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Introducing the W2A Speakers Bureau

Wisdom2Action (W2A) is excited to announce our new Speakers Bureau! The Speakers Bureau is a roster of individuals with expertise in community engagement, anti-oppression, human rights, equity, and organizational development. These individuals represent a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences.

Together they make up an invaluable resource of knowledge and strength. The Speakers Bureau has been created to support you in your search for workshop facilitators, keynote speakers, and panelists.

Act for Mental Health Campaign

Act for Mental Health is an advocacy campaign led by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) that rallies Canadians to press our leaders for universal mental health care. A growing number of Canadian organizations stand together in asking for the same thing: to make mental health and substance use health care available to everyone under public health insurance.

For people in Canada, Act for Mental Health is a chance to stand up, be counted, and use our voices to press our leaders for universal mental health care. Care that serves and supports every single one of us. Care that enables us all to thrive. Act for Mental Health is a campaign, a rallying cry, a movement for mental health care that is truly universal.

Canada's universal healthcare system isn’t universal. We need to #ActForMentalHealth and ensure all Canadians can receive care when and where they need it.

Research Participants Needed

Brianna Comeau is a Master of Social Work thesis student at Wilfrid Laurier University, and needs participants for a thesis research project. It examines the intersection of an autistic and 2SLGBTQ+ identity, and how such identities are experienced by youth in secondary institutions (in the context of discrimination and micro-aggression as well as positive and affirming experiences at school).

It also aims to understand the ways in which autistic 2SLGBTQ+ youth's (16-22 years old) interactions with peers may have shaped how they view themselves and their identity and determine sources of resiliency and supports which help facilitate positive relationships for 2SLGBTQ+ youth.

Participants needed: Youth aged 16-22 from the autism community who also identify as 2SLGBTQ+ and who have been in the secondary institution in Canada since grade 10. Indigenous, Canadian, and undocumented youth can participate in this research.

Interviews will be conducted through Zoom or Microsoft Teams, one interview per participant, which should take approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Participants will also be given the option to contribute to member reflections, which is essentially allowing them to view and comment on categories/quotes/themes that have been generated during data analysis. Member reflections can be done either through providing a written email response, or through attending a group meeting on Zoom (with other participants and Brianna).

By participating in this research, participants will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and can help to fill a gap in current research knowledge on the unique experiences, needs, and concerns of 2SLGBTQ+ autistic youth in Canada.

Email come7440@mylaurier.ca for more information!

Meet Marcie

Marcie is a Project Assistant and has been part of the Wisdom2Action team for almost one year and works on a number of projects focused on anti-racism, youth mental health and suicide prevention, sexual health promotion for Autistic, neurodivergent and physically disabled youth, and child welfare. She is also leading Wisdom2Action’s efforts with the newly launched Speakers Bureau! Give it up for Marcie!