2010 Among Friends Conference
Thank you to everyone who took part in the conference!
'Beyond Belonging: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Newcomers'
Friday, June 11, 2010 / 11:30am to 8:30pm at the 519 Church Street Community Centre
A free conference to engage in discussions about topics that are important to LGBTQ+ newcomers, service providers and their allies.
Conference summary:
- The conference was attended by over 105 participants representing diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- The full day event included 2 keynote addresses, 7 workshops, 1 panel presentation, 12 presenters, 3 performers and art by one local artist.
- Hundreds of hours were contributed by over 20 volunteers to make the conference a success!
- Performers and speakers included Amai Kuda (www.myspace.com/amaikuda), ILL NANA (www.youtube.com/illnana257), and No One Is Illegal (www.toronto.nooneisillegal.org)
- Raffle prizes were generously provided by GLAD DAY Bookshop (www.gladdaybookshop.com), Come As You Are (www.comeasyouare.com), Good For Her (www.goodforher.com), Farzana Doctor (www.farzanadoctor.com); Coffee was provided by Starbucks Coffee.
View photos from the event!
Conference details:
Conference agenda
11:30am - 12:30pm - Registration and refreshments
12:30pm - 1:00pm - Opening ceremonies
1:00pm - 2:00pm - Keynote Addresses
2:10pm - 3:30pm - Workshops A
3:30pm – 4:30pm - ‘Connect and Commit’ Networking session
4:30pm - 5:50pm - Workshops B
6:00pm – 7:30pm - Dinner and Panel Presentation
7:30pm – 8:30pm - Closing ceremonies, plus Music and Mingling
12:30pm – 1:00pm – Opening Ceremonies
Remarks by Aamer Esmail (Among Friends Coordinator), Nelson Cabral (Chair, Access Alliance’s Board of Directors), Francisco Vidal (Newcomer Youth Centre and Volunteer Coordinator, CultureLink) and Janet Rowe (Director, Programs and Community Services, The 519 Church Street Community Centre)
+ Performance by Amai Kuda
1:00pm - 2:00pm - Keynote Addresses
Celebrating LGBTQ+ Newcomers - Kristyn Wong-Tam (Community member)
Launch of the Stepping Up Project Toolkit – Roxanna Vahed (Access Alliance)
2:10pm - 3:30pm - Workshops A
A1. Supporting Resilience, Violence Prevention and Community Safety, One “Step Up” at a Time
Description: Join the Keynote speaker in a discussion about the Stepping Up Project’s “Promising Practice Tool Kit in Expressive Arts Programming with LGBTQQ2SI Newcomer Women.” Resource sharing, questions, networking and collective dreaming is encouraged.
Facilitated by Roxanna Vahed
A2. Trans Newcomers: Thoughts on Healthcare, Law and Transphobia
Description: Join a discussion about everyday realities for many trans-identified newcomers as we deal with the healthcare and legal systems in Canada.
Facilitated by Natalia Petite
A3. How Changes to Canada’s Refugee System Affects LGBTQ+ Newcomers
Description: Discuss changes to the Canadian refugee system and its impact on the LGBTQ+ newcomer communities.
Facilitated by Craig Fortier (No One Is Illegal)
A4. Navigating Language and Culture while Accessing Services
Description: Be part of a discussion that highlights the challenges and successes of finding services while dealing with linguistic and cultural diversity within our communities.
Facilitated by Lisa Gore
3:30pm - 4:30pm - ‘Connect and Commit’ Networking session
Take this time to meet new people, make some connections and commit to continuing building community.
+ Performance by ILL NANA
4:30pm - 5:50pm - Workshops B
B1. Life after 29 – We Still Exist!
Description: For LGBTQ+ newcomers who are 29 years and older, there are limited spaces to socialize, find support and take part in community development. Be part of a discussion about what already exists and what more can be done about it)
Facilitated by Fatima Mesquita
B2. No Funding, No Services? Sustaining LGBTQ+ Newcomer Programs and Services
Description: This workshop will discuss issues of sustainability and the need for core funding for LGBTQ+ newcomer programs and services.
Facilitated by Zack Marshall
B3. Intersecting Identities: Building a Life in Canada
Description: Discuss how identifying as an LGBTQ+ newcomer affects the things you do, whether its finding home in the queer and trans communities, looking for a job, maintaining your cultural roots and much more.
Facilitated by Asem Azouka
B4. Start Your Own Discussion
Description: Didn't find the topic you wanted to talk about? Use this room and start your own discussion.
