Support Program Workshop: Loss & Grief
Fife House 490 Sherbourne St, Toronto, CanadaDear Support Program Clients and Caregivers, You are cordially invited to our second last educational workshop: Relationship with your lost and grief facilitated by Ms. Chris Leonard on Friday April 21,2023 PLEASE RSVP TO Kenneth E MAIL healthpromo@acas.org Through this workshop you can experience the Connection is key in these extraordinary times. The Community Conversation is a space for us to come together to unpack and process the mental and emotional weight of living in these difficult times. The session is an opportunity for us to “take the cork out”, to name the stressors and challenges of living through all the losses, changes and transitions we’ve been experiencing over the past three years. There will also be time to share our strategies for coping and to practice tools for supporting ourselves to hold steady as we move forward. Chris Leonard is a process facilitator and trainer committed to supporting transformative change in communities and organizations. Over the past 30 years, she has held space with individuals, workers and communities impacted by loss related to violence, the overdose crisis, HIV/AIDS, sexual violence, and other traumatic events. Her facilitation and training aim to build capacity in Grief, Loss and Trauma, Impact Debriefing, Lateral Violence, Restorative Practices, and Worker Wellness. During the past three years Chris has supported workers and communities impacted by the mental and emotional weight of living and working through the pandemic, racial tensions, collective grief, and equity and inclusion in community and beyond. Venue: Fife House community room 490 Sherbourne st. main floor. Time: reception at 6p.m., Dinner: 6:15p.m. and presentation: 7:00p.m. Please join us for this meaningful workshop where we can continue to stay strong as an individual or as a community in solidarity while you enjoy the connection with your peers and indulge in some sumptuous Asian [...]
Movie night & HIV self testing
ACAS 260 Spadina Ave #410, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaJoin us at Asian Community AIDS Services for a night of learning, free HIV self testing kits, a movie, snacks, and community. Friday April 21 at 7:00PM 260 Spadina Ave, Unit 410, 4th floor Vote for the movie you want to see ('Fire Island' or 'Everything Everywhere All at Once') at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/HLMY6KD Please email officeadmin@acas.org or kinkay_anantawan@yahoo.ca to RSVP
Game night at Freeplay Arcade
Freeplay Arcade 300 College St, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaJoin the Men's Program for a group outing to Freeplay Arcade for free unlimited arcade and classic games. This event is for East and Southeast Asian gay, bi, queer cis and trans guys. RSVP at: https://forms.gle/XbFjvyZ8RAZQXmFE9 Monday April 24 6:30pm: Meet at ACAS (260 Spadina Ave, Unit 410) for greetings and introductions. 7:00pm: 10 minute walk over to Freeplay Arcade (300 College St) Free, no cover on Mondays!
Hot Pot SQUATS
Hong Fook Youth and Family Services partnering with ACAS to run a monthly LGBTQ+ peer support program for Asian LGBTQ+ youth ages 18-29. 👉 WHEN: April 25 👉 TIME: 6:30pm - 8:00pm EST 👉 WHERE: Zoom 👉 REGISTER: email Moshe at msakal@hongfook.ca The peer support group offers a space for youth to connect and share their experiences around a variety of topics relevant to their lives, including LGBTQ+ and mental health. Together we create a supportive, non-judgemental environment that inspires hope, healing, and change.
Snakes & Lattes and HIV Self-testing Workshop
Join us at Snakes and Lattes at 489 College St tomorrow at 7pm for a night of games, food, and togetherness - FOR FREE! You will learn about HIV self-testing and get free HIV self-testing kits. This workshop has a limit of 10 spots and is for folks of East & Southeast Asian descent. Please email officeadmin@acas.org to reserve your spot. Reservations will be taken on a first-come first-serve basis.
Má Sài Gòn at Hot Docs
We are organizing a small group to go watch the film Má Sài Gòn at Hot Docs. We have 5 free tickets available for the ACAS Men's Program for gay, bisexual, queer cis and trans guys. First-come-first-serve by sign up through the registration form: https://forms.gle/U619BoKMR5aPTa3s7 If you are unable to get a free ticket, you can still join us to watch together and buy your own ticket at https://hotdocs.ca/whats-on/hot-docs-festival/films/2023/ma-sai-gon Date: Tuesday May 2 Meet at Theatre: 8:15pm Movie Time: 8:45pm Location: TIFF Bell Lightbox 3 (350 King St W) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (lovingly still called Saigon by locals), is a city as colourful, charming, and contradictory as the people who call it home. Focusing on its LGBTQ+ community, this ode to a place and its people draws on a mosaic of characters to give life to a unique cinematic portrait. The featured individuals, couples, and families—traditional and non-traditional—strive for the things in life that unite us all: love, acceptance and belonging. Using striking cinematography and thoughtful compositions, the film’s memorable portraits are intercut with dreamy and poetic sequences that offer a meditative rhythm. Aimed at the city and all its “mothers,” this cinematic love letter perfectly reflects the sentiment of a repeated refrain in the film: “Should I live again one day, I would still want to be your son.” For more info: https://hotdocs.ca/whats-on/hot-docs-festival/films/2023/ma-sai-gon
When You’re Ready: Pride Cycle Starts!
