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Dear ACAS community partners and allies; I am pleased to announce that Heywon Kim is the incoming Women’s Outreach and Education Program Coordinator. She graduated from the University of Toronto and majored in Sociology and Political Science. Her varied work experiences include: working on an international development project in Ghana, a swim instructor at YMCA, and as the residence don at U of T.  Heywon speaks Korean and has been an active member of ACAS. She is particularly interested in working to reduce barriers Asian and immigrant women face in accessing sexual health information and prevention services. Please note that Leo Zhou, the Volunteer/Media Coordinator has left ACAS to pursue personal interests. He will be greatly missed by our volunteers, staff and board members. On behalf of ACAS, I would like to acknowledge his dedication, professionalism, and outstanding work at ACAS for the past 3 years, and wish him well in his future endeavors. Thank you, Leo. Sincerely, Noulmook

ACAS is looking for a Women’s HIV Outreach and Education Program Coordinator (paid staff position).  Deadline to apply is June 22, 2011.  Please click here for full details.

You are cordially invited to the Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) 2011 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at Fife House on Sherbourne Street. Date: Thursday, April 28, 2011 Time: 5:00 - 8:00 PM Location: Fife House Meeting Room, 490 Sherbourne Street, Toronto (map) Registration starts at 5:15 PM. Light dinner will be served at 5:30 PM. For more information, please contact: Trisha Steinberg, Administrative Assistant (416) 963-4300 ext. 239 ∙ officeadmin@acas.org

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place on Thursday April 28, 2011 at Fife House. The meeting was well-attended by community members, community partners, volunteers, and board and staff members. The AGM opened with a choral performance by Singing for Love, a choir for Asian LGBTQ individuals and allies. The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was former board member and volunteer, Jacquiline Uy. The main proceedings of the meeting began with Jazzmine Manalo, Board Vice-Chair, presenting the Chair’s Address as Andre Goh was out of town. This was followed by a message from the Executive Director, Noulmook Sutdhibhasilp. Motions to approve the agenda and AGM minutes from 2010 were carried. Staff members were invited to present updates on their various programs and projects, including the introduction of the promotional video for S.L.A.M (Sex. Love. Asian Men!) Members were asked to vote on two issues: Slogan for organisational branding purposes Election of new board members The slogan selected out of 5 choices was: Supporting our Community, Caring for our Future The five incoming board members elected by ACAS members are: Andrew Chung Brian Chang Clement Ng Kaya Tran Peter Lau ACAS thanks the following outgoing board members for their contributions to the growth of the organisation: Andre Goh Chi-Chung Lau Gerson Mobo Jacquiline Uy Nelson Ho Yukyung Kim-Cho Outstanding Volunteer Awards were presented to: Andrew M. Christian H. Permpong T. Stephen Y. Sylvia P. QAY Leadership Camp Team 2010 Congratulations and thanks everyone for attending our AGM.

Daniel (Tiane) Le, Men’s Sexual Health Promoter, received the Outstanding Community Bridge Builder Award from the LGBT Giving Network. The award presentation was held at the LGBT Philanthropy Conference in Toronto on Saturday, April 9, 2011. In the last ten years, Daniel has been a role model, leader and community activist for the LGBT Asian community in Toronto. He started his activism by volunteering with Gay Asians Toronto (GAT), a non-profit organization that promotes the rights of Asian LGBT. Sharing similar struggles with other young gay Asians on such issues as self-esteem, pride and sense of belonging, Daniel knew well there was a need for alternative safe spaces for young gay Asians within the broader gay community. In early 2001, he and other concerned peers decided to organize Scented Boys, monthly dance parties as a means to instill pride, restore self-esteem and foster community-building among the young gay Asian population in downtown Toronto. Scented Boys managed to raise their own funds and enter a float during a previous Pride Toronto parade showcasing an all-Asian men in a float using a fun and innovative theme. When Daniel started working with ACAS in 2005, he has brought his excellent skill in networking with various sectors in business and non-profit sectors. He started doing HIV/AIDS outreach at bathhouses and dance clubs. He developed a monthly outreach/social event at a local Toronto bathhouse called Asian Bathhouse Night to address the marginalization, stigma and racism experienced by Asian bathhouse users. This innovative outreach strategy, bringing fun and interactive educational workshops to the bathhouse where patrons are, has been recognized by other members of the AIDS service communities as one of the best practices in Ontario. As a result of the monthly Asian themed events, previous patrons have gone on to volunteer or work for ACAS, acted as mentors to the next generation, initiated [...]