Show UP!
When faced with challenges in life, it can be difficult to open up to your community for support even though that is what we most need. In this conference we explore the value of relationships with oneself, with each other and with the world around us. Showcasing inspiring speakers and relevant partners, Show UP! addresses topics related to the importance of authenticity, inclusivity, equity and healthy relationships to sustain positive mental health.
Line-up includes: Speaker sessions from Dr. James Makokis and Anthony Johnson the first indigenous and two spirited couple to win Amazing Race Canada, Dahabo Ahmed-Omer executive director of The Black North Initiative, and Synthia Kiss fashion designer and contestant on Canada’s Drag Race as well as interactive sessions from various organizations such as The Big Heart Journey and Photographers Without Borders. This conference also consists of bonus material which includes engaging speakers sessions and much more!
Well-Being Pop UP
Show UP!
$400 CAD
Includes over 5 hours of well-being content
Speaker sessions
Interactive classroom activities
Q & A Discussion
Suggested conference schedule
Educator guidelines
1 school license
Are you from a School Board?
Interested in purchasing the Well-Being Pop UP for your school board?
Reach out to kate@umbrellaproject.co to learn more.
Contact Us
What’s included?
Each Pop UP includes:
- Speaker Sessions – 30 – 60 minute talks from speakers who share their story. Speakers are chosen based on their relevance to our audience and Pop UP theme.
- Interactive Classroom Activities – 30 minute sessions designed with the goal of getting students moving, talking, and connecting. Each activity ends with reflection and discussion questions.
- Educator Guide – Includes a suggested conference schedule as well as details about each session such as teacher notes, conversation prompts and other tips for how to use this content seamlessly in your school community.
- Content is downloadable and can be customized, allowing schools to share what they feel is the most relevant to their needs.
Partner Organizations
Content for this Pop UP is anchored by the principles of The Umbrella Project and supported by activities and speakers from our carefully curated group of partners.
Sessions
Anthony Johnson & Dr. James Makokis
@thephoenixfox @creeture82 @DrMakokis
Introducing James Makokis (Cree) and Anthony Johnson (Navajo/Diné), our headliners for this event. Dr James Makokis comes from Saddle Lake Cree Nation northeast of Edmonton. He now practises at Edmonton’s South Common Medical Centre, where he focuses on transgender health and medical hormone transitioning. He also works on the Kehewin Cree Nation southwest of Cold Lake. Johnson is from the Navajo Nation in Arizona and serves as a project consultant for Kehewin Health Services. They are the first Indigenous, Two-Spirit couple to win The Amazing Race Canada.
Cris Derksen
@cris_derksen
Juno nominated Cris Derksen is an Internationally respected Indigenous Cellist and Composer. In a world where almost everything (people, music, cultures) get labelled and slotted into simple categories, Cris Derksen represents a challenge. Originally from Northern Alberta, she comes from a line of chiefs from NorthTall Cree Reserve on her father’s side and a line of strong Mennonite homesteaders on her mother’s.
Dahabo Ahmed-Omer,
BlackNorth Initiative
@blacknorthca
Dahabo Ahmed-Omer is the executive director of BlackNorth Initiative, an organization founded with the mission to end anti-black systemic racism and the barriers negatively affecting the lives of black Canadians through a business-first mindset.
Danielle Da Silva, Photographers Without Borders
@danikhandasilva @photographerswithoutborders
Danielle (Dani) Khan Da Silva is the Founder and Executive Director of Photographers Without Borders. She is an internationally-acclaimed and award-winning South Asian/Portuguese photographer/filmmaker, as well as a land protector, scholar and activist. She is also the Co-Founder of the Sumatran Wildlife Sanctuary. Danielle has learned more than 6 languages and has traveled to over 80 countries working with NGOs and multilateral organizations.
Luca Lazylegz
Luca lives a life by the motto ‘no limits.’ Born with Arthrogryposis, a neuromuscular disorder affecting the bones and joints of the body, he has undergone a total of 16 surgeries since he was 7 months old to support his legs, hips, spine, and shoulders. Despite his physical limitations, Luca adapted creatively to always find a way to stay active and play sports with his friends. At the age of 15, Luca was introduced to breakdancing and fell in love with the music, movements and culture. Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli is now a professional dancer and the founder of ILL-Abilities, an international Bboy crew composed of some of the world’s best differently-abled dancers.
Synthia Kiss
@synthiakiss
Synthia (Daniel Finlan out of drag) was born in Peterborough, Ontario and was raised by powerful women and gay men. A graduate from fashion school at Ryerson University, Synthia is a fashion designer, who has worked in corporate fashion for high-street fashion brands. After moving to Vancouver, Synthia discovered a way to creatively express herself by performing in Drag. She was a favoured contestant on Canada’s Drag Race, Season 2.
Mark Black
@markblackspeaks
Mark Black is a heart and double-lung transplant recipient turned 4-time marathon runner, speaker, author and coach. Mark was born with a life-threatening heart defect and has survived many surgeries throughout his life, starting before he was even a year old. Mark’s message is very powerful because he lives the strategies that he teaches. Since receiving his second chance at life, Mark has traveled the globe speaking and sharing his passionate message of resilience with others.
