Neil Guilding, better known as Zibz, has been a long-time community worker, musician, poet, photographer, and the collective favourite word to describe him, an artist. In this interview, we go down memory lane, revisit the art scene of Montreal, discuss his influence in the art world and his print in the community sector precisely as the leading figure of Jeunesse 2000.
Jeunesse 2000 (J2K) breaks isolation by providing a space for marginalized youth to connect and build community through music, art, and sports programming. J2K creates space for storytelling, skill-building, and for youth to access education pertinent to them outside of a formal educational system.
By creating a space by and for young people, J2K attempts to foster solidarity between participants without expectations and empower them in their decision-making, desires, and potential.
