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Summer is here, but we at ACAS have been busy at the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia between July 20-25, 2014 and hosting our wonderful Volunteer Appreciation party! ACAS at AIDS 2014! Summer is here, but we at ACAS have been busy at the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia between July 20-25, 2014. Dr. Alan Li, ACAS Men’s Sexual Health Coordinator Richard Utama and Community Engagement Coordinator/AMP2R Research Study Coordinator presented both a poster abstract on resiliency promoting strategies based on the Asian Pathways to Resiliency Study (AMP2R) findings as well as an interactive workshop on Two Cultures Collide: Sexual Wellbeing Promotion Among Asian Men Living in Western Societies. On behalf of ACAS, we would like to thank the research team and community research advisory team members for making this community such a success!     Thank you to all our lovely ACAS volunteers! We at ACAS would like to acknowledge that as a small-sized non-profit organization, we would not be able to be what we are without the help of our extremely talented and committed team of volunteers. To thank all our volunteers who have contributed so much to ACAS this year, we hosted a lovely Volunteer Appreciation Party on Wednesday July 23, 2014. Everyone enjoyed great food, company and the lovely summer weather. Thanks once again for being a part of the ACAS family!   World Pride Human Rights Conference Re-cap by our Pride Coordinator Ray Garcia Did you miss this year’s World Pride Human Rights Conference end of June? Our Pride Coordinator Ray Garcia had written a lovely blog article on the various ACAS panel: On June 25th 2014, Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) kicked off World Pride by participating in three panels at North America’s very first World Pride Human Rights Conference (hosted by the University [...]

TWO ACAS INTERNAL JOB POSTINGSFor members, volunteers, service users, and current employees1) Women’s Outreach Program CoordinatorType of position: Part-time (3 full days/week), contract position (10 months, renewable to 2 more years)Application Deadline: Thursday, July 31 (midnight)Interview Date:  Tuesday, August 5, 2014Starting Date:  August 11, 2014  ACAS Admin Assistant 2014 ACAS Women's Outreach Program Coordinator 2014 2) Administrative AssistantType of position: part-time, contract, 2.5 days/weekApplication Deadline:  Wednesday, August 13, 2014 (midnight)Interview Date: Monday, August 18, 2014Start Date:  Monday, September 1, 2014Hourly wage: $14-15, depending on qualifications ACAS Admin Assistant 2014

On June 25th 2014, Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) kicked off World Pride by participating in three panels at North America’s very first World Pride Human Rights Conference (hosted by the University of Toronto). 1. ACAS’s first panel titled Intersectional Approaches to HIV/AIDS and Toronto’s Racialized Communities, moderated by Dr. Alan Li, took place on June 25th. The panel was composed of executive directors from four of Toronto’s leading ethnocultural HIV/AIDS organizations: Noulmook Sutdhibhasilp of ACAS, Shannon Ryan of Black Coalition for Aids Prevention (BlackCap), Vijaya Chikermane of Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP) and Fanta Ongoiba of African Partnership against AIDS (APAA). Though they did not officially adopt the term “intersectionality” in their work, the panel agreed that Intersectionality is a tool for analysis which helps them understand how different sets of identities and inequalities influence a person’s risk to HIV; how they are treated and live with the disease; and how our medical, political and social systems respond to the epidemic. The panel centred on challenging the “one size fits all” approach prevalent in the HIV/AIDS service sector; it also highlighted the importance of culturally and linguistically appropriate HIV/AIDS services for Toronto’s racialized communities. In addition, the panel also discussed the difficulties of addressing issues within complicated and diverse racialized communities—issues based on gender, sexual orientation, class, migration and culture call for expansive and fluid programs and services. Some of these programs include: ASAAP’s Brownkiss.ca: a website for South Asians that focuses on sexual health, feminism, healthy relationships and story sharing. BlackCAP’s 3MV (Many Men Many Voices), provides black gay men with training and information to make healthy sexual decisions. ACAS’s Queer Asian Youth Program organizes social outings and educational workshops for queer Asian youth (many who are new to Canada). APAA’s work in providing HIV/AIDS support [...]

ACAS Job Posting:  Women's Support Worker  Position Type: Contract - Part Time Date Ad Posted: July 7, 2014 Job Region: ON - Metro Toronto Area Application Deadline: July 28, 2014 Years Experience: 2 Interview Date: July 31 We are looking for a passionate and experienced person to fill a part-time (21 hours/week), contract position, starting immediately.ACAS supports employment equity. People living with HIV/AIDS, people from the East and Southeast Asian Canadian communities are encouraged to apply.Responsibilities: Work in collaboration with the Support Program Coordinator to plan, implement and evaluate the women’s support services Provide lay counselling for women living with HIV Provide case management – intake, assessment, wellness/ follow-up planning, referral, advocacy and other practical support to clients, and their families Organize 3-4 social events/year for women living with HIV Work with the Support Program team to organize health promotion workshops, alternative therapy program and other services as needed Liaise and network with appropriate organizations for support and care, education, advocacy and referral Maintain support program statistics, reports, evaluations, client files Collaborate with other staff on the preparation of funding proposals and reports to funder Other administrative duty as appropriate Qualifications: College, university degree in social work, social services, counselling, public health or at least 2 years of practical knowledge/work experience in the above areas Familiarity with and knowledge of issues faced by East & Southeast Asian women, especially of those living with HIV/AIDS Experience in basic and/or lay counselling service, case management and community development work Basic knowledge about HIV treatment Good communication and writing skills in English Experience working in the field of HIV/AIDS support an asset Ability and willingness to collaborate, as well as work independently in a team setting and committee environment Ability to work under a queer-positive, sex-positive, and anti-oppressive framework  Basic computer skills Ability to work evenings and weekends occasionally [...]

