Volunteer SILK Workshop Facilitator - 2SLGBTQIA+

About this role:
CAEO Québec's SILK program is a free workshop designed to help make English schools in Montreal a safer space for queer and trans youth through education to increase awareness and knowledge on sexual orientation, gender identity, diversity and inclusivity. We also share local resources and our personal stories to demystify and connect students to the queer and trans community.

SILK Workshop Facilitator Mandate:
As a SILK workshop facilitator, you will be leading in-person or online workshops in a group of 2 or 3 volunteers to youth and other audiences within the Greater Montreal Area.

Key responsibilities:

• Complete training to learn the content and skills to be able to deliver the workshop.
• When scheduled for a workshop, connect and pre-plan with fellow co-facilitators to prepare for the workshop together.
• Respond to e-mails or other communications sent by SILK Director.

For the workshop itself:

• Create a safer space in the classroom.
• Introduce available 2SLGBTQIA+ related community resources to students.
• Share a personal testimonial as a member or an ally of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
• Lead educational games about a variety of 2SLGBTQIA+ topics that teach and discuss subjects such as gender and sexual identities, pronouns, and queer and trans realities.
• Facilitate a discussion and give tips on how to combat queer and transphobia and ways of creating safer spaces at school.
• Answer questions raised by students and teachers.
• Debrief with co-facilitators post workshop and with SILK Director if needed.
• Complete workshop report and answer any leftover Q&A from the workshop in written format in a timely manner post-workshop.

Requirements:

• Complete our mandatory, three-day weekend volunteer training in Montreal, with additional sessions as required to practice the workshop.
• Complete a SPVM background check to ensure your eligibility to work with youth (free of charge with results that you can keep) .
• Availability during school hours on weekdays.
• Passionate about 2SLGBTQIA+ advocacy through education within an anti-oppressive framework.
• Comfort with public speaking and sharing about your own personal experiences as someone who is part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community or as an ally who supports it.
• Maintain timely communications with your fellow co-facilitators and SILK Director.

Useful assets, but not required:

• Prior work or volunteer experience working with or teaching youth.
• Familiarity with 2SLGBTQIA+ culture.
• Familiarity with local 2SLGBTQIA+ community resources.
• Access to a transit pass or vehicle.

About CAEO Québec:
Canadian Association of Education and Outreach (CAEO) Québec is a charitable volunteer organisation founded in 1976, originally operating under the name of Gay Line, to reflect the needs of the English-speaking queer and trans community in Montreal and the surrounding areas. Our mission is to combat homo/trans/queerphobia and heterosexism (in all its associated forms); strive for equal status and equal opportunity within our society; and aim to eliminate tolerance to help achieve true acceptance.

Learn more about CAEO here!