1) Gender Journeys and Transcend (Nanaimo) - $3000

Name of umbrella organization (if applicable): Nanaimo Family Life Association

Website (if applicable): https://www.nflabc.org/programs/gender-journeys/

Tell us a bit about your group and its purposes/projects. Please include bit about its history. : Gender identity and expression are central to the way we see ourselves and engage in the world. Gender identity and expression is something everyone has! However, that intuitive knowledge can be muddled as we grow up in a cis-normative society and made more difficult by an assumed binary system with strict gender roles, which doesn’t allow much space for gender diversity and the full continuum of identity. As a result, 2-spirit, transgender and gender diverse (2STGD) and questioning children and youth can feel lost, depressed, anxious and detached from reality. Research shows that transgender youth are at greatest risk of suicide (compared to their cisgender peers). This most often the result of outside influences and behaviours such as rejection, lack of acceptance and validation, bullying, and/or victimization from family, peers, employers, or larger systems like cultures, governments, etc.
Support is essential. Knowing they are not alone can be the difference between life and death. Having a safe space to process difficult emotions and connect with others on a similar journey means that they can not just survive, but thrive. Gender Journeys support program for adults has run through NFLA since 2019 and Transcend Nanaimo for youth has run since 2022.

Is there a specific project that this new money would be applied to, or would it be used for your ongoing work? Please describe. : These funds would be used to create an informational workshop for parents of 2-spirit, transgender, gender diverse (2STGD) and questioning children and youth. This 4-hour workshop would run every quarter, and would emphasis the importance of parental/caregiver and family support, as well as providing information and resources on social, legal, and medical transitions. Our facilitator's heart for this workshop is to allow a supportive environment for parents to get up-to-date information and ask questions.

Please elaborate on how your work or project will benefit the Queer community and how it enhances the community in two or more of these critical dimensions: Inclusion, Diversity, Accessibility and Equality.: This workshop is intended to support parents of 2-spirit, trans and gender diverse youth, who play a critical role in the well-being and mental health of their children. By providing parents with accurate, affirming information and resources, this workshop strengthens family support networks, reducing risks of depression, anxiety, and suicide. This directly benefits the queer community by fostering a more supportive environment for trans youth, promoting their ability to thrive.
Diversity: This project promotes diversity by educating parents on the variety of trans experiences, and by highlighting the rich history of trans and gender-diverse people. In doing so, it encourages parents to embrace the uniqueness of their children's journeys. It also acknowledges and addresses the intersectionality of different identities (race, class, ability) within the trans community, ensuring that the content is relevant to a wide range of experiences.
Equality: By educating parents on the importance of respecting their children’s identities and advocating for their rights (in schools, legal settings, and healthcare), this workshop advances equality for trans youth. It equips parents to push for inclusive policies and systems that benefit the broader trans community, helping to ensure that trans youth can access the same opportunities and support as their cisgender peers.

What is the estimated budget for the project that you are proposing or working on?: We are asking for $3000 to cover the wages and program costs for our facilitator to undertake the research, development, promotion, and facilitation of this quarterly workshop. This would allow us to provide 4 workshops in the next year, ensuring that resources are information are up-to-date and best practices are being presented.

What are your other funding sources for this project (if applicable) ? Include approximate amounts if possible.: Gender Journeys support group for adults and Transcend Nanaimo for youth are funded by Trans Care BC and the United Way respectively, but no current funding source exists specifically for the creation of these parent/caregiver-focused workshops.

2) Indigenous Garden (Dawn to Dawn Action on Homelessness-Comox) $1600

Name of umbrella organization (if applicable):

Website (if applicable): http://dawntodawn.org

Tell us a bit about your group and its purposes/projects. Please include bit about its history. : Our mission is to empower a strong and vibrant Comox Valley by providing culturally safe and inclusive housing and support services to individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 
Recognizing that systemic harm disproportionately affects certain populations, Dawn to Dawn addresses these issues head-on and offers targeted support and housing to those most vulnerable. Through its comprehensive and compassionate approach, the organization is making a significant impact in the lives of individuals and the broader community, demonstrating the transformative power of empowerment, inclusivity, and cultural sensitivity. Currently Dawn to Dawn is opening Gukwas sa Wagalus, a transitional home to support 5 queer youth between the ages of 19-24, is supporting over 50 people to maintain housing through-out the community and is looking to develop affordable housing including cultural supports with Indigenous partners. Historically, Dawn to Dawn has been a grass works organization working with people through their own self determination to support healing through connection and belonging. We also have a soccer team called the Rainbow Warriors that is an inclusive team targeting those that may not have a place to belong. We value bringing voices forward that may otherwise be silenced and have strong roots in social justice.

Is there a specific project that this new money would be applied to, or would it be used for your ongoing work? Please describe. : Gukwas sa Wagalus, a supportive home for queer youth, aims to create a healing environment for personal growth. We request funds to develop a healing garden in collaboration with our queer youth residents, Indigenous Elders, and wisdom keepers, serving as a foundation for the intended healing atmosphere.
The healing garden will foster intergenerational knowledge sharing, especially regarding the significant role of Two-spirit individuals in Indigenous cultures. Youth residents will connect with their roots, learn about Two-spirit identities, and gain wisdom from Indigenous Elders and knowledge keepers.

This project has four objectives:
-Empower queer youth through active participation in designing the garden, fostering ownership, responsibility, and belonging.
-Promote cross-generational knowledge sharing, bridging the gap between youth and Elders while preserving Indigenous wisdom.
-Create a serene space supporting mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, allowing reconnection with nature and self-care practices.
-Raise awareness about Two-spirit identities, challenging misconceptions and fostering understanding of queer community diversity.

Please elaborate on how your work or project will benefit the Queer community and how it enhances the community in two or more of these critical dimensions: Inclusion, Diversity, Accessibility and Equality.: Grounded in the principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, the first year of our transitional program is dedicated to fostering a sense of connection and belonging for queer youth. By intertwining cultural wisdom and a deep reverence for the sacredness of the earth, we aim to create a nurturing space where individuals can embark on their journey of healing and self-discovery.
At the heart of our program lies a transformative healing garden, which will serve as a catalyst for cultivating a sense of connection with oneself, the community, and the natural world. Drawing from wisdom of two-spirit persons, we recognize the power of the earth as a source of healing and resilience, acknowledging its significance in guiding individuals on the path toward wholeness.
As a transitional home for queer youth, our mission is to co-create an environment that honors every person's unique identity and experiences, enabling them to thrive and grow. With a firm commitment to multi-generational programming, the healing garden becomes a bridge that transcends societal pressures and norms and nurtures wisdom-sharing across generations.

What is the estimated budget for the project that you are proposing or working on?: $4000 to start the program

Needs
-Plants $1000.00
-Healthy Soil $300.00
-Gardening tools $200.00
-Honoraria for Elders and wisdom keepers- $2000.00
-Lumber for some standing gardening plots- $500.00

This will help us start the project. The intention will be to find on-going funding that will allow us to maintain the garden and continue to pay our Elders and wisdom keepers.

What are your other funding sources for this project (if applicable) ? Include approximate amounts if possible.: We will look for on-going funding to continue conversations and offer honoraria to Elders and Wisdom keepers.