Our work also includes supporting LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV in accessing services that respond to their needs. Education and prevention are key tools in responding to our communities’ sexual health needs.

Voices of Value:

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, trans, two-spirit, intersex (2SLGBTQ+) people, as well as people living with HIV/AIDS, are two communities of people that often struggle to find services that are equipped to support their whole selves. The Voices of Value Cultural Safety Training has been developed by our 2SLGBTQ+ workers at HIV/AIDS Resources and Community Health (ARCH), in collaboration with the wider community, to strengthen capacity of those in our region to support 2SLGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV/AIDS. Organizations and individual service providers can use this training and audit toolkit to assess the strengths they have and where they can grow to better meet the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV/AIDS today and as they continue to grow into the future.

We can tailor the workshop to your organizations’ needs, communities you work with, and knowledge gaps that you’ve identified in your service delivery. The program explores barriers as they exist within personal bias, service delivery, as well as policy-level inclusion. We provide this training at no cost to not-for-profit and charitable organizations and can provide on-going support and consultation as organizations continue to learn and implement best practices into their workflow.

We have also adapted the program for the needs of for-profit businesses on a by-donation basis, usually as part of the Guelph Pride Festival’s programming in winter and spring. These are shared sessions where businesses are invited to send one or all of their staff to attend a half-day training, followed by a non-legally binding agreement to help support our communities and one another. ARCH also offers on-going support, consultation, and guidance for these businesses that take part in our training, to ensure everyone in our communities feel welcome, safer, and confident in their ability to work well with one another.

All organizations who have completed the training receive a “LGBTQ+ Friendly” window decal after agreeing to our “Working Well” agreement. This agreement simply states that you are committed to working well with these communities, are open to feedback if people experience discrimination at your location, and are open to on-going support from ARCH by request. This helps ensure that service providers, businesses, and 2SLGBTQ+ and HIV+ people feel confident, welcome, and safer when they see our decal and know that their community cares.

We hope you’ll join us!

Interested in hosting or attending a Voices of Value training session?

Get in touch today by contacting Skylar Sookpaiboon, Education Coordinator at education@archguelph.ca