Facilitated by participants
6:00pm - 7:30pm Dinner and Panel Presentation
'The Power of LGBTQ+ Newcomer Volunteerism'
Speakers: Shishir Chand, Luka Sidaravicius, Ranjith Kulatilake and Jean Vecina
+ Performance by Julissa
Throughout the day, art was showcased by Fariz
Hosting duties performed by Julissa and Kofi
Biographies
Amai Kuda (performer) The name Amai Kuda means "mother to the will of the creator" in the southern African language Shona. Through parenthood, community work and art, Amai is a vehicle for creation and for change. She co-founded and coordinates two organizations, Moyo Wa Africa and the R3 Artists' Collective, dedicated to the decolonization of African peoples and to indigenous solidarity respectively. Amai Kuda began to sing and write songs seriously after a tree told her to. Yes that's right, a tree. Since then she's been taking singing lessons from the trees regularly and giving birth to songs all over Toronto. Sometimes on stages, but mostly on the street, the subway and of course in parks with trees :) Check-out her music and upcoming shows at myspace/amaikuda.
Asem Azouka (workshop facilitator) is an immigrant to Canada since 2008. His community experience includes volunteering with Lyndhurst Spinal Cord Injury Institute, Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office, The 519 Church Street Community Centre and The Daily Bread Food Bank. Asem is also a Training Facilitator with the Among Friends Project and is interested in creating safer spaces and doing anti-oppression work for the LGBTQ communities.
Craig Fortier – No One is Illegal (workshop facilitator) is a long-time organizer with No One Is Illegal-Toronto and has worked in support of a number of campaigns to stop the deportations of LGBT migrants in Toronto. As a part of the Access Without Fear and Shelter Sanctuary Status campaigns, No One Is Illegal-Toronto has worked in solidarity with women's organizations, queer and trans migrant organizations and other social service agencies in an effort to ensure access to basic services for all migrants living in this city without status and to shut the doors on racist immigration officers. Craig is also a Ph.D student in the department of Sociology at York University.
Fariz (artist) was born and raised in Azerbaijan, one of the former Soviet Union republics. He is a self-taught artist who is passionate about experimenting and constantly exploring new ideas and concepts. Obsession with vivid and luminous colours can be observed in most of his works. His works often portray themes of struggling to embrace and accept one’s inner beauty as well as recognizing the self-love that is often being forgotten. Fariz has also devoted himself to sharing his views on the issues that still persist in people’s lives including war, poverty, oppression, persecution and violence while he was a subject of persecution, oppression, and homophobia himself. Some of Fariz’s works were donated to various organizations and some became part of private collections in Azerbaijan and Canada. His work titled “In Search for Hope” was featured in the “Youth Resisting Colonialism and Rebuilding Pathways to Hope” exhibition presented and organized by The Centre for Women’s Studies in Education and The Native Youth Sexual Health Network. His last works will be featured in the upcoming “Permanence” Exhibition that will be organized by ARTWHERK Collective from June 22 to July 4, 2010 at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
E-mail: fariz@bezpalabrown.com
Phone: (647) 929 4878
Fatima Mesquita (workshop facilitator) has a background in teaching, journalism and communications. She is a Brazilian writer with seven books published, who has also produced and directed a documentary about Portuguese immigrants in Toronto for Omni TV. She is a board member for the Brazil Film Fest in Toronto and has been program director for a BBC World Service Trust project in Angola about HIV/AIDS prevention. She is currently a volunteer for the Among Friends project.
ILL NANA (performer) is a queer and queer friendly multiracial dance crew. ILL NANA utilizes both classical dance techniques and urban dance forms of hip hop, ballet, jazz, house, vogue, step, latin, modern, and wushu kung fu creating all style all their own. These performers are fearlessly out and proud, sexy, masculine, feminine, all that is in between, human, and most importantly real. Through dance they represent many people and promote loving oneself, our differences, and coming together. Website: www.youtube.com/illnana257 Email: ill_nana@live.ca
Jean Vecina (panel presenter) was born and raised in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada in 2007. In the Philippines, she was a lawyer and advocate for women’s rights through various grassroots organizations. Since her arrival in Canada, she has worked in the settlement field supporting and advocating for immigrants, refugees and non-status people. She has worked with Intercede for the Rights of Domestic Workers, Caregivers and Newcomers, and is currently working for Griffin Centre’s ReachOUT Newcomer Network providing support for LGBTQ newcomer youth. Jean is also currently completing the accreditation of her foreign law degree. Jean has been a volunteer with the Among Friends project since 2007 and currently sits on the Advisory Board.
Julissa Penate (host, performer) was born in El Salvador on September 15, 1979. She migrated to Canada at the age of 9 making Vancouver, British Columbia her home. Julissa adapted very well to her new home, made new friends, learned a new language and continued to further her education finishing elementary secondary and post secondary studies. Julissa attended VCC college in down town Vancouver graduating with a PSW Certificate. At the age of 21 Julissa moved to Toronto, Ontario, a place she has grown to love and now calls home. Moving to Toronto has proven to have been a good move for Julissa in many ways, with a very pleasant and outgoing personality she has made name for herself in the community by performing in different clubs always keeping crowds entertained. She's dedicated her time to volunteer for the community particularly the Latin community and the Trans community. Julissa has worked with the Griffin Centre as a Peer Outreach Worker as well The 519 Community Centre as an Outreach and HIV/AIDS Prevention Worker, and still serves her community by being part of the Meal Trans and Trans Access projects at The 519 Community Centre.
