Can You Sponsor A Workshop?
We have a wish list of items for our space, especially art supplies for workshops, and we can accept financial donations through Canada Helps.
Arts and Crafts
Youth can express their creativity in multiple ways, and whenever they want. The space includes a large variety of crafts and art supplies. Structured paint nights with local artists are offered as well as special holiday themed activities for the youth. Artistic expression is a powerful tool for self expression and the youth are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities.
Binding and Transitional Care Workshops
OUTLoud provides the youth with access to accurate affirming information and resources, including volunteers with lived or professional experience addressing topics such as gender-affirming supplies (such as chest bindings, pads and forms, bra selection, packers, and stand to pee devices); gender-confirming health care and/or interventions (such as hormone treatments, hair removal and surgery) that may help youth feel their body better aligns with their gender identity.
It is of the utmost importance that youth receive competent and affirming medical advice and care. Workshops can provide information on medical interventions, and accessing competent and affirming medical advice to help make informed decisions and manage expectations.
Assistance is available with referrals to medical professionals competent in working with transgender and gender diverse youth, and mentoring.
Body and Sex Positivity Support Workshops
The body and sex positivity support workshops include open supportive discussions while creating a safe space for all to participate in discussions and guided conversations about body image, media, and how to create a validating and affirming LGBTQ2S+ community with respect to body image, healthy relationships, and communication, while defining aspects of a healthy relationship.
All discussions incorporate gender identity, gender expression and transitioning, and sexual orientation including physical attraction, romantic attraction, and emotional attraction.
Social issues are addressed through sex positive research and education in a LGBTQ2S+ informed and sex positive manner including gender and sex positive tools for discussing sensitive health topics. The goal of these workshops is to develop a liberating space for a diverse group of LGBTQ2S+ and allied participants to discuss body image, social pressure and other stresses that affect self-esteem.
Pressures can be especially difficult for LGBTQ2S+ youth who are exposed to limited positive images of themselves in popular media, meaningful consent, and healthy relationships.
Coming Out
Coming out is the process by which someone accepts and identifies with a gender identity and/or sexual orientation and shares their identity willingly with others. OUTLoud’s Coming out workshops support LGBTQ2S+ youth with their individual coming out processes.
These are open discussions which include tips and tricks for coming out, scenarios, activities and do’s and don’ts. A youth’s decision to come out to a person or group is one of safety, comfort, trust, and readiness. Discussions help demonstrate that coming out is not a one-time event, it is a lifelong process and a decision that has to be made again and again in new situations.
The purpose of Coming Out Workshops is to ensure youth have support networks in place. Youth are taught how to build on positive experiences, how to deal with initial responses, and protect themselves emotionally while helping identify feelings associated with coming out – scared, relieved, confused, proud, vulnerable, uncertain, empowered, brave, affirmed etc.
Volunteers help youth navigate their own coming out journey by outlining their needs, identifying supports, and anticipating challenges. Activities may include making a coming out plan, a to-do list, or a list of the benefits and the risks of coming out.
Education/Literacy Programming
Volunteers, many from the local school boards as well as students enrolled in post-secondary programs, help tutor the youth. Youth have the opportunity to pair up with a tutor and are encouraged to bring in their homework for assistance. The space includes computers and internet access, printing availability, and volunteers available to assist youth with questions.
Literacy is a big part of OUTLoud’s programming. The youth have access to an entire library of books and can participate in a book club. The library includes an entire section of reading materials related to LGBTQ2S+ issues, characters, or books that are authored by members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Employment Services
For older youth looking for help gaining employment, the space offers resumé building programs and job readiness workshops. Volunteers will work with the youth to develop resumés, practice interview skills/techniques, assist in job searching, and reach out to employment services available in the community.
Grief Share Recovery Workshops
In supporting LGBTQ2S+ youth through grief and loss it is important to remember the unique experience of these individuals. There is often a lack of resources for LGBTQ2S+ youth and support which can lead to further feelings of isolation, which can make healthy grieving difficult.
It is important to understand this population’s vulnerability to depression, social isolation, and the experience of multiple losses such as the possible rejection of family and friends when coming out. Acknowledging these factors when supporting LGBTQ2S+ youth through grief and loss is essential.
The workshops create a sense of community through grief, which can be a powerful tool in supporting LGBTQ2S+ youth who are grieving.
Harm Reduction and Coping Strategies
LGBTQ2S+ youth are a group that has been identified as being at greater risk of substance use/abuse and associated problems due to stressors in their lives and/or weakened resilience.
These workshops aim to stimulate discussions that lead to youth friendly strategies covering general topics such as drugs/alcohol and their use, blood-borne illnesses, STIs, health, and lifestyle issues.
Volunteers listen to the youth and facilitate their participation.
Indigenous Programming
In partnership with the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre youth are able to participate in cultural related crafts and programming to facilitate access to culture in ways that are safe and affirming of the youth’s identity. Youth are given the opportunity to understand the importance of wellness and balance specific to the Medicine Wheel Teachings, and positive life choices related to the Seven Grandfather teachings. Available supports and services are discussed, and ensuring youth have an understanding of gender roles, spirituality, and the long history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures. Youth are able to explore their identities, and what it means to them in a safe space through events, ceremonies, and workshops.
Journaling/ Junk Journaling
The youth create journals made from a mix of found and recycled materials and include a little bit of everything and anything. Youth can collect and record memories, thoughts, ideas, and inspiration. Each youth enjoys their own unique process in creating their journal. Journaling provides a number of benefits to our youth: it helps them organize their thoughts and feelings, is a good place to set and achieve goals and abilities, it helps with relieving stresses, anxieties, frustrations and pains. Journaling is a good way to assist the youth in taking a step back and empowering them to self-reflect.
