speqtrum Hamilton
75 Macnab St S L8P 3C1 Hamilton, ON, Canada

Writing and receiving letters is such a special way to connect with people and we're really missing connection right about now. So, we're hosting a Snail Mail Makerspace event! Join us on Thursday from 6-7:30pm to write a letter to someone you're missing You can also join us for the conversation and community, but work on another project! Send us a message for the event link Open to: 2S-LGBTQIA+ youth.

This year, we proudly present Mac Pride Week 2021: Joy In Queerness Join us for a week of programming designed to celebrate the diversity of queer identity!... In previous years we have focused on themes of resilience in queer spaces, and this year we want to showcase the inherent activism in celebrating our identities. We also acknowledge the challenges our community has faced, especially the struggles many 2STLGBQIA+ folks are facing amidst COVID-19. Throughout this campaign, we hope to create a space for celebrating our community and existence - past, present, and future. During the week of February 8th we will be running a variety of events including; a dance class, a mixed-media coffee house with QTCC, a PrEP webinar with MSU SHEC, various events which capture the inherent activism in art as well as community support circles. Please note that various events are designated spaces closed to BIPoC, Disabled, and Indigenous folks specifically. You can register for any of our events at: tinyurl.com/yy6bdg9c . . . [IMAGE DESCRIPTION: The background is a light blue with lighter rays of sunshine. In the upper left corner is a yellow sun which inside it reads Mac Pride Week: Joy in Queerness which is written in white and blue font. Below it reads Join us for programming designed to celebrate the diversity of our identities! For full event details and to sign up, visit: tinyurl.com/yy6bdg9c. Underneath this are the social media addresses for the Pride Community Centre. The PCC logo and the MSU Logo are right underneath this. On the bottom of the page there are 5 boxes. Inside the upper left corner box it reads Monday Feb 8 Self-Love, Self-Touch: Trusting Your Body Through Dance 12:30-2:30pm *Closed to BIPoC 2STLGBQIA+ folks*. 4:00-6:00pm, Making Space: Envisioning Disabled Queer Community *Closed to Disabled 2STLQBQIA+ Folks* To the right of this box is another box which reads Tuesday Feb 9th 7:00-10:00pm Each/Other: A Coffeehouse Celebrating BIPoC & Our Relationships (with QTCC), *Performances closed to BIPoC 2STLGBQIA+ folks, Coffeehouse open to everyone* Below the Monday box, there is another box which reads Wednesday February 10 3:00-4:00pm Fully PrEP’d with MSU SHEC, 5:00-6:30pm 2STLGBQIA+ Indigenous Sharing Circle with De dwa da dehs nye>s *Closed to 2STLGBQIA+ Indigenous folks*" Beside this box to the right is another box that reads Thursday Feb 11 3:30-4:30pm Breaking the Model Minority Mould (with QTCC), *Closed to BIPoC 2STLGBQIA+ folks*, 7:00-8:00pm, We are Here! We Are Queer! *Closed to 2STLGBQIA+ folks* Below this box reads one final box Friday Feb 12 3:00-4:00pm, We Will Get Through This: Positive Affirmations Through Art, *Closed to 2STLGBQIA+ folks*, 4:30-5:30pm Spreading Queer Joy: Pride Book Club Kick Off."]

If you've visited our website in the past few days you may have noticed that things look a little different We gave our website a makeover and added some new features! We made it easier to view our upcoming events, learn more about what we're offering, and even sign up for events! We also added a section all about our Newcomer Program for 2S-LGBTQIA+ youth who are new to Canada and a page where you can meet the speqtrum team Check it out www.speqtrum.ca

Let’s talk food! Food connects us to culture, home, memories, the earth, and community. Join our 2S-LGBTQIA+ Newcomer Support Worker as she connects with community members about food! This week she's talking with Hitoko!... About Hitoko: "I am a queer fiber artist and cultural worker. Over many years I have worked as a community arts organizer with newcomer families and youth in Vancouver and Hamilton, Canada. I mostly enjoy eating homemade cooking and baking. I never met a chicken dish that I didn’t like. These days, you will find me wrapped in a cosy sweater stitching crafts while drinking tea and snacking on my favourite dried fruits!"

