About me
I'm a curious and passionate individual who has had quite an intriguing journey so far. As a pansexual queer cis male settler, with my privileges in mind, I am very grateful for the experiences where I've been able to unlearn, re-learn and grow from, especially over the last year or so. I have made it my responsibility to be more aware of the inequalities, barriers, and systemic issues of populations who have generationally experienced marginalization, oppression, and violence. Within my privilege, I strive to be able to impact important changes within my personal and professional capacities and encourage others to do the same.
Over the last ten years, I have been navigating this world with a sense of wonder and intrigue. So much to explore, learn about, fix and build. The biggest takeaway I would share is how important and impactful a sense of community is. It can take various forms that are unique for individuals and offers space for people to be a part of something bigger than themselves while being supported by folx with similar values, interests, goals, and a sense of family and care. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it's how important we are to one another and how much work we have in front of us to ensure everyone is treated equally, with respect, dignity, and supported.
My Latest Projects
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Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC)
Summit 2021: Disrupt and Reconstruct
The late summer of 2021 I began a role with the CBRC, focusing on coordinating their late fall annual conference. This conference brings researchers, community organizations and individuals together every year from across the country. In sharing research findings, community impacts and experiences, the knowledge sharing and community building is powerful. With the intention of the theme of Disrupt and Reconstruct, the programming focused on how important it is to continue advocating and making change a reality within our social and structural health systems. Our programming including day one focused on Two-Spirit and Indigenous content, and made space to powerful voices and messages being shared by the keynote speakers. The programming shared knowledge, stories and systemic health research findings that impact gender and sexually diverse populations. Our virtual Summit reached almost 1000 individuals across Canada. For more information about CBRC's Summit, please click here.
Sexual Minority Youth Access to Services in Mental Health During the Covid-19 Pandemic
(SMASH COVID)
Starting in the early winter, I was invited to coordinate and offer my experiences in community engagement to an urgent research project addressing the barriers for gender and sexually diverse youth and young adults in accessing mental health services and care. We know that challenges and systemic issues were already present before the pandemic and the new reality not only enhanced what folx were experienced but in various ways made it worse.
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​This project is focusing on identifying what the specific barriers are for individuals who are considering or attempting to access care or support. Connecting a baseline survey from the Commercial Tobacco project, reaching individuals across Ontario and Quebec, will help provide quantitative data on how many folx are experiencing mental health concerns and if they wanted to access care but had to delay or were not able to access the care they needed. Through this research, including an environmental scan of existing services, a planning committee of community stakeholders, and a design team, we are designing a design charrette co-design program for 40 youth and young adults to help identify what the barriers have been and create adaptations or new programming of an existing model to be implemented by Rainbow Service at CAMH and designed in a way that could be implemented universally. This program and other components are in production and aiming to launch in the summer of 2021.
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​For more information of the project, please click here.
2SLGBTQI+ Campaign on Commercial Tobacco Use and Its Culture
Over the last year, I've had the privilege of leading outreach efforts and assisting in the development of a research project focusing on gender and sexually diverse young adults (18-29), addressing the root causes of commercial tobacco use. The scope of the project focuses on Thunder Bay, Toronto, and Montreal. Through market research including a longitudinal survey, focus groups, and key informant interviews we have been building up to creating an awareness campaign and affirming services for folx looking to reduce their consumption or begin the journey of quitting.
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The approach of the project is to meet people where they're at, addressing the reasons why people are smoking rather than a judgment or stigmatizing experience. Creating and joining community conversations around mental health, connectedness, alternative coping strategies, and managing stress for example. My role focuses on bridging research and community to ensure the lived experience, insights, and knowledge of the community is integrated into the project with a participatory action framework. The project is supported by an inspiring group of young adult advisors, working groups of community organizaitons and members in each city, and an overall advisory of community stakeholders, academics, and public health experts.
​For more information on the project, please click here.