PYAP fosters leadership and engagement of 18 2SLGBTQ youth across Ontario, working together to increase visibility and awareness of 2SLGBTQ needs and challenges across Ontario. Youth Ambassadors (YA’s) work together to:
- lead a needs assessment to better understand the needs and challenges within their communities
- develop resources that address a locally-identified need, with longer-term impact, within their region
- network with service providers and educators to raise awareness about 2SLGBTQ youth issues and resources in their region
- increase awareness of 2SLGBTQ resources for youth, through outreach at Pride and other youth events
- document learnings and best practices learnt through the process, to share publicly
- host community launches in their regions
Support 2SLGBTQ+ Youth in Northern Ontario.
Based on our Provincial Youth Ambassador Project (PYAP) Needs Assessment, 2SLGBTQ+ youth in northern Ontario are looking for spaces to build relationships with those in local communities, and other northern regions across the province. We are hosting a series of free zine making workshops to create space for community building and bridging the gap in meaningful engagement among youth in northern Ontario.
Facilitated by a local Youth Ambassador and Teddy Syrette, these gatherings will be held in Kenora, Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay, North Bay, Sudbury, and Sault Ste. Marie. The zine pages will focus on connection, relationships and love within our communities, all within a northern Ontario context. At the end of November, the zine pages from each gathering will be bound together, and copies will be passed out throughout Northern Ontario.
Learn more about the project directly from our Provincial Youth Ambassadors!
Who are Provincial Youth Ambassadors?
We are a group of 18 2SLGBTQ+ identified youth from across the province increasing visibility and raising awareness of the needs and challenges of youth (29 and under) in our communities. We represent the vastness of Ontario, from big cities to suburbs to rural towns. We’re here to amplify all our voices and to create opportunities for Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and questioning youth to come together across our regions. To learn more about each of us, and where we’re from, visit our biography page
What’s our work?
Our goal as Provincial Youth Ambassadors (PYAs) is to create a platform for other 2SLGBTQ+ voices to share their thoughts, experiences, hopes, and desires for their communities and the province of Ontario.
- Do you have dreams of what the future of queer and trans communities looks like?
- Do you have ideas on how to make safer and more inclusive spaces?
- Want to share your thoughts on creating change in your community?
- Do you want to gather together with other 2SLGBTQ+ youth in your community?
- Do you have a desire to share your thoughts on accessibility and community resources?
- Do you know of any awesome agencies doing a great job supporting 2SLGBTQ+ youth 29 and under?
Get in touch with us! We are currently seeking support from local community organizations, 2SLGBTQ+ groups, and service providers across Ontario who will assist and/or partner with us. We are hoping that you might be willing to help spread the word about our needs assessment. We will also be looking for a few partners that would consider hosting a community sharing circle in the fall of 2019.
The community sharing circles will be an opportunity to meet 2SLGBTQ+ youth where they are at and get a better sense of what they imagine the best programs and resources would look like in their community.
If you’d like to get involved contact us, pyap@youthline.ca
What’s our vision?
We envision an Ontario that is more than safe and inclusive of 2SLGBTQ+ youth. We are working towards an Ontario that seeks out our voices, wisdom and experiences as 2SLGBTQ+ youth to improve the systems we interact with, while also advocating for new systems which are free from systemic barriers.