Taes Leavitt, Big Heart Journey
@bigheartjourney
Taes Leavitt is a musician and actress, best known for her roles as “Boots” in the TV show Splash N’ Boots and The Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy. She is a two-time Juno award winner, kids tv writer, performer, life transformation coach for kids, and the Founder and CEO of The Big Heart Journey. The Big Heart Journey is a program created to support kids and their feelings in order to help them grow into empowered, confident adults.
YLCC Camp Sessions
At Youth Leadership Camps Canada we have spent over 30 years creating activities that encourage “play with purpose”. Through our many student conferences and running the Leadership Training Centre we have designed a number of games and challenges that allow youth to have fun, laugh out loud and learn about leadership and themselves. Covering communication, problem solving and quick thinking skills we allow our participants to enjoy the process. Our favourite compliment is when a student says, “I didn’t realise I was learning anything until the end”. With this goal in mind we allow these young people to learn through fun.
The Ripple Effect Education
@treeducation
Conflict happens! When we approach conflict to understand others and creatively problem-solve, it can become an opportunity to learn and grow.
In this interactive workshop, participants will build a definition of interpersonal conflict, explore how conflict escalates and how conflict can lead to growth, and practice communication and problem-solving strategies for conflict situations
The Umbrella Assessment
@umbrellapjct
In this session, students will participate in The Umbrella Assessment to determine their current strengths and challenges when it comes to their coping skills. They will be guided through step-by-step and given time for reflection and discussion with their peers to make connections with one another.
Bonus Sessions
Christine Sinclair
Christine Sinclair is the most successful soccer player to ever compete for Canada. She has accumulated more than 185 international goals, making her the highest scoring player – man or woman – in the world. She is also the active leader in international caps with 300 and counting. She’s known for her grit and humble character as much as her exceptional talent. Off the soccer pitch, Sinclair is an ambassador for the MS Society of Canada and vocal advocate for gender equality. In this session, recorded just after the 2021 Olympic Games, she describes the team work, passion as well as the obstacles she has had to overcome in her sport and in life.
Deja Foxx
Deja Foxx is 21 years old and leading thought at the intersection of social justice and social media. She is the founder of GenZ Girl Gang, a student at Columbia University, and a Digital Creator with Ford Models who got her start advocating for reproductive justice after experiencing homelessness in her teenage years. At just 19, she worked for Kamala Harris as the Influencer and Surrogate Strategist and became one of the youngest presidential campaign staffers in modern history. In this session, Dr. Jen interviews Deja about her coping strategies, online health and the power and importance of developing a strong community.
Wali Shah
Wali Shah is a Canadian speaker, poet, musician and philanthropist. In this session, Wali shares his own story and discusses the power of art, and creative expression, and it’s role in bringing change to the world. Through poetry and storytelling, Wali shares the power of standing strong together, being the change and leading by example to break negative cycles and support each other.
Asante Haughton
Passionate about positive social change, equality, and mental health, Asante Haughton has dedicated himself to endeavours aimed at building stronger communities. He is a poet, front-line worker, group facilitator, community outreach worker, researcher, and a speaker. He aims to deliver a message of social awareness, social justice, community betterment, and above all, hope.
Paige Warner
In this singer-songwriter style performance, Paige Warner shares her original music and provides a look into her songwriting process and the experiences that shaped the songs. Paige shares an uplifting song that puts to words her feelings of being an ‘outsider’ and wondering what an ‘average human’ must feel like, a song that portrays the struggle of leaving behind unhealthy habits, and another that was written during the pandemic about missing family and childhood. Enjoy a casual and honest look into Paige Warner’s music.
Dreamwalkers
Join Tyler Boyle of Dreamwalkers Meditations to explore what is happening in our body and mind when we are feeling anxious. Learn a variety of prevention techniques, mindset shifts, and coping strategies to manage this difficult emotion.
Jack.org
In this Jack talk, youth from jack.org take students through thoughtful steps for how to ‘be there’ for themselves and others, especially through mental health struggles. This talk will help students to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to step up and be there for one another.
Get Started Today!
The Well-Being Pop UP is brought to you by The Umbrella Project and the generous support of our sponsors
About our Founder, Dr. Jen Forristal
Students have always been in need of strong relationships to navigate the ups and downs of life. Unfortunately, research trends are showing us that students are more connected digitally to peers but lonelier than ever. To make a real change in student well-being we need to focus on helping them develop and sustain the strong bonds that will protect their well-being. Our new pop UP conference entitled Show up is designed to do just that – inspiring students to “show up” for each other and find communities where they can be their authentic selves.
Health and Happiness,
Dr. Jen
Legal - Fine Print
By purchasing this license you will receive access to Pop-UP content for Show UP!. This license is non-transferable and unassignable. It cannot be shared with third parties, including but not limited to other schools. By purchasing the Well-Being Pop UP from The Umbrella Project, you are agreeing to receive communication from us about this product and our other resources.