🌈LINK TO REGISTER: https://forms.gle/k4xbdx8CQMeCTiCL8 ✨ QTAY Presents: When You’re Ready CYCLE 4 Peer Leaders: Cam, Lindy, & Winsome! WHEN: May 7 - June 15, 2023 On Sundays from 1-3:30pm EST On Thursdays from 6-8pm EST LOCATION: Zoom WHAT IS THE WYR PROGRAM? When You’re Ready (WYR) is an interactive community-building program where East and Southeast Asian youth (ages 18-29) come together to discuss topics relating to their identity, with an emphasis on the whole idea of coming into your identity. STRUCTURE OF WYR We will be capping CYCLE 4 at 10 participants to facilitate an intimate environment where youth can explore and discuss these topics more in-depth. Please RSVP as soon as you can by filling out our form! We will be meeting twice a week, every Sunday from 1-3:30pm EST and every Thursday from 6-8pm from May 7 - June 15, 2023 (May 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28; June 1, 4, 8, 11, 15) on Zoom. We encourage participants to attend at least 8/12 sessions. If you already know this is going to be tough to do, please refrain from signing up so that we can prioritize folks who can attend as many sessions as possible, as there will be other opportunities and times to join WYR in the future. HOW TO RSVP? You can RSVP by filling out the form here: https://forms.gle/k4xbdx8CQMeCTiCL8 Please RSVP by MAY 4, 2023! Dany, the youth program coordinator, will be sending you a message to either confirm your attendance or ask if you would like to be put on the waiting list. If you can’t make it to the 2023 CYCLE 4, but would like to attend WYR in the future, please let Dany know and they will keep you updated! If you have any questions, email Dany at youth@acas.org!
Life Drawing for gay Asian guys
the 519 519 Church St, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaThis event is for East and Southeast Asian gay, bi, queer cis and trans guys. The Men's Program is hosting a life drawing session with Asian nude models. This is open to a wide range of artistic experience, whether you are new, a beginner, or experienced. We recommend you bring your own art supplies and preferred art mediums if you have them, but some supplies will be provided. We will have charcoal, pencils, and some paper pads available. This life drawing session will be led and instructed by Anthony Johnson. See his works at https://www.instagram.com/artbyajohnson/ Date: Sunday May 14 Time: 2:30-4:30pm Location: The 519 (519 Church St) Limited 8 spots available Register at: https://forms.gle/EBab3hcRS9HLgF6n6
Pillow Talk Virtual Workshops on Raising Sexually Healthy Children Training
This training will help parents and caregivers feel comfortable answering children's questions about sexuality, teach them how to protect children from unwanted sexual advances, and help them grow up sexually healthy. Participants are required to attend four workshops: Workshop I: Wednesday, May 17, 2023, 7:00 - 8: 30 PM Workshop II: Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 7:00- 8: 30 PM Workshop III: Wednesday, May 31, 2023, 7:00- 8: 30 PM Workshop IV: Wednesday, June 07, 2023, 7:00- 8:30 PM For registration: Contact Jun Liu at womensupport@acas.org. Please tell us your kids' ages and any special concerns when you register. In Person Pillow Talk workshop on Close Comforts, Care & Celebrations This in person Pillow Talk session will include: Talking through consent, pleasure, and bodily healing; Body mapping exercises; Self-defense basics and good food. Email Dany at youthacas.org to get more info and join us on June 3rd from 11 am- 5 pm EST
Support Program Health Promotion Workshop
Dear Support clients and Caregivers, You are cordially invited to our last Health Promotion educational workshop of the year in partnership with O.P.A. Topic: Cardiovascular and strokes presented by Jack Lee. People living with HIV and many general population adults are experiencing Cardiovascular and stroke symptoms. Through this workshop, you will gain Canadian Stroke Facts · Stroke in young and older adults · Stroke signs and symptoms · Canadians at risk of stroke (risk factors) · Reducing the risk of stroke (primary prevention) For this workshop, you will learn: · Brief introduction of the presenter and topic/presentation objectives · Provide to audience with printout materials/cards on stroke facts and stroke signs and symptoms Jack Li is a Nurse Practitioner at St. Michael’s Hospital, having completed his training at the University of Toronto in 2021. Prior to pursuing his graduate education, he worked for several years as an emergency department nurse in the Greater Toronto Area. At St. Michael’s Hospital, Jack is an integral part of an interdisciplinary team that provides compassionate care for patients affected by stroke. His current scope of practice entails the assessment, diagnosis, and management of stroke patients. Moreover, Jack has extensive knowledge of primary health care, which is a field of medicine that focuses on preventative health, disease prevention, and chronic disease management. With his wealth of experience and diverse skill set, Jack is enthusiastic about contributing to the success of ACAS and supporting its service users. The workshop is on Thursday, May 18, 2023, 6 p.m. serving a sumptuous Asian dinner and presentation starting around 7 p.m. 490 Sherbourne St. community room on the main floor. RSVP to Jun womensupport@acas.org or Kenneth healthpromo@acas.org no later by May 16.