07/14/2026
iHuman Presentation at Rotary Club of Edmonton
🎨 ART SAVES LIVES. Today, we saw the proof.
At noon today, July 13, 2026, the Rotary Club of Edmonton gathered at the Hotel Chateau Lacombe for a presentation that none of us will soon forget. Sean Arceta, Director of Community Relations, and Ali, Frontline Services Manager, from iHuman Youth Society took us inside one of Edmonton's most remarkable organizations — and reminded us what it truly means to meet young people where they're at.
✨ WHAT IS iHUMAN?
iHuman Youth Society is an arts-based, youth-serving organization in Edmonton's inner city, founded in 1997 by visual artists Wallis Kendal and Sandra Bromley. Their famous gun sculpture — built from fi****ms collected from around the world, large enough to walk inside — sparked conversations about violence, trauma, and healing. Local youth watched it take shape and asked a simple question: "What are you going to do next? Maybe you should open up a space." From that spark, iHuman was born.
Nearly three decades later, iHuman stands on four pillars that every young person deserves:
PURPOSE.
BELONGING.
IDENTITY.
SELF-WORTH.
💪 THE IMPACT WE HEARD TODAY
Sean opened with his own story — how dance became his outlet from trauma and hardship at 14 years old, and how 27 years later, that same creative fire drives his work mentoring inner-city youth. "You could be happy about it at the end of the day... that's what we need more, and that's what art does."
Here's what iHuman provides for youth aged 12–24, most of whom are unhoused or living precariously:
🍲 The iSucceed Space — hot meals made daily by an in-house chef, hygiene products, clothing, showers, and laundry. Basic needs first, no questions asked. "Everyone is deserving of those basic needs."
🏥 The Links Clinic — in partnership with Radius Community Health (formerly Boyle McCauley Health Centre), youth have on-site access to a nurse practitioner, general physician, counsellors, and a psychologist. Wound care, STI testing, mental health support — trauma-informed and judgment-free.
👶 The Family Room — support for young parents, including the Woven Journey mothers' group, parenting resources, baby supplies, and a family worker who helps families navigate the child welfare system.
🎭 Creative Studios — a visual art studio with an indoor spray booth, a music production and recording studio, and a fashion/textile studio where youth learn to sew, design, and create. All supplies provided free.
🚀 Mentorship & Artistic Development — youth have performed and showcased at the Winspear Centre, Nextfest at the Roxy Theatre, MacEwan University, the Edmonton Mural Fest, and iHuman's own annual Artwalk — where young artists sell their work and keep 100% of their sales.
💼 Career Hub — a newer program extending support to age 30: resumés, cover letters, trades tickets, job searches, and social enterprise coaching, so youth aren't left behind when they age out.
❤️ THE STORIES THAT MOVED US
Ali shared the story of a young man who came to iHuman unhoused and struggling with opioid use. For a year, the team met him exactly where he was — a meal, safe supplies, a shelter referral, no pressure, no judgment. Then last week, he walked in and said: "I'm done with this lifestyle. I'm tired of being on the street. Can you support me in finding detox and treatment?" That is what trust built over time looks like. That is what saving a life looks like.
Sean told us about a young man his team supported through his first-ever cover letter, two interviews, and a follow-through he'd never done before — landing a job with the Edmonton Arts Council. Success, they reminded us, looks different for every youth. Sometimes it's a career in the arts. Sometimes it's simply coming back through the door one more time.
⚠️ THE NEED IS GROWING
This past winter, iHuman — alongside the Bissell Centre and The Mustard Seed — received a City grant for winter day spaces, extending their hours to 11 AM–9 PM, seven days a week. The number of youth accessing services skyrocketed — and it has stayed high. But the funding has not. iHuman is actively exploring ways to keep these vital services running, because for these young people, this isn't programming — it's survival.
What do they need most right now?
👕 Basic needs supplies: clothing, socks, underwear, shoes, sweaters, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairbrushes, menstrual products, deodorant, diapers — donations are used up within days of arriving.
🧠 Funding for psychological assessments — costing thousands of dollars each, these are out of reach for youth with no insurance and are essential to unlocking further supports.
🏠 Housing — stable housing remains the single greatest barrier. "For these kids, consistency is a stranger."
🤝 ROTARIANS, THIS IS OUR MOMENT
The Rotary Club of Edmonton has a long history with iHuman — from repairing kitchen equipment to helping after the water main break to designing the mandala on their floor. Today reaffirmed why that partnership matters. Our club committees will be exploring how we can deepen our support — and we invite every member and friend of Rotary to be part of it.
📍 Want to help or learn more?
🌐 ihuman.org 📧 [email protected] 📸 Instagram: 📍 9635 102A Avenue, Edmonton
Thank you, Sean and Ali, for your passion, your honesty, and your decades of showing up for Edmonton's most vulnerable young people. You didn't just give a presentation — you gave us a call to action.
Service Above Self. 🛞
Courtesy Article Write-up: Edward Probir Mondol