On behalf of the board and staff members, ACAS would like to thank all our members, allies, volunteers, donors, marchers and float decorators for making this year’s WorldPride an extremely memorable one. ACAS had a full week of WorldPride related events including hosting a Welcome Reception for Asian Delegates attending WorldPride 2014, presenting on three panels at the WorldPride Human Rights Conference, and participating at the Trans March, Dyke March, QAY Cabaret Pride Stage, as well as marching with our very own ACAS Pride Float this year!  ACAS WorldPride Welcome Reception (Photo by Sophia Zhao) ACAS Welcome Reception for Asian Delegates attending WorldPride 2014 ACAS was very excited and extremely honoured to have the opportunity to host a welcome reception for the many international Asian delegates attending this year’s WorldPride and the WorldPride Human Rights Conference on June 25, 2014. Honoured guests included past International Pride Grand Marshals Angie Umbac of the Philippines, Thai trans activist Kath Khangpiboon, Taiwanese delegates Paul Hsu and Howard Chiu of the Taiwan Lourdes Association and Chih-Liu Peng and Shi-Cheng Du of the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ) Hotline Association, Korean delegates Minhee Ryu, Horim Yi of the Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea, and Candy Yun of the Korean Sexual-Minority Culture and Rights Center, Dandan Zhang of Tong Yu La La (Same Language) of Hong Kong, Roger Tam of the Gay Men’s Health Clinic of Winnipeg, and Frank Folino of the WorldPride 2014 team. Aside from fun games, good food and opportunities to mingle, the evening saw the premier of the new ACAS Men’s Program educational video. We would like to thank our MC Steven Shi and our host the Holiday Inn Yorkville-Bloor for making this event possible, and editor Jack Jia of the Chinese News Group for attending and covering the event.   ACAS [...]

Join us at #ACASPRIDE!!! Complete ACAS World Pride 2014 Event Listing: https://www.facebook.com/events/246731668866866/ ASIAN COMMUNITY AIDS SERVICES (ACAS) RISES UP TO CELEBRATE WORLD PRIDE 2014: Working Toward International Asian LGBTQ and HIV Rights With Human Rights Conference Panels And Weeklong Celebratory Events! Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) is gearing up for this year’s World Pride 2014 with a host of activities in June both aimed at improving the human rights of East and Southeast Asian LGBTQ and HIV communities around the world and community events that promise to be spectacular and festive. Past International Pride Marshals Rosanna Flamer-Caldera (2007) from Sri Lanka and Angie Umbac (2011) from the Philippines, as well as Paul Hsu, Executive Director of the Taiwan Lourdes Association, a non-profit organization providing the much needed support services to persons living with HIV in Taiwan, and representatives from Hotline Taiwan, a national Taiwanese LGBTQ organization, will all be present at the ACAS World Pride 2014 Welcome Reception for Asian Delegates to be held at Holiday Inn Bloor-Yorkville, 280 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1V8, on Wednesday, June 25th from 6pm - 9pm. “We encourage allies and supporters to join us at our various ACAS World Pride 2014 events to show our commitment for Asian gay, lesbian, bi, trans, intersex, queer and questioning and HIV+ brothers and sisters in June,” says Noulmook Sutdhibhasilp, Executive Director of Asian Community AIDS services (ACAS). To further promote the human rights of Asian LGBTQs and persons living with HIV locally and internationally, ACAS will be holding two special panels on Asian LGBT Diaspora in Canada andAsian Trans Women in Toronto, as well as taking part in the international panel on Intersectional Approaches to HIV with panelists from Canada, Kenya, Uganda & Brazil during the World Pride Human Rights Conference to be held between June [...]