Speqtrum will be closed December 19th - January 3rd. This means that all check-ins, peer support, and our regular Zoom events are not running. During this time we are not monitoring our inboxes or responding to messages on social media or email. If you’re receiving weekly check-ins, they will start back up again the week of January 4th. Stay tuned for more info about the launch of a new program in partnership with YWCA Hamilton to support 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomer youth! While we’r...e closed, you can still get support through these organizations: 2SLGBTQIA+ youth can access text, chat, or email peer support through LGBT YouthLine from Sunday through Friday from 3-9:30pm (https://www.youthline.ca/get-support/ways-we-support/). For trans-affirming crisis support, call the Trans Lifeline, toll-free, 24/7, at 1-877-330-6366 (https://translifeline.org/hotline/). For trans and non-binary folks of all ages: Kyle's Place will be running a holiday Zoom chat on December 25th from 7-9pm. They also have small gift bags, gift cards, toiletries, pet food, cleaning supplies, and a limited supply of gender gear available. For the Zoom link or to request items, you can email Kyle’s Place at [email protected] or message them on their Facebook. Take care! -Your speqtrum team Image Description: Text on a background with snowflakes and illustrations of someone making a snow angel and two people skating. Speqtrum holiday closure December 19th to January 3rd.

We posed a question on our Instagram story: What does a better future look like? Then, at last night's Caring for Each Other event, we chatted about the answers we received and did some collective imagining to explore that better future. The next step? Building that future together ... Image description: Words that come together to form a word cloud: systems that don't traumatize us, mental health, housing for all, free healthcare, check-ins from friends, accessible trans healthcare, compassion, calling in, dismantle systems, no one struggles alone, no more band aid solutions, affirming mental health counsellors, anti-psychiatry, living without judgement, safe housing, living openly, peer support groups, and community autonomy.

For Trans Day of Remembrance, happening November 20th, Kyle's Place will be hosting an event over Zoom from 7-9pm. You can message us or email [email protected] for the link On the same day, from 6-9pm, speqtrum will be holding drop in online peer support for anyone who wants to chat, debrief, or connect with a peer. To access this just send us a message here, on Insta (@speqtrumyhm) or email us at [email protected]

Join us tonight at our Caring For Each Other event for 2SLGBTQ+ youth! We'll be discussing ways to support ourselves and our communities over the holiday break, plus we'll be creating a word cloud using answers to the questions in our story! Message us for the link! See you there

Drop in peer support group for TDOR - Facilitated by River from De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre, on November 20th from 11:30-1:00 You can connect with River to get the link by calling or texting them at 289-683-1452 or emailing [email protected]

Amazing new resource for Indigenous Two-Spirit & LGBTQIA people ages 16+! [Image Text: De Dwa De Des Neyes AHC invites you to our new Niizh Manidoowag: Two-Spirit & LGBTQIA Virtual Circle. Virtual Support & Social Circle for Indigenous Two-Spirit & LGBTQIA people ages 16+. Open to participants from Hamilton/Brantford/Niagara areas. Self-identified Indigenous, First Nations, Metis & Inuit welcome! Every 1st & 3rd Wed of the month, starting Nov 11th, 5-7:30. Connect with River to register, (289) 683-1452 (Call/Text) [email protected]]

2SLGBTQIA+ Intergenerational Virtual Kitchen with Compass Community Health! Come cook and chat and enjoy a meal over Zoom with us - this month we're making apple crisp As always, let us know if you need an ingredient package delivered to you! [Image Text: On Nov. 23rd from 7-8:30pm, Join our Fall Virtual 2S & LGBTQ+ INTERGENERATIONAL KITCHEN! Email Kyle ([email protected]) for the Zoom link/phone number]

Updated information about how to access SAGE (Support Around Gender Experience) virtually! We're so excited that this incredible resource is continuing [Image Text: Support Around Gender Experience *on Zoom*. SAGE is a space for youth who identify as Trans, Non-Binary, Gender Non-Conforming, another gender identity or those who are questioning, to grow and learn more about themselves. 2nd Wednesday - Peer Support, 4th Wednesday - Fun Activity, 5-7pm. Email [email protected] with any questions or for the Zoom link]