Mississauga artists talk about mental wellness with children via local organization Glimpse Into the Life of a Child
/For more than four years, the Glimpse Into the Life of a Child team has been on a journey of change through the empowerment of student voice. Their YouTube channel is a platform of expression and reflection where kids can learn from kids. With each creatively produced GLIMPSE (video), they add their light to the world in hopes of making the world a better place. This year’s batch of Glimpse Kids are called PROJECT ACTION. Their goal is to change the world one positive action at a time.
Last month, in support of Bell Let’s Talk Day 2021, this special group of world changers joined forces with five Mississauga based artists to talk about mental health. Working within necessary masking and social distance protocols, the Glimpse Kids and their collaborators produced five separate GLIMPSES which are now available to view on the GLIMPSE INTO THE LIFE OF A CHILD YouTube channel.
Alessia Cohle, a Canadian country music singer songwriter, recently released a single entitled, ALL GOOD. All proceeds from ALL GOOD are being donated to KIDS HELP PHONE. Alessia was interviewed by the Glimpse Kids. They talked about KIDS HELP PHONE, keeping yourself anchored during troubled times, and the message of hope found within her song’s lyrics. Alessia then treated the Glimpse Kids and anyone visiting their YouTube Channel to a special performance of ALL GOOD.
Jazz vocalist and composer, Cat Bernardi, agreed to help the Glimpse Kids with a cover of a cover of a song that the Glimpse Kids wrote back in 2018. Originally, the song was written in partnership with Mississauga’s own Arlene Paculan. The song is a rewrite of Arlene’s original song, SHINE SO BRIGHT. The new lyrics are based on the messages found in Susan Verde’s book, I AM PEACE. Together with Cat Bernardi, the Glimpse Kids talked about the importance of being present in the here and now, slowing down to be aware of your emotions, and sharing the peace that you find with others. The Glimpse Kids’ interview with Cat will surely add some light to your heart.
Staying true to yourself and keeping yourself stabilized was the focus of the Glimpse Kids’ interview with the mega talented rock diva VILIVANT. As is often done by their teacher, the chorus of VILIVANT’s song, STABILIZED, was presented to the Glimpse Kids as a poem. Rich classroom discussions led to student reflections before they were told the poem was actually a song. They were excited to connect with VILIVANT and were doubly excited when she agreed to perform a rockin’ cover of another Glimpse Team rewrite. The song, entitled THE BEST VERSION OF ME, was recorded back in 2018 and is based on the message from Susan Verde’s book, I AM HUMAN. With Vilivant’s help, the Glimpse Kids discussed the idea that we are all a work in progress. We make mistakes along the way and we have the ability to make choices to move forward along our path, together.
After interviewing Beige Shelters’s vocalist, Adi Aman, at the start of December, the Glimpse Kids learned of their song, LIGHT YOUR WAY. The song was originally written back in 2017 in support of Bell Let’s Talk Day. The Glimpse Kids decided to reflect upon the lyrics as they fit perfectly into their mental wellness discussions. For the Glimpse Kids, mental health is not only important to discuss during the month of January but should be a topic of open and safe discussion all year round, anyday and everyday. Their reflections of LIGHT YOUR WAY, shine a light on the importance of talking about your emotions, being a good listener to those in need, lifting each other up, and embracing struggles to accept the lessons learned from them.
The Glimpse Kids reached out to vocalist, songwriter, teacher, and sound healer, Jennifer Cortez, to help them reflect upon and learn from the short animated film entitled, The Reflection in Me. Written by Marc Collagiovanni and produced by author, Peter H. Reynolds, this film follows the impactful experience of a child going through the practice of self-love, acceptance, and unconditional love. Positive self affirmations are an important ingredient to good mental health. Jennifer helped the Glimpse Kids by singing their affirmations along with crystal sound bowls to create positive vibrational frequencies.
By generously donating their time to work with the Glimpse Kids, these incredible artists helped demonstrate that there really is joy and wonder everywhere when you see the world from the eyes of a child. If you want to learn more about the GLIMPSE INTO THE LIFE OF A CHILD journey, please subscribe to their YouTube channel or follow them on Instagram (@glimpseteam).
