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Wisdom2Action has the privilege of working with a vast array of amazing individuals, communities and organizations. This page includes both current initiatives and examples of previous projects facilitating positive change and strengthening communities in collaboration with others.
For the past three years we have worked with School Mental Health Ontario to help support student engagement, leadership and literacy in mental health. In 2019, we came together to launch #HearNowON: Student Voices on Mental Health, a provincial initiative including an online survey and regional forums through which students could directly inform strategic directions and priorities for student mental health and student leadership within mental health. In 2020, we jointly responded to the increased instability, stress and anxiety among students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the development of literacy, coping and anxiety management resources for students. We also created resources for students and teachers to better understand and respond to the unique impact of marginalization on student well-being, as exacerbated by the pandemic.
#HearNowON 2021 is now underway. If you are an Ontario secondary school student, you can complete our survey or sign up for a forum today:
You can download our mental health literacy, anxiety management, coping strategies and equity in mental health resources co-created with SMH-ON and Ontario students, here:
Wisdom2Action (W2A) in partnership with Access Open Minds, the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD), the Enchante Network (TEN), Gris MTL, Kickstand, Kind Space, and YWCA Halifax, is implementing a three-year project entitled SAFER: Safer Access to Everyone in the Rainbow. SAFER has been made possible due to the generous support provided by the Women’s Program at Women and Gender Equality (WAGE).
SAFER will train 2SLGBTQ+ organizations and youth-serving organizations on ways to engage 2SLGBTQ+ youth, and prevent and address the gender-based violence they experience. SAFER will also conduct regional and national public education campaigns to address and prevent gender-based violence against 2SLGBTQ+ youth including public harassment.
In collaboration with the Canadian Practitioners Network for the Prevention of Radicalization and Extremist Violence (CPN-PREV), W2A has been working with young people from across Canada through the Youth Engaged in Prevention Project (YEPP). YEPP provided participating youth with knowledge and access to experts on preventing violent extremism and violent radicalization through workshops. The participants were then provided information and support on how to design and implement their own projects to address violent extremism and violent radicalization in their communities. Some participating youth are now implementing their own subprojects in various locations across Canada.
With support provided by Frayme, W2A has engaged Black and African Nova Scotian youth in a survey on their experiences of anti-Black racism in social services and the impact it has had on their mental health and resilience. A Youth Advisory Council was created and is contributing to the leadership of the project including analyzing the findings of the survey. Knowledge translation products will be created and promoted to mobilize what is learned from the project.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Canadian Women’s Foundation, SPECTRUM Waterloo partnered Wisdom2Action to develop a first of its kind Trans Mental Health, Wellness and Suicide Prevention Toolkit.
This toolkit synthesizes pertinent knowledge and research on trans mental health and suicidality in Canada, alongside concrete tools and resources that trans people, friends and families of trans people, and service providers who work with trans communities can put to use. Developed following engagement with local communities in Waterloo region, these resources are grounded in local context but applicable to a wide variety of audiences and stakeholders.
Wisdom2Action and RBC Future Launch conducted a stakeholder engagement process with young people, service providers, family members and other key partners, guided by a youth advisory committee and steering committee, to explore the feasibility, fit, and unique considerations for a Youth Mental Health Apps Database in Canada, which would enable Canadians to search for and find youth mental health apps that best meet their unique needs and circumstances, in essence enabling young people and their families to make informed decisions about the apps that they use.
Wisdom2Action and the Canadian Public Health Association developed a suite of resources on trans inclusion in response to an identified gap in resources for service providers working in health and social services. Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, these resources sought to address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on trans people, and particularly to address negative experiences accessing healthcare. Created alongside trans community members and service providers, these resources provide concrete practices and implementation strategies for better serving and supporting trans and gender diverse communities.
Quadrangle NL, a Newfoundland and Labrador 2SLGBTQ+ community organization, brought Wisdom2Action on board to create their first Inclusion, Diversity and Accessibility Plan, through consultation with local 2SLGBTQ+ community members and key community, health and social service organizations. Wisdom2Action worked with Quadrangle to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure their commitment to social justice, decolonization and anti-racism was enacted through every aspect of their work.
The Promoting Relationships and Ending Violence Network (PREVNET) partnered with our team to support youth engagement and resource development to address teen dating violence. Working with a national youth advisory committee, we have begun developing podcast episodes, and have created new resources on the warning signs of teen dating violence, how to reach out for help, and other pertinent topics.
In 2021, Wisdom2Action worked with Capital Rainbow Refuge to reimagine their brand and communications strategies. We worked with them to develop a modernized logo, brand guide, and key brand elements (business cards, newsletters, powerpoint slides, etc). We helped create a brand new website and strengthened fundraising, volunteer and social media communications across the organization.
Beginning in 2020, Wisdom2Action has worked with YWCA Halifax to build organization-wide capacity on trans and gender diverse inclusion. Alongside an internal Trans Inclusion Committee, we implemented introductory training for all staff members followed by more in-depth and practice-based sessions. We developed new resources to help build in-house capacity for trans inclusion, supported the development of a grounding document to guide YWCA Halifax commitments to trans inclusion, and are continuing to support their team through ongoing mentorship and expert advice as they work to strengthen and broaden 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Wisdom2Action acknowledges the land on which it was originally established as the traditional and unceded territory of the M’ikmaq, known as Mi’kmak’i (Nova Scotia). Our team is spread across Turtle Island (Canada) on the treaty lands of many First Nations. We recognize the people and the land in this way as part of our commitment to anti-oppression and decolonization. We are all treaty people.
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