If you wanted to know about the latest goings on at ACAS you’ve come to the right place.
If you are interested in a particular topic use our categories selecting function to see updates related to that topic! Here we like to share news, event info, past events and our impact on the community!
ACAS phone directory has changed
Dial 416-963-4300 and leave a message for staff at extension 100. We check voice messages regularly. For the Executive Director, call 647-281-4271 Confidential voicemail: Alex Ma, Support Program, x 222 Ryan Tran, Manager of Education & Outreach, x 235
Derek Yee’s tribute, April 30
ACAS Board of Directors and Derek Yee's family invite you to join us to pay tribute to Derek Yee (1966-2021) on 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘, 𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐋 𝟑𝟎, 𝟔:𝟑𝟎-𝟖:𝟑𝟎 𝐩.𝐦. Due to COVID 19 restriction, this gathering is on Zoom.
We share our sorrow and grief with Derek Yee’s family
It is with great sadness to inform you that Derek Yee, ACAS board member passed away on April 05, 2021. We share our sorrow and grief with his family and friends. Asian Community AIDS Services
ACAS Statement on Anti-Asian Racism March 23, 2021
Please click here to sign on to the following community statement.
PILLOW TALK COORDINATOR
Timeline: March-Mid May 2021 Application Deadline: Monday, March 22, 2021 We are looking for a passionate and energetic woman to organize Pillow Talk –the Sexual Health Community Forum for East and Southeast Asian cis, Trans women, and non-binary. Pillow Talk draws lessons from real-life experiences of cis and trans women. Format of the forum in the past are: a panel discussion, break out sessions, health promotion activities, HIV testing, and networking lunch. This is a peer-based position with $1,500 honorarium. Responsibilities • Recruit and form a working group of 3-4 women volunteers to plan the virtual Pillow Talk Forum • Work with the working group to plan and organize Pillow Talk • Promote the forum and recruit 10-15 participants for each workshop • Organize at least 4 virtual educational sessions that focus on sexual health, mental health, safety and holistic well-being • Evaluate process and outcome of the project • Prepare a final report for the funder Qualifications • Knowledge, interest, and experience in HIV/AIDS, healthy sexuality, harm reduction, and peer-based education concepts • Demonstrated commitment to anti-homophobia, anti-transphobia, anti-sexism, anti-oppression, and healthy sexuality • Excellent interpersonal, and communication skills • Self-directed, and willing to work flexible hours and on some weekends • Ability to work as part of a team and independently • Skills in MS Office, social media, and Zoom • Ability to prioritize, delegate, and handle multiple tasks • Member of the East and Southeast Asian communities or experienced working with the East and Southeast Asian communities • Fluent in one of the East and Southeast Asian languages an asset Please send a cover letter, resume with 1 reference by email to: Subject: Pillow Talk Forum Organizer Email: officeadmin@acas.org We regret that we will only contact candidates selected for interviews. Interviews will be conducted via zoom [...]
Women’s Support Coordinator
Application Deadline: Monday, March 29, 2021 Part-Time, 21 hours/ week We are looking for a passionate and experienced person to fill a part-time contract position at ACAS. We support employment equity. Cis and Trans women living with HIV, and folks from the East and Southeast Asian Canadian communities are encouraged to apply. Responsibilities: • Work in collaboration with the Support team to plan, implement and evaluate the support services for HIV+ cis and trans women • Provide case management - assessment, treatment and wellness follow-up planning, referrals, advocacy and other support as needed to clients, partners, and their families • Coordinate practical services for clients and supervise volunteers • Organize complementary therapies and educational workshops as needed • Liaise and network with appropriate organizations for support and care, education, advocacy and referral • Maintain program statistics, reports, evaluations, and client files Qualifications: • College, a 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 living with HIV • Experience in basic and/or peer counselling • Experience in case management and community development work • Basic knowledge about HIV treatment and support • Good communication and writing skills in English • Experience in working and supervising volunteers • Ability and willingness to collaborate, as well as work independently and creatively in a team setting • Excellent ability to prioritize, delegate, and handle multiple tasks • Ability to work under a queer-positive, sex-positive, and anti-oppressive framework • Basic computer skills: MS Office, Zoom • Ability to work evenings and weekends occasionally • Fluency in Mandarin, Cantonese or Vietnamese is a must Please send a cover letter, resume with 2 references by email to: [...]
Registration open now for Rainbow GPS Project
The Rainbow GPS Project is an orientation project for East/Southeast Asian LGBTQ Newcomers and International Students who are transitioning to live in Toronto and in Canada. Register now at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0dwsRtPZX1jhNKq70zgj6GxnS1OOLeStitH69wyq6teXBYA/viewform Through weekly drop-in sessions, the Rainbow GPS project will be a learning space for people to explore themes around sexuality, gender identity, coming out, consent, dating and relationships, and body image. The objectives are to LEARN different concepts and themes, APPLY key learning outcomes, and SHARE personal or lived experiences. Through these objectives (learning, applying, and sharing), the Rainbow GPS Project aims to explore various LGBTQ+ identities that are specific to East Asian and Southeast Asian cultures and how those LGBTQ+ identities are being translated to Western society. The project focuses on LGBTQ+ resources in the Greater Toronto Area, but people can register from across Canada. Starts at 1:00pm to 3:00pm every Saturday starting January 23rd to February 20, 2021. All five (5) workshops are held through Zoom: January 23: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) 101 January 30: Coming Out to Myself February 6: Sup? Looking?: Navigating the online world of queer dating February 13: I am My Body: Consent, body image, and desire February 20: I got it! Attitudes and Behaviours to STIs and Testing PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE A $50 GIFTCARD. Contact Bryan Quinones (acasrainbowgps@gmail.com) to register. *(Due to the unprecedented events that was caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the sessions will be happening online via zoom. This allows the program to be available for other LGBTQ+ newcomers and international students who may not be physically living in Toronto.) The Rainbow GPS Project is funded by Community ONE Foundation
Looking to join our team?
Thank you for your interest. We currently do not have any open positions. If you would like to be a part of our team as a volunteer, we are always recruiting. Please click here for more info on volunteering.
ACAS Office Closed: Nov 23-Dec 18
ACAS office is closed to the public for 4 weeks from November 23 to December 18, 2020. As the number of COVID-19 cases in Toronto is rising, and for the safety of our service users and staff, we will continue to operate remotely, and deliver our online programs and phone services to you. Please contact program staff for service details. All staff will be working from home. No in-person services will be offered including appointments with the Support Program. Acupuncture appointments in this timeframe are also cancelled.