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Guest post

Sharing Spaces: Jamie’s Experience of the 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Group (18-25)

Hi! My name is Jamie and I’m a Social Service Worker student from Conestoga College and I’m
doing my placement at Spectrum this semester. For transparency, I’m a white neurodivergent
pansexual transgender guy who has a special passion for supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ folks with
mental illnesses and who may be homeless or have experienced homelessness at some point in their life. I have personal and professional experience with service navigation and I’m very
knowledgeable about 2SLGBTQIA+ issues and tenant rights. My goal during my placement is to
attend as many of the groups/events Spectrum offers and share my experiences while
attending these groups, as well as the experiences of other folks who attend and have willingly
answered questions that I have asked them.

As a part of attending these groups, I have written a series of journal entries that discuss my own thoughts of the spaces, combined with the answers I received from other attendees. Today, I’ll be talking about my experience at Spectrum on the Spectrum, which is a group for people who are on the Autism spectrum and identify as 2SLGBTQIA+.

2SLGBTQ+ Youth Group (18-25)

Attending the 2SLGBTQ+ youth group for the first time was a great experience for me.
Compared to the other groups Spectrum has to offer, this one was a bit different. I found it to
be more structured and almost therapeutic as it offered peer support on heavier topics brought up by participants, rather than being a purely socializing group. There were also coloured cards (red, yellow, and orange) that helped determine the boundaries and needs of group members when certain topics came up. Red means the topic is off the table for the rest of the meeting, yellow means slow down/talk quieter, and orange means pause for instances when someone has an immediate question, needs help understanding a term, etc. There were also of course snacks and drinks like most, if not all, Spectrum groups offer. These were all things that helped me feel comfortable in this space and made it feel more welcoming; some participants I interviewed also shared a similar sentiment.

One participant stated, “This group offers us a sense of belonging by showing us that others
have problems and not leaving us feeling alone”. They added, “This group makes us feel better
normally because it allows us to get what is bothering us off our mind by expressing it to
others”. When asked what they would like people to know who are considering attending this
group they said “I would let others who are planning on attending this group to know that the
group is most helpful when you express what is wrong and that no matter what you’re going
through the facilitators are willing to help you”. This particular participant said that they have
attended this group between 15 and 20 times and plans to continue coming back!

Over the course of the next few months, I’ll be sharing my other experiences of Spectrum Groups.

If you’re interested in attending any future Spectrum groups, make sure to check out the events calendar (ourspectrum.com/events) or follow us on social media.

Thanks for reading!

Jamie

A colourful banner in shades of purple, pink, and yellow.

Guest post, Uncategorized

Sharing Spaces: Jamie’s Experience of Spectrum on the Spectrum

Spectrum on the Spectrum

I have attended Spectrum on the Spectrum before my placement, but this time was particularly amazing. The environment was very welcoming and everyone was very friendly. There were drinks and snacks that were offered, as well as fidget toys and paper/markers for those who were non-speaking but still wanted to communicate. I spent the majority of the meeting talking with a group of three other people and I felt like I made a great connection with them. Some regular attendees of this group mentioned that this is the most people they have ever seen attend in the past which is great that word is getting out there that such an amazing group is running at Spectrum. I do, however, wish that the group ran more often as it currently runs only once a month. Hopefully, that is something Spectrum will be able to do in the future.

One attendee that I had the pleasure of interviewing said “This specific group allows me to
make other LGBTQ+ friends without worrying that I’ll act too awkwardly” and that “the
meetings for Spectrum on the Spectrum are relaxing and give me a sense of community”. When asked what would you like for people to know who are considering attending this group they said “It was a bit scary to visit, but everyone at Spectrum is really welcoming. If you’ve
considered visiting, it’s definitely worthwhile to try.

Over the course of the next few months, I’ll be sharing my other experiences of Spectrum Groups.

If you’re interested in attending any future Spectrum groups, make sure to check out the events calendar (ourspectrum.com/events) or follow us on social media.

Thanks for reading!

Jamie

SPECTRUM News

Thank You to the Kitchener Sports Association

We’d like to thank the Kitchener Sports Association for a grant of $3,500 that will allow us to purchase sports equipment for our 2SLGBTQIA+ Multi-Sport Drop-In!

The Multi-Sport Drop-In is totally free and is run out of the Downtown Community Centre and Stanley Park Community Centre in Kitchener. Each week we play a variety of sports like badminton, pickleball, volleyball, and basketball. From time to time we invite guest coaches for special events like Muay Thai and yoga.

Almost every participant that comes, comes because they want to meet other queer folks and move in a space exclusively for queer folks. Participants are at all levels and abilities. We have some people who are brand new to sports, while others are trying out for national sports teams. We’ve created a space that allows all abilities to play and have fun.

We’re also starting a Queer Run Club! Stay tuned for details.

SPECTRUM News

Refreshed 2SLGBTQIA+ Terminology Guide

Spectrum is pleased to share our refreshed 2SLGBTQIA+ Terminology Guide! This was made possible thanks to the work of co-op student, Sarah Amoah.

Below, Sarah shares her thoughts on her co-op placement experience.