Kofi (host) is a current new immigrant and a Social Worker by profession. He has previously organized a fraternity group called ‘Society Of Friends’ that provided social support to other queer community members. Kofi is a life long LGBTQ+ advocate and hopes to see an end to barriers in life for everyone. He enjoys connecting with others, traveling, reading and bringing a smile to people’s faces. Kofi is looking for his next big break in Toronto’s social and community service sector.
Kristyn Wong-Tam (keynote speaker) is a community activist and entrepreneur who emigrated in 1975 from Hong Kong to Canada. She is the President of XEXE Gallery, a founding member of the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area and sits on the Mayor’s Economic Competitiveness Advisory Committee. Her community involvement extends to the University of Toronto Art Centre, the Toronto Workforce Innovation Group and the Toronto Women's City Alliance. She is a champion for sustainable community living and plays a vital role in ensuring the vibrancy of our city and its economic and social development. 
Lisa Gore (workshop facilitator) is the LGBT Newcomer Services Coordinator at The 519 Church Street Community Centre and is a passionate advocate of Refugee rights and LGBT community.
Luka Sidaravicius (panel presenter) was born and raised in Brazil. He has a B.A. (hons) in psychology from York University. He identifies as a (gender)queer/trans male. He has been quite involved with Toronto LGBTQ+ communities- through performing and art-making, volunteering, paid work and...other endeavours. He received the "Outstanding contribution to arts and leadership" Youthline awards in 2008. 
Natalia Petite (workshop facilitator) is a Trans advocate and activist. She has been involved in advocating and promoting social justice and human rights for transsexual individuals globally. In mexico Natalia advocated for the Trans community to led Mexico City ’s pride parade in 2006 in order promote visibility in the process of voting a federal law which would allow trans individuals to change their name and gender and access public health. In Canada she has continued her support of transsexual people by being involved with the programs and groups of the 519 Centre and Supporting Our Youth. Natalia directed a short film that was part of the 2009 Inside Out film festival. In 2009 she was presented with the LGBT Youth Line award for Outstanding Contribution to Trans Visibility and the Catherine Parr Trail award for newcomer women.
Ranjith Kulatilake (panel presenter) was educated in Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and the Netherlands. He taught architecture and urban design at a Sri Lankan university before arriving in Canada in 2005. As a professional architect, he worked with underprivileged urban and rural communities and in post-disaster (tsunami, flood) community rebuilding work. For over ten years he has organised the Meththa Scholarship Programme for Children in Need in Sri Lanka. Currently he is a doctoral student in environmental studies at York University. He envisages an anti-oppressive approach to research, which would be stimulated by numerous activisms and lived experiences as a racialised gay man. Ranjith volunteers at the Among Friends LGBTQ Newcomers’ Initiative and the Breakthrough Committee of the LGBTQ Newcomers at the 519 Organisation. He is also a member of the Rainbow Health Network.
Roxanna Vahed (keynote speaker), in her role as a Community Health Worker at Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services, coordinates the Stepping Up Project. Through consultation with LGBTQ2SI newcomer women and service providers, the Stepping Up Project has developed a Program Delivery Tool Kit. The tool kit identifies promising practices when using the arts to address issues of violence and community safety with LGBTQQ2SI newcomer women, and will be launched at the Among Friends 2010 Conference.
Shishir Chand (panel presenter) has been with Among friends since 2007 as a volunteer. He grew up in India and moved to Canada from States in 2007. He is active member in LGBTQ community based programs in Canada and has also been associated with Griffin center and ASAAP organizations. Currently he is working to build LGBTQ Employee resource group at his company to change work environment from neutral to LGBTQ positive. In States he founded Smith Pride Alliance a networking and support group for Master’s student in business administration.
Zack Marshall (workshop facilitator) is a Professor in the Social Service Worker Programs at Seneca College and George Brown College. He is also a social worker and a trans man whose work is focused on gender, disability, sexuality and community health, and more specifically on initiatives which incorporate anti-oppressive, anti-racist and social justice frameworks. Zack spent the last six years developing Griffin Centre’s ReachOUT Program, a creative, inclusive and accessible program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, intersex, queer and questioning youth in north Toronto. ReachOUT incorporates a number of initiatives which address the impact of intersecting oppressions on health and sexual health, including specific projects for LGBT newcomer youth. He recently co-authored Getting Primed: Informing HIV Prevention with Gay/Bi/Queer Trans Men in Ontario and What Works with LGBTT2IQQ Youth? Evaluating Drop-In Groups for Diverse Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Trans, Two-Spirited, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Youth in North Toronto.
Poster design by www.meerasethi.com
