Fundraising, SPECTRUM News

Spectrum’s Rainbow Community Fund

Spectrum launches endowment fund with Waterloo Region Community Foundation

Spectrum Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space has been providing programs and services for 2SLGBTQIA+ people since 2012. They provide more than 30 different groups and activities each month, including peer support groups, social/recreational programming, and training.

Spectrum’s Rainbow Community Fund is being launched with an investment of $5,000.

“We are celebrating our 10th anniversary,” says Executive Director, Scott Williams, “and we are planning to be in the community for many years to come. Spectrum’s Rainbow Community Fund has been established to help provide financial stability to the organization in the long-term.”

Spectrum’s Rainbow Community Fund is one of over 400 funds held by Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF). These funds generate income that is then distributed to support a broad range of charitable causes within our community.

“We are very pleased to be able to support Spectrum as they work to build up the resources to deliver programming in the community to meet current and future needs,” says Eric Avner, President & Chief Executive Officer, Waterloo Region Community Foundation. “Endowment funds like this help us work towards our vision of a sustainable, equitable, thriving community.”

“At this time of year, we are reminded that many 2SLGBTQIA+ people do not have supportive families to gather with,” says Williams. “Spectrum provides a much-needed safe space where members of the rainbow community can find a sense of belonging. We are so grateful to the community for the financial support through individual, family, and corporate donations that makes our work possible.”

Donations can be made to Spectrum’s Rainbow Community Fund at www.wrcf.ca/spectrum. For more information about contributing to the fund, please contact WRCF at 519-725-1806 or info@wrcf.ca. If you want to learn more about Spectrum and the programs that we offer in community please contact info@ourspectrum.com

About Spectrum:

Founded in 2012, Spectrum offers over 30 different groups and activities each month. Spectrum is an organization that serves, affirms, and supports the well-being of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in Waterloo Region and the broader community through peer support, community partnerships, education and training, resources, and events. www.ourspectrum.com

About Waterloo Region Community Foundation

Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) collaborates with partners to create sustainable, equitable and thriving communities. We connect regionally and locally, working with three cities and four townships – to include the people and places across our region. Together, we develop forward-thinking innovative solutions and seize opportunities to meet current and future needs of our community. We make philanthropy easy for individuals and companies to support organizations and issues they care about. WRCF is focused on Granting, Impact Investing and Convening to make measurable and sustainable impacts. Gifts are directed to WRCF’s endowed funds that drive positive change through grants with the income generated being distributed in partnership with Fundholders to support a wide range of charitable causes within our community. A portion of the endowed funds are also used for impact investments that deliver both financial returns as well as positive social or environmental outcomes. As a leading community-building organization, we also work to amplify voices and issues of importance by convening conversations and sharing information, while approaching our work with an equity mindset. www.wrcf.ca

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SPECTRUM News

Lyle S. Hallman Foundation Children’s Initiatives Grant

We are pleased to share that Spectrum is receiving a two-year Children’s Initiatives grant from the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation to create programming for 2SLGBTQIA+ children aged 4-12!

With the Youth Under the Rainbow program, we will be partnering with Kitchener Public Library, Waterloo Public Library, Idea Exchange, Region of Waterloo Library, and Artshine to provide storytime and craft programing for 2SLGBTQIA+ children across Waterloo Region.

The grant of $152,493 over two years will allow us to hire a program coordinator to lead this work in the new year. You can view the posting here.

We are extremely grateful to the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation for their generous support!

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SPECTRUM News, WAGE Grant

Community Circles in January 2023

NOTE: The fourth circle has been rescheduled for March 14th. We hope to see you there! Register here.

The next step in our community engagement project is to host four community circles In January 2023. The community circles will each have a different focus and are intended to be organic and open ended conversations with our community to reflect on pressing and relevant topics relevant to Black, Indigenous, and racialized 2SLGTBQIA+ people. These community circles will be a meaningful step for Spectrum to address our lack of affirming actions towards Black, Indigenous, and racialized members of 2SLGTBQIA+ communities.

All four circles will be happening virtually on Zoom.

Circle #1: Tuesday January 10, 2023 7-9pm virtual

  • We would like to discuss Spectrum’s past and hear about any historical harms that may have been done.
  • We would like to get opinions on the survey that is currently open and do some reflection on the survey results.
  • We’d like to hear more from Black, Indigenous, and racialized 2SLGBTQIA+ people about your personal experiences.
  • We’d like to hear which programs, services, and community members are having a positive impact today.

Circle #2: Tuesday January 17, 2023 7-9pm virtual

  • We’d like to discuss queerphobia in our schools, and issues being brought to school boards.
  • We’d like to hear about how best to engage with Black, Indigenous, and racialized families with 2SLGBTQIA+ children and youth.
  • We’d like to discuss the impact of the police force on Black, Indigenous, and racialized queer people in our community.
  • We’d like to discuss anti-oppressive and queer affirming workplace strategies.
  • We’d like to hear which programs, services, and community members are having a positive impact today.

Circle #3: Tuesday January 24, 2023 7-9pm virtual

  • We’d like to discuss housing insecurities.
  • We’d like to discuss addiction and safe consumption.
  • We’d like to discuss equitable access to healthcare.
  • We’d like to hear which programs, services, and community members are having a positive impact today.

Circle #4: Tuesday January 31, 2023 7-9pm virtual

  • We’d like to discuss white supremacy in our community and issues like the removal of the Daughters of the Empire statue.
  • We’d like to discuss supporting queer-run Indigenous organizations.
  • We’d like to hear which programs, services, and community members are having a positive impact today.

These topics are not exhaustive and they may evolve based on feedback we receive in the surveys or based on how the conversation in the circles flows.

If there are any topics not listed that you would like to especially discuss or if there are any concerns please contact info@ourspectrum.com. The community circles will be co-facilitated by Spectrum’s community engagement coordinator Om Prajapati and Aashay Dalvi. The Executive Director of Spectrum, Scott Williams, will be present in an observational role. These circles are intended to be safe spaces for Black, Indigenous, and racialized 2SLGBTQIA+ people to share their honest thoughts and feelings.

To be a part of the community circles and/or be kept up to date on the progress of this work, please provide your email address here.

Register to attend here

If you haven’t had a chance to complete our survey, we’d appreciate hearing your thoughts here.

Please save the dates!

Circle #1: Tuesday January 10, 2023 7-9pm virtual

Circle #2: Tuesday January 17, 2023 7-9pm virtual

Circle #3: Tuesday January 24, 2023 7-9pm virtual

Circle #4: Tuesday January 31, 2023 7-9pm virtual

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