WORKSHOP COMMUNITY LED RESPONSE TO RACIALIZED LGBTQ+ NEEDS IN THE PANDEMIC
Hannah Xu (she/her), MPH, Youth Program Worker and Coordinator, Hong Fook Mental Health Association
Dany Ko (they/them), Youth Program Coordinator, Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS)
Ranjith Kulatilake (he/they), Coordinator, LGBTQ+ Settlement Services; The Neighbourhood Group Community Services
Various Peer Leaders from Rainbow Connect, Hong Fook, & ACAS
Abstract:
The Rainbow Connect presentation will have two components. First, the program coordinator will outline how they developed an innovative program, particularly during COVID, that consists of two group programs with peer-led components, Kudoboard platforms and public events. Next, three Peer Leaders will share their journeys as newcomers and how they found their anchor at Rainbow Connect.
The Hong Fook x ACAS presentation will explore how both organizations assessed 2SLGBTQIAP+ Asians during the pandemic and proceeded to work together to address community needs. This opportunity for community members to facilitate discussions and provide support for their peers allows them to share stories, learn from each other, and build community in a time of social isolation.
During the interactive segment, Peer Leaders will explore three questions related to their expectations versus actual experiences and how they reclaimed their margins for positive outcomes. A Q & A session will follow.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
- Describe local examples of community led initiatives in response to emerging needs specific to the LGBTQ+ community during the pandemic
- Describe how community members take lived experiences and incorporate them into programming to meet the needs of their community
- Reflect on how the principles of community collaboration can be applied in their own work setting to address emerging needs