April 11 Now What Affirming Dinner and Panel: Meet the panel
On April 11th we are excited to host an Affirming Dinner and Panel. This gathering is an all ages open invitation to LGBTQIA+ individuals, their families, friends, and support networks to share a meal, connect, and reflect on the joys and challenges of allyship. Our panel will explore the importance of ongoing support and the impact of having strong allies in the next steps to fostering inclusive communities. Come celebrate what we've built together and be inspired to continue the journey!
This is a safe space, come as you are, all are welcome.
You can learn more and register for the event here.
We have a great panel of experts that will be speaking at the event. We would like to introduce you to two of them this week. Tune back next week to meet the remaining speakers.
Speaker Bio’s - Batch 1
Miranda Martini (She/Her) - Affirming Connections
Miranda Martini is a Program Coordinator for Affirming Connections, a Calgary-based organization that supports ministries and people of faith working to provide spaces in which people can explore their spirituality without fear of exclusion. She is also an award-winning composer, writer, and performer with credits in theatre, film, television and beyond. Affirming Connections is a Calgary-based organisation that works to eliminate religious discrimination by supporting ministries and people of faith working to provide spaces in which people can explore their spirituality without fear of exclusion. Founded by Pam Rocker in 2018, Affirming Connections operates from the belief that 2SLGBTQIA+ people deserve to participate in the spiritual and religious practices and spaces that are meaningful to them, and that healthy religion invites us to be more of who we are, not less.
Star Oldring (They/Them) - Fyrefly Institute for Gender and Sexual Diversity
Star Oldring (they/them) is the Rural Program Coordinator at the Fyrefly Institute, a not for profit research institute housed within the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. The Fyrefly Institute offers evidence based education and advocacy in celebration and support of 2SLGBTQ+ inclusivity in northern Alberta.
Star is a settler descended, genderqueer, trans, lifelong resident of Alberta. Their advocacy is rooted in decolonial allyship and the joy of participating in communities where everyone belongs and thrives together.
The Alberta Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Students Alliance (GSA) Network provides support to students & teachers to start, strengthen, and sustain GSA clubs (also known as gay-straight alliances, gender & sexual orientation alliances, queer-straight alliances, pride clubs, rainbow alliances, and many other names) in Alberta's K-12 schools.
Every year, we hold the AB GSA Conference which provides educational workshops and presentations on 2SLGBTQ+ topics to students and teachers. It provides students with vital resources, resiliency skills, and access to safer spaces
You can learn more about our Affirming Ministry here.
