{"id":29,"date":"2024-11-04T04:30:26","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T04:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themegavias.com\/wp\/donatm\/?page_id=29"},"modified":"2025-12-18T21:11:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T21:11:40","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/masterstrokesociety.com\/?page_id=29","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n

About Us<\/h2>
  1. Home<\/a> <\/li>
  2. Page<\/li><\/ol> <\/div> \r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div> \r\n\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
    \n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \t\t\r\n\t \r\n\t \r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\t\r\n
    \r\n \t
    \r\n\t \t\t\t\t\t

    \r\n\t\t\t\t\tM.A.S.A - WHO WE ARE\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
    \r\n\t\t\t\t \"image-05pp59\"\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t \t\t \t
    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
    \"M.A.S.A<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t<\/div> \r\n\t \t<\/div> \r\n\t \t\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
    \n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n \r\n \r\n
    \r\n

    Mission Statement:<\/h3> <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \r\n\r\n
    \r\n \r\n
    \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
    To empower communities by addressing mental health, loneliness, and cultural divides through creative art-based projects led by youth.<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n \r\n \r\n
    \r\n

    Vision Statement:<\/h3> <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \r\n\r\n
    \r\n \r\n
    \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
    An Alberta where art bridges generations and cultures, fostering inclusion, wellness, and belonging.<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n \r\n \r\n
    \r\n

    Core Values:<\/h3> <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \r\n\r\n
    \r\n \r\n
    \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
    Inclusivity & Diversity, Creativity as Healing, \nYouth Leadership & Empowerment, \nIntercultural & Intergenerational Respect\n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n \r\n \r\n
    \r\n

    Our Story:<\/h3> <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \r\n\r\n
    \r\n \r\n
    \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
    Safia, a 17-year-old high school student from Edmonton, joined Masterstroke Atelier Society of Alberta because she wanted to give back to her community in a way that felt creative and meaningful. Coming from an immigrant family, she had seen how difficult it was for her grandparents to adapt to life in Canada \u2014 the loneliness, the language barriers, and the long winters that seemed to deepen isolation.

    When Safia joined one of MASA\u2019s art workshops for seniors, she was paired with Mrs. Begum, a 76-year-old widow who had recently moved to Alberta to live with her son\u2019s family. Mrs. Begum barely spoke English, and at first, she sat quietly, hesitant to join in.
    \nSafia brought out paints and paper and, using gestures and smiles, encouraged Mrs. Begum to try painting. At first, Mrs. Begum painted simple shapes. But as the session went on, her brushstrokes grew bolder \u2014 she painted a scene from her childhood in Bangladesh: a bright green rice field under the warm sun.

    \nWhen Safia saw the painting, she recognized the joy on Mrs. Begum\u2019s face. She asked her own grandmother to help translate. That moment became magical: Mrs. Begum shared the story behind the painting, and Safia realized that art had bridged a gap that language could not.\nBy the end of the program, Mrs. Begum had created three pieces of art that she proudly showed her family. Safia, inspired by her bond with Mrs. Begum, decided to study art therapy at the University of Alberta so she could help more seniors and newcomers heal through creativity.

    \n\nImpact Message:

    \nThis story shows how MASA\u2019s work does more than bring people together for art. It creates connections across generations and cultures, inspires young people to discover their calling, and gives seniors the tools to express themselves and combat loneliness.<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n \r\n \r\n
    \r\n

    Gallery<\/h3> <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \r\n\r\n
    \r\n \r\n
    \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
    Master Artist Statement:<\/b>

    My paintings are visual proverbs. Using the figure, still life objects, and landscapes as a means of self-expression, I communicate the cultural heritage and motions of the places that I come from and the experience of the culture where I live now. I grew up in a community in Africa where I was not allowed to express my thoughts, concerns, and feelings in public - speaking out had terrible consequences. As a result, I started to express, my anger, frustrations, sense of betrayal, joy and beauty through my paintings, and still do.

    \nThe marks that I make with my brushes and charcoal are connected to my feelings, and express and communicate a situation. I depict both ugly realities and joyful feelings through the strokes, and by so doing, address the paradox of human life and my own thoughts and feelings.

    \nUsing oil as a medium, I am able to have more layers on the canvas which allows me to capture the experience of having multiple feelings at the same time as well as capture feelings that come in sequence.

    \nMy paintings express my feelings of the physical environment around me and the people who live in it, yet, they are not exclusive presentation of self. Hence, I invite my audience to search for connections to themselves in my paintings, and examine how they relate to themselves and to their surroundings.\n
    \nFetsumW.Teclemariam<\/b><\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \"Charcoal:<\/figure><\/div>
    \"Charcoal:<\/figure><\/div>
    \"Charcoal:<\/figure><\/div>
    \"Charcoal:<\/figure><\/div>
    \"Portrait:<\/figure><\/div>
    \"Portrait:<\/figure><\/div>
    \"Portrait:<\/figure><\/div>
    \"Landscape:<\/figure><\/div>
    \"Landscape:<\/figure><\/div>
    \"Landscape:<\/figure><\/div>
    \"Type<\/figure><\/div>
    \"Still<\/figure><\/div>
    \"Still<\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t
    \n\t\t
    \n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \r\n\r\n
    \r\n \r\n
    \r\n \r\n
    The Team<\/span><\/div> \r\n \r\n

    \r\n Meet the MASA Team<\/span>\r\n <\/h2>\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t \"\"\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \r\n
    \r\n Share<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n
    \r\n

    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t Thabani Bhala\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \r\n <\/h3>\r\n
    President<\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div>\r\n
    \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t \"\"\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \r\n
    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t Share<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n
    \r\n

    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t Yoel Ghide\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \r\n <\/h3>\r\n
    Vice President<\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div>\r\n
    \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t \"\"\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \r\n
    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t Share<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n
    \r\n

    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t Fasika Hidug\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \r\n <\/h3>\r\n
    Treasurer<\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div>\r\n
    \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t \"\"\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \r\n
    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t Share<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n
    \r\n

    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t Jessica Hammal\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \r\n <\/h3>\r\n
    Director<\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div>\r\n
    \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t \"\"\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \r\n
    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t Share<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n
    \r\n

    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t Surafuel Kelete\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \r\n <\/h3>\r\n
    Director<\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div>\r\n
    \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t \"\"\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \r\n
    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \t\t \r\n\t\t\t <\/i>\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t Share<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n
    \r\n

    \r\n \t\t \r\n\t\t\t Alex Ghebreyouhans\t\t <\/a>\r\n\t\t \r\n <\/h3>\r\n
    Director<\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n
    <\/div>
    <\/div>
    <\/div><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    About Us Home Page M.A.S.A – WHO WE ARE Mission Statement: To empower communities by addressing mental health, loneliness, and cultural divides through creative art-based projects led by youth. Vision […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-29","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"campaignId":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/masterstrokesociety.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/masterstrokesociety.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/masterstrokesociety.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masterstrokesociety.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masterstrokesociety.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/masterstrokesociety.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1182,"href":"https:\/\/masterstrokesociety.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29\/revisions\/1182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/masterstrokesociety.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}