My name is Sarah Amoah (she/they). I am a Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, graduate from University of Western Ontario-King’s College and am currently completing a postgraduate certificate in Community and Social Services Management at Conestoga College. I am grateful to Spectrum for hosting me as a co-op student for 10 weeks and to Scott Williams for supporting me as a placement supervisor. As a Black, queer, woman with a non-visible disability, I am grateful for the opportunity to strengthen my knowledge of 2SLGBTQIA+ concepts, forms of discrimination, and community services in the region. I found it easy to become emersed in the content as I have so much passion and interest in the topics.

This placement has expanded my understanding of the variety of leadership and management roles that make up successful community service organizations. I have been relishing in the opportunity to continuously learn about the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, terminology, and relevant concepts. This experience has enhanced my understanding of professional leadership in community service organizations that work with marginalized demographics such as the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Having the opportunity to sit in on board and fundraising meetings and participate in the organization’s Rainbow Diversity Training has strengthened my connection to my identity as a queer person and to the Waterloo 2SLGBTQIA+ community. This experience has expanded my awareness of how important community mobilization and unification is for impactful community service. It is important to recognize how smaller organizations without access to an abundance of funding run with the help of volunteers, board of directors and general community support.

Thank you, Spectrum, you will always have a place in my heart!

SPECTRUM News

Launch of Youth Under the Rainbow

We are so excited to officially announce our brand new Youth Under the Rainbow Programming!

As previously announced we have received a generous two-year Children Initiatives grant from the Lyle S. Hallman foundation. This grant has allowed us to create the Youth Under the Rainbow program, provide Rainbow Diversity Training to our organizational partners, and hire a full-time coordinator to lead this wonderful work.

Spectrum has noticed a need for safe and supportive spaces, particularly for 2SLGBTQ+ children ages 4-12. As such our Youth Under the Rainbow Programming looks to meet this need by partnering with some wonderful organizations including the Waterloo Public Library, Kitchener Public Library, The Region of Waterloo Public Libraries, Idea Exchange in Cambridge, and Artshine.

We are thrilled to announce that our first program will be starting from May 6th – June 10 at Artshine! This Program will run every Saturday from 10-11:30 am. Registration is open now.

Our Artshine Program will be a FREE registered program for 2SLGBTQ+ children and allies ages 8-12, to come and create art at Studio 44. We will be running this Program three times a year, each with six sessions. Due to space, we are only able to provide 15 spots a session, however, we encourage individuals to sign up for one or more sessions as we will be exploring colour through a wide range of mediums.

Our second style of programming is in collaboration with our wonderful public libraries which will provide free programming focusing on ages 4-10. These programs will focus on providing a safe and supportive space for 2SLGBTQ+ children, families, and allies to make some crafts, have fun making connections with others, and reading supportive and inclusive literature. Keep an eye out on our calendar, as many of these programs will be starting this July!

During programs, we will also be providing evaluation surveys to participants to give us feedback on this program, and how we might improve it. Data will be collected anonymously and shared with the community to see help us understand how these programs have affected the participants’ sense of belonging.

We can’t wait to see all of you! Make sure to keep an eye out on our calendar, for program dates. times, and locations.

Events

Multi-Sport Drop-In Expansion

Since April 2022, we have been partnering with the Stanley Park Community Centre to offer the 2SLGBTQIA+ Multi-Sport Drop-In on Saturdays. This program has run seasonally with short breaks of a few weeks between sessions. It’s been extremely successful with up to 20 participants attending each week.

As announced earlier this month, we have received a grant from Sport Canada to expand this program and conduct a robust evaluation of it in partnership with the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. We will now be able to offer a second Multi-Sport Drop-In on Saturday afternoons at the Downtown Community Centre in Kitchener. We hope that participants in these sessions will help us by completing evaluation surveys. This grant also includes funds that will allow us to provide Rainbow Diversity Training to as many as 200 City of Kitchener employees who work with the community centres.

In our ongoing efforts to provide more programming in Cambridge, we have partnered with Kinbridge Community Association to run a third Multi-Sport Drop-In on Saturday afternoons in Cambridge!

Spectrum is very grateful to our partners at the City of Kitchener community centres, Kinbridge Community Association, and Wilfrid Laurier University for helping us make this programming possible. We are also grateful to Sport Canada for recognizing the importance of creating opportunities for 2SLGBTQIA+ people to participate in sports and recreation.

Please Note: Though these Drop-Ins take place on most Saturdays, they do not take place EVERY Saturday. Please be sure to check our calendar for details.

SPECTRUM News

Rainbow Pages Online Directory

We are pleased to announce the launch of our online Rainbow Pages directory!

This project was made possible by an extension of the 2SLGBTQ Community Capacity Fund grant administered by Women and Gender Equality Canada.

The Rainbow Pages exists as a community publication, printed annually. You can find the 2022 edition here, and the 2021 edition here. It now also exists as a searchable online database that can be updated at any time!

Visit the online directory at https://ourspectrum.com/rd/

Organizations can create an account and make updates to their listings at any time. We have created a tutorial video and written instructions to help people make use of the directory.

