Community Engagement Sessions and Surveys
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY INPUT
Sessions
We are excited to announce that we will be holding virtual community engagement sessions throughout the summer! These sessions will be focused on hearing from services users who identify as 2SLGBTQ+ on their experiences when accessing services around this area that is known by many names (Moh'kinsstis and Calgary being two of them), what is helpful for service users when accessing services, and what services/programming they are looking for (or more of).
Session Dates:
We will be holding five virtual sessions for participants based on different identities and lived experiences:
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Session for Black LGBTQ2S+ community members: Thursday, July 8th - 1:00-3:30pm
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Session for non-Black, non-Indigenous LGBTQ2S+ community members of colour - Tuesday, July 20th - 1:00-3:30pm
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Session for LGBTQ2S+ Newcomer community members - Thursday, August 5th - 1:00-3:30pm
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Session for 2SLGBTQ+ community members living with low income and/or disabilities - Tuesday, August 24th - 1:00-3:30pm
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Session for Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ Indigenous community members - Thursday, October 21st - 1:00-3:30pm
We understand that individuals may fit into more than one identifier. If you wish to participate, please choose the session you'd be most comfortable attending.
Dates for sessions will be announced 4-6 weeks in advance.
Session Information:
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Each session will be held on Zoom
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They will be up to 2.5 hours long
Accessibility:
If you require an interpreter or have any accessibility needs, please mention this in the participant form below.
If you require an interpreter, we are happy to provide one for you! Please let us know as soon as possible so that we can give ample notice to the interpreter. The latest we can book an ASL interpreter is 3 business days before the session, so please let us know 3 business days before at the very latest if you require an ASL interpreter. Booking cut offs for other language interpreters vary. Please let us know as soon as possible if you require a different language interpreter.
Participant Information:
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What do we mean by service user? Someone that has accessed any kind of support service (ex. mental health, physical health, basic needs, financial, peer support, housing, transitioning, etc).
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Each session will have a maximum of 5 participants. This is to ensure that we have enough time for everyone in the session to communicate their thoughts, to ensure manageable facilitation (facilitating a virtual space can be different from facilitating in-person), and to ensure that each participant receives an adequate honorarium amount.
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Participants must be at least 14 years old (no age limit).
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Each participant will receive an $80 honorarium.
Participant Safety:
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Our Safer Spaces and Confidentiality policies will apply to these spaces. You can view them here.
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The Zoom link will only be given to selected participants
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The sessions will be facilitated by a staff member of Outlink who is a queer person of colour
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Another Outlink staff member and/or a community member in a designated support role will be available for emotional support or to debrief during/after the session.
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A resource list will be given to participants at the end of the session in case additional support is needed
Thank you for your interest. Our participant form is now closed.
Surveys
Surveys are now closed.
If you prefer to communicate through written methods or are unable to attend a session, we will also have surveys available. If we reach the maximum number of participants for the sessions and you are unable to participate in them, you are welcome to fill out a survey.
Eligibility:
Survey participants must have accessed support services in or near Calgary, Alberta/Moh'kinsstis on Treaty 7 territory. Participants must live in Alberta to be eligible to receive an honorarium. Participants must also be 14 or older (no age limit).
You are eligible to participate in this survey if you identify with any of the following identities and/or lived experiences:
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Black LGBTQ2S+ individuals
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Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ Indigenous individuals
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Non-Black, non-Indigenous LGBTQ2S+ individuals of colour
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LGBTQ2S+ newcomers
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2SLGBTQ+ individuals living with disabilities
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2SLGBTQ+ individuals living with low income
Consent:
You are welcome to withdraw your consent if you wish. If you no longer want us to use your survey responses please let us know. You will be able to withdraw your consent until September 5, 2021.
Honorarium:
By filling out our survey, you can enter a draw to receive a $15 Starbucks, Walmart, or Tim Hortons gift card (you can select which one). There will be multiple gift cards available in the draw.
Please note that participants must live in Alberta to be eligible for an honorarium. Honoraria are only available in Canadian dollars.
Survey Access:
Please email zak@calgaryoutlink.ca to access the survey.
Post -Survey Resource List
Sometimes thinking about past experiences can bring up different feelings depending on the experience you had. If you need any emotional support after completing the survey, you are welcome to use the resource list PDF below if you find it helpful.
Findings:
The findings from these sessions and surveys will be organized and sorted appropriately once all the sessions are over then shared with other 2SLGBTQ+-serving organizations, as well as with any community members who wish to view them. They will also be used in board and grant reports. They will be anonymized so that there isn't any identifying information like your name linked to them.
We will use the findings to inform our services and programming based on our abilities and capacities. We will encourage other organizations to do the same.
Questions:
If you have any questions, please email zak@calgaryoutlink.ca or give us a call at 403-234-8973.
Funding:
This project is funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada through the Government of Canada and The Enchanté Network.