LGBTQ2S+ Education & Liaison Training
OutLoud provides a variety of education on a host of LGBTQ2S+ topics. The purpose of these trainings is to expand education, increase awareness and acceptance of the LGBTQ2S+ community, and strive for justice, equality, and compassion in human relations.
Some of the goals of the training are learning to use LGBTQ2S+ related terminology in the correct way and with respect, increased understanding of LGBTQ2S+ youth and the challenges they often face; build on participant’s knowledge and understanding, and develop empathy, with the primary goal of creating safer and more supportive environments for LGBTQ2S+ youth.
Life Skills Programming
OUTLoud provides space for a variety of discussions; some presented by OUTLoud, while others are peer-led, or organized and presented by community partners, groups or entities.
The youth gain skills in leadership by getting the opportunity to be involved in planning, implementing and evaluating programs, events, and policies within the Centre. The Centre has a Youth Volunteer group that helps in running and maintaining the space and the development of programming suited directly towards the needs of the youth members.
Media
Workshops are held with local film students to teach the youth about film, screenwriting, editing and digital media in a variety of different genres. Workshops are focused on the development and delivery of hands-on learning where youth have the opportunity to transform their ideas into structured scripts and get to experience the various steps of the filmmaking process.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Youth are educatd and supported in their mental wellbeing in these workshops. Services focus primarily on the emotional and social well-being of the LGBTQ2S+ youth, with the goal of assisting the youth in coping with their mental health, encouraging positive mental health, and learning varied and impactful coping strategies.
Youth are provided with the critical tools to learn how to deal with their personal struggles, cope with mental illness, and mental health issues while being empowered in a fun, encouraging, and safe space. Past activities have included Chakra balancing with the use of crystals, yoga classes, and smudging sessions.
Music Therapy
The space is equipped with a large variety of musical instruments (drum sets, guitar/bass, keyboard, and microphones). Music Therapy is a big part of the programming done with local musicians and singer/songwriters. Activities include open mic nights, karaoke, songwriting and poetry slams.
Nutrition
The space offers snacks daily to all youth. In partnership with the Gathering Place the space receives healthy food and snacks which are available to the youth at no cost.
The youth are able to access free treats through the Centre’s “Button Program” where generous community members pre-purchase buttons which can be used by the youth to purchase a sweet treat.
Parent to Parent Network Nights
A child coming out to family members is emotionally vulnerable and parents often find themselves sorting through their own complex feelings. Parent network nights help parents in supporting the unique needs of their LGBTQ2S+ children.
Through offering peer-to-peer support and resources, the aim is to equip the family members with the support and resources they need and best meet the needs of parent and child. This allows the families to then further support, affirm, and advocate on behalf of their LGBTQ2S+ child.
Pen Pal Workshops
In this workshop youth are matched with other LGBTQ2S+ youth worldwide. The youths write letters, and are provided with a fun way to connect and share experiences with other kids around the world. The pen pal workshop provides the youth with an authentic writing experience, while building cross-cultural understanding of the LGBTQ2S+ community in many different countries.
Personal Care Kits
Youth are provided with personal care supplies, at no-cost, and in a gender affirming manner. Hygiene and care items are available, and youth are able to select brands, scents and supplies that best match their gender identity. The kits contain a variety of items from socks to oral hygiene, and personal hygiene supplies and are accessible in a confidential help-yourself manner. Items are stocked and available in OUTLoud’s gender inclusive washrooms.
Recreational and Leisure Programming
The Center offers a variety of recreational and leisure activities. The space includes televisions, multiple gaming systems, a foosball table, computers with internet access, board games, puzzles, cards, and a Netflix subscription. The space also offers an indoor fitness area with a punching bag and various other equipment, and has partnered with the local YMCA to include some free youth memberships.
Suicide Prevention
The suicide prevention workshops provide the youth with ways to talk about suicide safely and effectively while supporting their well-being. Safe discussions about suicide are a critical part in protecting the health and safety of individuals at risk. Youth will learn to identify their own personal strategies for self-care, and identify sources of support in their own environment. Youth will be provided with lists of available resources which are specifically designed to address the mental health needs of the LGBTQ2S+ youth.
Social Media is discussed as a vitally important resource for expanding public conversations about the well-being of LGBTQ2S+ youth, promoting the need for support and acceptance, and encouraging help-seeking by youth who may be contemplating suicide. Social media can also elevate risks associated with unsafe media discussions about suicide, can quickly spread misinformation about a suicide death or endanger at-risk individuals who may be contemplating suicide.
Therefore, it is key that this too be part of the conversation and that youth are shown how to engage with social media in a positive and affirming manner.
Transform Clothing Closet
Gender expression is an important part of OUTLoud’s programming and ensures our youth are free to express themselves however they feel most comfortable and in the way that is most affirming. The Transform Clothing Closet allows transgender youth or gender nonconforming youth access to free clothing that best suits their identity while ensuring the youth feels accepted and validated.
Clothing can be a tool in helping a youth express themselves, and having the ability to tell the world who they are and having their clothing align with their gender identity is the primary goal. The Transform Clothing Closet is located in OUTLoud and accepts donations of clothing, jewelry, accessories and shoes.
Vision Board
The vision board workshops allow the youth to create a visual space of things they want in life and assist in bringing it to reality. Visualization is one of the most powerful mind exercises. Youth are encouraged to create a vision board and put it in a space they see often, which acts as a short visualization exercise throughout the day. Youth are encouraged to fill their vision boards with anything that inspires or motivates them.