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.
Asian Night at Spa Excess
Spa Excess 105 Carlton St, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaDate: Thursday May 18 Time: 8:00pm – 11:00pm Location: Spa Excess (105 Carlton St) Asian Night is back at Spa Excess! Cum to relax, meet new guys and have some fun. Our volunteer team will be there to create a welcoming and friendly environment while getting you connected with resources on PrEP and HIV/STI testing. Coupon for 50% off lockers available by contacting Ryan at men@acas.org Join our bathhouse volunteer team by emailing Ryan at men@acas.org
Mini Film Fest: A Youth Project x QTAY Collab! Short Film Screenings
💖 Happy Asian Heritage Month! The Youth Project (Nova Scotia) and QTAY/ACAS (Ontario) are super excited to host a Mini Film Festival this May created by and featuring queer and trans Asians. 👉 When: Friday, May 19th & Saturday, May 20th 👉 Time: 5:30-7:30pm EST / 6:30-8:30pm ADT 👉 Location: Zoom May 19th Celebrate our community with films made by community members, along with a short discussion with the creators. Creators include: - Amanda Ann-Min Wong (@amandaamwong) - Beau Gomez (@beaugomezx) - Serena Lam (@sserenalam) - Trâm Anh Nguyễn (@nghtanh) The Youth Project’s mission is to make Nova Scotia, located in Mi'kma'ki, a safer, healthier, and happier place for 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, +) youth since being founded in 1993. The Youth Project is a multiservice organization with an aim to further the inclusion and wellness of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth under the age of 26. Our three main pillars of services are Education, Programming, and Support. Our team aims to create spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth to feel supported, affirmed and celebrated. Queer & Trans Asian Youth (QTAY) is a program of Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) in Ontario, located in Tkaronto, for East and Southeast Asians aged 16-29 that strives to increase education, opportunities, support and resiliency skills for Asian youth in Toronto in dealing with the various social/health challenges and questions of being at the intersections of queerness and Asianness. QTAY has been providing social spaces, capacity development, and peer support for 2SLGBTQIAP+, curious and undecided East and Southeast Asian youths and their friends since 2000.
QTAY Presents: Demystifying “Do What You Love” Work Culture with Lindy!
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdF1onSeLQLbDCC1uznXQ9Q6SnjsTvFiJYF8hR2MKjYOw6dmQ/viewform Demystifying “Do What You Love” Work Culture! When it comes to careers, how often have you heard the advice to just do something you enjoy? However, what if the work that brings you joy doesn’t pay a liveable wage, or comes with exploitative working conditions? Or what if you just don’t find paid work that fulfilling, regardless of the industry you’re in? Who benefits from the idea that paid work should be inherently enjoyable? How did we end up with a culture where paid work is so strongly tied to identity and worth? Join us for a discussion where we’ll explore how capitalism impacts the relationships between paid work, identity, and worth to create a “do what you love” myth that exploits and harms workers. We’ll be reflecting on definitions of career “success” and how we might redefine that success in ways that are more sustainable for ourselves, our communities, and the planet.