually help shape those same spaces for the youth who come after them.I’m Foziya Noor, a young community leader passionate about bringing people together and creating positive change. I enjoy connecting with others, sharing new ideas, and creating spaces where young people feel welcomed, supported, and heard.
Rooted ThreadsRooted Threads
Rooted Threads Mississauga is a youth-led arts and advocacy program by We Liberate the World, creating a space for Arab, SWANA, Muslim, and racialized youth to explore their identities, creativity, and relationships to community and social change. Building on the success of our Hamilton and Toronto cohorts, the Mississauga cohort uses art, storytelling, facilitated conversations, and hands-on workshops to help youth develop confidence in their voices while learning how creative expression can be a tool for advocacy, healing, and connection. Throughout the cohort, participants will learn from one another and community creatives, explore issues and stories that matter to them, develop their own creative work, and work toward a youth-led culminating project or community experience that puts what they've learned into practice.Rooted Threads is a 10-week, trauma-informed arts and education program supporting Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and SWANA youth ages 13–18. Through creative expression, storytelling, cultural exploration, and community building, the program creates space for young people to explore identity, belonging, grief, joy, and healing while developing their creative voices and leadership. The program culminates in a youth-designed community showcase.
https://weliberatetheworld.com/,https://weliberatetheworld.com
About this Project
Communities Served
My project will involve and/or impact the following communities:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
When it comes to community impact projects, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.
How the project works
Rooted Threads Mississauga is a 10-week, youth-led arts and advocacy program where participants explore identity, belonging, and social issues through creative workshops, storytelling, and facilitated discussions. Youth learn alongside local artists and community leaders before applying their skills to collaboratively design and deliver a culminating community project.Rooted Threads runs over 10 weeks, with youth participating in weekly two-hour sessions that combine poetry, spoken word, visual art, storytelling, movement, identity exploration, media literacy, and community discussion. The program includes food and transit support and culminates in a youth-designed showcase celebrating their creativity and experiences.
Project Impact
Rooted Threads Mississauga will strengthen youth confidence, cultural identity, creative expression, and community belonging while developing practical leadership and advocacy skills. Through mentorship and youth-led learning, participants will build meaningful relationships, see their lived experiences reflected in creative spaces, and gain the tools to transform their ideas into community-driven action.Rooted Threads supports youth in strengthening their creative confidence, sense of belonging, cultural connection, and ability to express themselves through art. The program creates a supportive space where young people can explore identity and lived experience without being pressured to share personal stories, while building relationships, creative skills, and community.
Project Mission
Rooted Threads Mississauga aims to bridge advocacy and the arts by creating a space where youth can explore identity, culture, and community through creative expression. Our goal is to equip young people with the confidence, skills, and support to use their voices, develop as leaders, and turn their ideas into meaningful community action.We Liberate the World’s mission is to bridge education, the arts, advocacy, and opportunity through community-rooted programming that centres Palestinian, Arab, SWANA, and other marginalized communities. Through Rooted Threads, we create spaces where youth can learn, create, connect, and lead while exploring identity, culture, healing, and collective possibility.
Project Team
Our youth-led team brings lived experience, creativity, and community knowledge to every Rooted Threads cohort.Led by artists, educators, facilitators, and community organizers with lived and professional experience.
- - Celina Shamon (Programs Director) - Leena Halees (Executive Director) - Foziya Noor (Youth Engagement and Communications)
Optional Photo Gallery
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