CelebrAsian: ACAS Celebrates 20 years of community activism and support On behalf of the board and staff members, ACAS would like to thank all our members, allies, donors, volunteers, performers and all of those who had attended the ACAS 20th Anniversary CelebrAsian Fundraising Gala on May 30! It was certainly a memorable night to remember as we celebrated 20 years of community support and activism provided by ACAS to the East and Southeast Asian HIV and LGBTQ communities. Since 1994, ACAS has provided vital support to persons living with HIV/AIDS, a safe space for LGBTQ community members, and education and outreach to underserved migrant farmworkers of East and Southeast Asian communities. Andre Goh, ACAS Board Chair remarks, “ Since 1982, Toronto's LGBTQ East and Southeast Asians have been building a community that is diverse, complex, delicate, yet strong. All this while, the organization we call ACAS has been the public face for this community for three generations.” The evening saw the presentation of two special 20th Anniversary Awards to individuals who espouse the core values and visions of ACAS and have contributed to our organization’s success: The Patrick Truong Award and the Community Builder Award. The Patrick Truong Award, named after our late Support Program staff and AIDS activist, is to honor a person living with HIV/AIDS who has made significant contributions in the areas of HIV/AIDS in Canada or internationally. This year’s Patrick Truong Award recipient is Derek Yee, a fearless community leader and a past board member of ACAS. “Through my involvement with ACAS, I have learnt resiliency in life and have grown as an individual with my community. I am proud of my achievement to speak my truth quietly and clearly,” says Derek Yee. The ACAS 20th Anniversary Community Building Award recipient Dr. Alan Li and The Patrick Truong Award recipient Derek Yee (Photo by Tony [...]

ACAS is pleased to announce two internal job postings for members, volunteers, service users, and current part-time employees. 1. Project Coordinator (Heterosexually Self-identified MSM Outreach) ACAS Internal Job Posting QAY resource dev ACAS Internal Job Posting- Project Coordinator Yurtdışı Yatırım Application Deadline: Thursday, June 19 (midnight) 2. QAY Resource Development Lead ACAS Internal Job Posting QAY resource dev Application Deadline: Monday, June 30 (12 midnight)

Dear Community Members, Partners, Volunteers, Donors and Allies: With Less than 1 week away from CelebrAsian, have you purchased your tickets to this meaningful fundraising gala that promises to be both fun and celebratory in honour of ACAS' 20 years in community activism serving the East and Southeast Asian LGBTQ and HIV communities? Tickets for the ACAS #CelebrAsian 20th Anniversary Fundraising Gala Dinner are available for purchase online here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/celebrasian-acas-20th-anniversary-gala-dinner-tickets-1415749545 The #CelebrAsian Gala Dinner will take place on Friday, May 30, 2014 at the Old Mill (21 Old Mill Road, Toronto ON M8X 1G5 ). Reception for CelebrAsian starts at 6:00 p.m. The evening will see the presentation of two special awards to individuals who espouse the core values and visions of ACAS and have contributed to our organization’s success.The Patrick Truong Award, named after our late Support Program staff and AIDS activist, is to honor a person living with HIV/AIDS who has made significant contributions in the areas of HIV/AIDS in Canada or internationally. This year’s Patrick Truong Award recipient is Derek Yee, a fearless community leader and a past board member of ACAS. “Through my involvement with ACAS, I have learnt resiliency in life and have grown as an individual with my community,” says Derek Yee. The 20th Anniversary Community Building Award honours an individual who has demonstrated long-term commitment, dedication, and accomplishments in community organizing or advocacy work related to HIV/AIDS, LGBT, human rights or social justice. Dr. Alan Li is the recipient of the 20th Anniversary Community Building Award. Alan is a primary care physician at Regent Park Community Health Centre. At the highest peak of AIDS epidemic in Ontario in the early 1990s, Alan and members of Gay Asians Toronto (GAT) started the Gay Asian AIDS project (GAAP) and subsequently ACAS. His activism and community building have spanned more than 3 decades, [...]

With less than 2 weeks away, please consider either placing an ad in the ACAS #CelebrAsian Souvenir Booklet or to become a VIP  Platinum or Platinum Sponsor at the fundraising gala by sponsoring one or more tables --- all for a great cause and to celebrate ACAS' activism and legacy of work for the local East and Southeast HIV and LGBTQ communities. Anniversary Book Advertisement You can place an advertisement or congratulatory message in our 20th Anniversary Book which will be distributed to 400 guests at the gala dinner. The book will also be posted online. q  1    Full Page (8.5”x 8.5”)   $500 q  ½   Page (8.5” x 4.25”)     $300 q  ¼   Page (4.25”x4.25”)      $200 Send us your logo and message to ed@acas.org by 2 p.m., FRIDAY, MAY 23. Patron Sponsor – Per Table of 10 *  $5000        VIP Platinum : includes a VIP banquet table for 10 guests with preferred seating, four bottles of wine, patron acknowledgement in our event program, and 3 months banner advertisement on our website. Partial charity receipt will be issued. *  $3000        Platinum Sponsor: includes a VIP banquet table for 10 guests with preferred seating, two bottles of wine and patron acknowledgement in our event program. Partial charity receipt will be issued. Or support us by purchasing a regular table: *  $750          Regular table. Partial charity receipt will be issued. To become a sponsor or place an ad in the ACAS #CelebrAsian booklet, please download and complete the sponsorship form here: ACAS 20th Anniversary Sponsor form May15,14. Thanks for all your support, and see you on May 30! ankara escort