Our mission
Our mission is to be a catalyst for social change by creating programs that give youth a platform to amplify their voices and take action.
Our vision
Our vision is a Canada where young people are socially engaged, included in their communities and have their voices heard. We recognize the power of the arts to raise awareness, create change and help find and implement solutions to social problems. We support programs and initiatives that give courageous young men and women a platform to amplify their voices and to take action.
We believe the arts, culture, creative ideas, innovative practices, skill building, and education can transform the lives of underserved youth, get them out of a spiral of exclusion and ignite some truly transformational leadership.
Our values
Our unique approach is focused on building bonds of trust and collaboration between young people and their communities. We are guided by our four main values:
- Active citizenship
- Innovation and creativity
- Dialogue, collaboration and inclusion
- Social and collective responsibility
We are an arts and social impact organization focused on creating a future where all of Canada’s youth prosper through the power of advocacy, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.
In spotlighting solutions to marginalization and discrimination, we work to create a Canada where youth facing exclusion can experience:
- An increased sense of belonging.
- The power to advocate for their rights and freedoms using vibrant art, social impact, youth entrepreneurship, and sustainability and innovation programs.
The Foundation is a place where youth-led action on social justice and advocacy will mobilize Canada’s future leaders and governments alike.
LEGACY PROGRAMS
10 years of high-impact initiatives!
We fund training and mentorships for socially engaged underserved youth on the transformative power of the arts as tools for social change. We encourage dialogue between youth and their communities through arts-based initiatives that foster creative and constructive connections. We act in partnership with young people facing exclusion to show them that they are not alone, but a crucial part of the solution in collaboration with organizations and other partners. We act to promote a dynamic, inclusive and accessible environment for all people.
and energize disadvantaged communities. The bursary was offered from 2014 - 2017 with the support of the TD Bank Group.
The next will be held in Montreal, Quebec, in 2024.
in partnership with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
their experiences dealing with racism, discrimination and bullying.
This initiative, in partnership with Concordia University, was piloted in the Montreal in 2021, and is currently being expanded to Chicoutimi (Quebec) and
Edmonton (Alberta).
container alongside two professional artists.
OUR STORY
How it began and what matters to us
The Michaëlle Jean Foundation was born from the actions undertaken during the five-year term of the 27th Governor General of Canada, the Right Honorable Michaëlle Jean, who, with her husband Jean-Daniel Lafond, always believed in the importance of investing in youth, art, creativity and innovation for more citizen participation and social change.
OUR TEAM
Diverse, driven, and dedicated to our vision in Canada
We are diverse, driven and dedicated to our vision of a Canada in which all young people creatively contribute to a better society. Made up of business leaders, seasoned art professionals, community activists, philosophers, legal experts, former teachers, and passionate young people, we work as a team to touch lives and build stronger communities.