(Un)learning Together: A community workshop series
This November, the Anti-Violence Project is excited to be bringing you three FREE workshops facilitated by different community groups dedicated to providing essential services and education to folks on Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ lands (“victoria, bc”).
Over the span of these workshops, join us online to learn about gender, sexuality, harm reduction and so much more while challenging societal norms and dominant myths. Together, we can do the sometimes messy work of “unlearning” harmful ideas and practices which do not serve us as we strive towards building more inclusive and caring communities. Don’t worry if that doesn’t make sense just yet—these workshops are open to all, regardless of knowledge level or experience!
These workshops will be held virtually using Zoom and are open to anyone (not just students and UVic community members)! Check out the individual workshop details below.
If you’re interested in volunteering with the Anti-Violence Project, please see our info at the bottom of this page on how these workshops will prepare you to join us in pushing back against sexualized and gender-based violence!
GEM: Gender Diversity
Date/Time: Nov 5th, 5:30 pm – 7 pm
Description: Join facilitators from the Gender Empowerment Centre for a workshop to explore Gender Diversity. Learn more about the nuances of gender identity, gender expression, sex, as well as attraction. We’ll discuss the diversity of gender identities, disrupting normative gender expectations, using pronouns, and tips for incorporating gender inclusion into your daily life.
The Gender Empowerment Centre (GEM) provides a space for self-identified women, non-binary, and gender non-conforming folks to organize, network, access resources, attend workshops and events, study, and relax. Our space is open to both University of Victoria students and community members.
Registration [icon icon=”external-link”]
AVI: Substance Use, Criminalization, Harm Reduction, & Consent
Date/Time: Nov 19th, 5:30 pm – 7 pm
Description: This workshop draws on the legacy of activism by people who use drugs, people who are HIV positive, and sex workers (especially Black Indigenous People of Colour (BIPOC) within those communities) to analyze how our current state and legal systems create conditions that can increase harms associated with substance use. Participants will be introduced to harm reduction as an approach to mitigating risks in daily life as well as some specific strategies for substance use and safer sex. A collaborative discussion will be facilitated about the nuances of navigating consent when substance use is taking place.
AVI Health and Community Services (AVI) is a community-based AIDS Service Organization (ASO). We have offices in the communities of Greater Victoria, Westshore, Nanaimo, the Comox Valley, and Campbell River. Our catchment area includes all of the Gulf Islands. At AVI Health and Community Services we provide education, advocacy and support clients. AVI provides education and prevention information to schools, the broader community and target populations. Evidence demonstrates that comprehensive prevention programs can help to effectively contain HIV, hepatitis C, and other communicable diseases. AVI’s mission is to promote health, dignity, and well-being for all people affected by HIV, HCV, and substance use by delivering sex-positive and harm reduction based education, prevention, and support service. AVI envisions a community where all people affected by HIV, HCV, or substance use have equitable access to the support and services necessary to experience optimal health and well-being.
Registration [icon icon=”external-link”]
This is Table Talk: Setting Boundaries in 2020
Date/Time: Nov 26th, 5:30 pm – 7 pm
Description: This session will explore how to set healthy boundaries while existing within inherently oppressive systems and environments within our lives.
Success in boundary setting comes first and foremost, when you decide to commit to yourself and your well-being. However, it’s still important to check your attitude, intentions and be humble in the way that you express yourself. Justine will explore energetic boundaries, safe communication, and self-care. She’ll also explain how she uses tarot to expand her self-awareness (no cards will be pulled during this workshop, Justine will just be explaining her use of tarot as it relates to boundary setting & assertiveness). Parker will discuss the practice of self-location as a tool to help us understand ourselves within our current system and unpack how oppression impacts our abilities to set boundaries and be relational at school, work, in our personal lives and beyond.
Justine Sogalla: Justine is a tarot reader who focuses on delivering messages that guide people through navigating their lives with greater emotional & erotic intelligence. She also facilitates interviews to highlight sexologists, artists and other professionals in the eroticism industry, which provide a safe and non-judgemental space for her audience to ask questions they might not feel comfortable asking otherwise. Though she has no formal education in sex therapy, she plans to become certified as a Tantra practitioner and Somatic healer.
Parker Johnson: Studied Psychology and minored in education. Has 6+ years of Youth Support Work experience, primarily in group homes with at risk indigenous and POC youth. He runs a community platform called This is Table Talk, dedicated to Black, Indigenous and People of colour. He creates a space for important discussions to be had. Moments to come together and co-regulate as well as network. He also does diversity, equity and inclusion consulting within the public and private sectors, for Kin and Culture consulting.
Registration [icon icon=”external-link”]
