Art, Identity & Belonging: Creating Space for Expression and Connection

On January 2022, I had the immense privilege of working with a group of teens in a community art program centered on identity, belonging, and the complex experiences of migration. This program was more than a series of workshops, it was a space of reflection, sharing, and transformation. Through art, we explored what it means to navigate life in two different cultures.

The program was structured across five sessions, each designed to invite participants into deeper levels of personal exploration. From structured identity activities to open-ended abstract expression, what emerged was a collection of voices that were brave, insightful, and moving.

"I am an adolescent, with a lot of objectives to achieve" — Eder, 17

In our very first session, we introduced the theme of dual identity, asking the question: “What does it mean to be Latino in Canada?” We kicked off with the "Personal Identity Wheel" activity, where teens filled in key aspects of who they are, their values, interests, culture, and aspirations. They shared with one another in small groups, which quickly helped them find common ground and begin forming connections.

Eder shared that he feels proud to be part of a large, supportive Latino community, and connects strongly through language, food, and music. His words captured both a sense of rootedness and ambition, a desire to honor where he comes from while imagining his future.

“My values are respect and humility” — Sofia, 18

During our second session, titled “The Color of My Identity,” participants were invited to reflect on their migration journeys. We began with a guided meditation, asking them to return to the last moment they spent in their country of origin. Who did they say goodbye to? What did it feel like to leave?

The emotional weight in the room was palpable. Then we moved into an abstract art-making session. Using colors, textures, and movement, they represented these journeys visually.

Sofia, one of the most engaged participants, used her artwork to express her deep connection to family, art, and culture. A passionate anime artist and karate enthusiast, she created work that fused her cultural pride with her personal passions. She also shared with the group: “The skill I’m most proud of is my ability to draw.”

“My objective is to have more confidence in speaking with new people” — Aylin, 13

Aylin was one of the youngest participants and also one of the most introspective. Her goal was not artistic, but deeply personal: to become more confident socially. Over time, we saw her start to open up, drawn in by her interest in abstraction and the quiet encouragement of peers and facilitators.

Her artwork, soft yet expressive, mirrored her personality. And while she may not have spoken as much as others, when she did, it was intentional. Programs like this offer more than just art instruction; they offer growth, trust, and self-awareness.

“Being Latino is special... it’s cultures and everything” — Sofia

In our third session, “Belonging and Transforming,” we addressed what it feels like to want to belong, especially in a new place. We read from Caroline Dawson’s Là où je me terre, reflecting on the tension between embracing one’s roots and the pressure to fit in.

Participants chose affirmations from the space. phrases like “I am enough,” or “I deserve to be here” and transformed them into personal artworks. These pieces became symbols of resilience, empowerment, and self-definition.

“Stories of Migration. Stories of Courage. Stories of Belonging.”

Our final session was a moment of synthesis. Participants completed unfinished works, wrote statements about their art, and recorded short interviews about their experience. They reflected on the themes we had explored: dual identity, values, memory, belonging.

Many expressed pride in their work. Some were surprised by what they had created or discovered about themselves. Others shared gratitude for the space to connect with people who “just get it.”