BluePrintForLife is considered one of the worlds leading companies using HipHop as both a community development tool and as a model for alternative education and healing.
BluePrintForLife offers dynamic, culturally appropriate programs designed for First Nations and Inuit youth that are founded on HipHop, rooted in traditional culture, and centered on community needs. Their programming has also been successfully adapted to meet the needs of youth in Canada’s inner cities, working with youth at risk and newly immigrated families to Canada.
BluePrintForLife founder, Stephen Leafloor has a Masters in Social Work (MSW degree) and over 25 years experience as a social worker in the areas of probation, wilderness programs, and street work with youth at risk, residential group homes, child protection and community outreach. Stephen has also been an active participant in the HipHop culture as a dancer since 1982 and completed his master’s thesis on this culture and it’s importance for educators and social workers. Stephen (Buddha) Leafloor is the founder of the Canadian Floor Masters (Canada’s oldest street dancing crew, celebrating 26 years of Canadian history.)
Stephen has performed for James Brown, Rapper IceT, Grandmaster Flash, BlackEyed Peas and George Clinton. His dancing has been featured on Much Music, in assorted music videos and in a number of documentaries. He has also performed privately for the Kirov Ballet of Russia and opened for La La La Human Steps at Canada’s National Arts Center.
The staff of BluePrintForLife have equally impressive resumes and not only reflect the cross-cultural mosaic of Canada, but are also some of Canada’s top dancers, youth facilitators and outreach workers.
Costing for our programming can be requested by emailing Steve@BluePrintForLife.ca
We are partnered with “Unity” out of Toronto. Many staff of this amazing program are also part of BluePrintForLife including Unity’s founder Michael Prosserman. Stay tuned for partner programs and future collaborations. We will be launching “Share Our Spirits” soon. This program will directly connect Urban youth and their HipHop clubs with Inuit and First Nations youth in remote communities that have also started their own clubs. There will be opportunities for the direct sharing of what they are all doing in HopHop, as well as the sharing of specific cultural aspects from where they live. This may even turn into a chance for youth from both communities to visit each other . Click on the logo below to visit Unity’s website.
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