If you know a queer-owned, or queer-friendly business that should be listed in the Rainbow Pages please share the link!

Start exploring the directory today!

SPECTRUM News

Introducing Our New Executive Director

We are pleased to introduce our new Executive Director, Scott Williams. Many people will know Scott as the project coordinator of our 2021 capacity-building project but his history with SPECTRUM goes back to 2013 when he volunteered as our librarian. In 2014-2015 Scott served as our Board Secretary, and he continued as a volunteer through 2018, especially assisting with our charitable status and fundraising efforts.

Prior to 2021, Scott served as Communications and Development Coordinator at KW Counselling Services where he was part of the OK2BME team for several years. In 2015, Scott began the GivingTuesday Waterloo Region movement which he chaired through 2017. Scott volunteers with the United Way Waterloo Region Communities Community Investments Team, and the Grand River Film Festival’s selection committee. Previously, he has volunteered on the City of Kitchener Mayor’s Task Force on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the Waterloo Region Mental Wellness Network, and the Children and Youth Planning Table Communications Advisory Team.

Scott holds a BA in English Language and Literature from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a diploma in Film Production from Vancouver Film School. He is a graduate of the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation’s Engage!KW program. At WLU, Scott served as Co-President of GLOBAL (Gay, Lesbian, Or Bisexual, At Laurier), the precursor to the Rainbow Centre. He was part of the volunteer committee who organized the first Pride Prom in Waterloo Region in 2003. Scott wrote the Love My Hood grant application that resulted in the 2018 installation of the rainbow crosswalk in Kitchener.
Connect with Scott at scott@ourspectrum.com

Volunteers

Guidelines for SPECTRUM groups participants

SPECTRUM’s goal is to create a safe and confidential environment in which participants feel that their contribution (especially disclosing their experiences and feelings) will be respected.

To that end, we ask participants:

to treat all people with civility, respect, integrity and fairness

to respect the confidentiality of those in the group

to abide by the principles, values and laws accepted by Canadian society

to be mindful of the amount of time that they are speaking, so that other participants have the option of time to speak

to engage in respectful dialogue with regard to racial, sexual, political, religious or government policy; racism and sexism will not be tolerated

to avoid interrupting people

to avoid making generalizations about groups of people in the rainbow community since this might leave some participants feeling marginalized or judged

to avoid making assumptions about the gender identity or sexual orientation of participants; they will disclose this themselves if they wish to; also avoid asking trans folk intrusive questions – about hormone therapy or surgery.

to avoid suggesting that there is one correct way of behaving or living – for example, by giving unrequested advice to participants

In order to provide a safe environment for all, we ask that participants refrain from using, possessing or distributing alcohol or recreational substances at Spectrum or during our programs and events.

WAGE Grant

2021 in Review: We’ve Come So Far…

In January of 2021, SPECTRUM embarked on Project Excelsior, a landmark capacity-expanding project, which was made possible by a generous grant from the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund. This project was envisioned and planned by our former ED, Jim Parrott, and former Trans Services Coordinator Melissa Kennedy, who spearheaded the grant application process to secure a transformational grant of $279,782.

Thanks to that grant, the Project Excelsior team as well as SPECTRUM’s volunteers, Board, and community partners have made incredible strides to expand our ability to affirm and support the well-being of 2SLGBTQ+ people in Waterloo Region.

SPECTRUM Programs

From August 2020 – July 2021, SPECTRUM had:

More than 2000 participants across 796 Zoom Sessions, totaling 344,345 minutes of Zoom sessions!
An average of 180 Zoom participants each month
270 people participated in our RDT pilot workshops
178 people attended virtual Pride events
Through our partnership with OK2BME, 129 counseling sessions were provided for 48 clients between August 2020 and June 2021

In addition, we’ve added seven new programs to our roster, including:

A 2SLGBTQ+ Book Club in partnership with Waterloo Public Library
A Queer Crafting Circle in partnership with Button Factory Arts
A 2SLGBTQ+ Yoga Group in partnership with The Branches
A 2SLGBTQ+ Mindful Movement dance therapy group
A Social Networking Group for Young 2SLGBTQ+ Adults aged 25-40
A 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Peer Support Group for ages 18-25
A Transgender Peer Support Group for Cambridge

And we’re not finished yet! We know there is still a need for programming for Black, Indigenous, and racialized people, programming for people with underrepresented genders and orientations, and programming for children, parents, and families. We’re currently working with consultants from local Black and Asian communities to help us understand the needs of those communities and how we can create programming and spaces that are accessible and relevant for them.

New SPECTRUM Resources

The SPECTRUM team has also worked hard to create and launch the following resources for the 2SLGBTQ+ community and their allies in 2021:

And, just wait until we welcome you back to our new physical space which is more than double the size and will be decorated with a mural by Trisha Abe…

We need support to keep going!

We’ve accomplished so much this past year, but there’s so much more than needs to be done! We hope that you’ll include SPECTRUM in your year-end giving to help us continue to keep our doors open and to allow us to provide programs and services that have been life-saving for some members of our community.

Click here to make a donation to SPECTRUM today!

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