Café Graffiti is to provide an environment for young people. They can gather together to discuss, find a sympathetic ear to their needs. In addition, the Café Graffiti eve to recognize young artists professionally while helping to combat their exclusion.
Raymond Viger, journalist and writer, is the CEO of Le Journal de la Rue, an organization that has been working for more than 25 years to reintegrate marginalized young people into society by helping them to externalize their feelings and express themselves. Raymond worked as a case worker from 1992 to 1996 in the streets and parks of Montreal. "We left our organization around the same time that the hip-hop culture returned to Montreal in the context of graffiti," recalls Raymond.
Raymond opened Café Graffiti on Ste-Catherine St. East in 1997 with his colleague Danielle Simard, with the aim of meeting the needs of young people who wanted to be recognized as artists and not as offenders. The cafe allows youths to exhibit their work and to meet under one roof. Raymond has a great desire to help young people because he understands what they can go through. After experiencing his own share of troubles, he promised to help others. He completed his studies to be a therapist and taught social work at McGill University for five years.
