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Graphic Design Dreams Do Come True

by Head & Hands on
Shannel, graphic design intern extraordinaire

Shannel, graphic design intern extraordinaire

Ever since we launched our new website and logo, we’ve been in the process of trying to update our publicity materials to match our new branding. We’ve tried working with volunteers, we’ve had all-staff critique sessions, and nothing quite worked. When Shannel got in touch looking for a five-week graphic design internship placement, we immediately loved her portfolio and jumped at the chance to bring her on. Her style and drawing skills totally fit our vibes, and were the answer to our publicity materials prayers!

Over the past five weeks, Shannel worked with nearly every single program coordinator and administrator to complete an amazing number of projects:

  • new general, YPP, and J2K brochures
  • posters, flyers, letterhead, and stickers for SERVE
  • AGM invitations and flyers
  • PowerPoint template for H&H presentations
  • thank-you postcards for our darling donors
  • updated Sense Project lightbulb logo
  • templates and infographics for the Sense Project
  • beautification of our new Non-Hormonal Birth Control pamphlet (created by midwifery stagiaire Laura-Jeanne)
  • mystery surprise for a beloved member of the H&H family

Keep an eye out for her work, coming soon to a website or mailbox near you!

 

“If this was social work, then I was hooked”

by Head & Hands on
Testimonial by Becca, 25, front-desk volunteer

Testimonial by Becca, 25, front-desk volunteer

A little over a year ago, I packed up a prospective career in the NYC fashion industry in search of something that would bring true meaning to my life. With no answers yet in sight, I signed up as a volunteer at the Head & Hands front desk, and began a transformative journey that led me to the graduate program in clinical social work that I will be starting in the fall.

There was one client that particularly touched me, a young woman who had run away from home, and who came into Head & Hands one afternoon to warm up. We sat and chatted as she sipped her coffee, not about anything of particular importance, but about enough to allow her to ease back into her chair in comfort. I asked her if she was hungry, and she was, so I prepared a bag from our emergency food pantry. I asked her if she needed a place to rest, and she did, so I made some phone calls to find her a place to sleep that night.

When she got up to leave, I reinstalled myself at the front desk, and noticed that she had paused at the front door. “Hey,” she smiled, “thanks.” And with that she turned to go. Although I hadn’t fixed all of her problems, this teen’s heartfelt thank you helped me realize that I had given her more than just resources. I had provided her with a safe and non-judgmental space to just be. If this was social work, then I was hooked.

Throughout my time at Head & Hands I eagerly signed up for as many shifts as they would give me. I was moved and inspired by the positive and vibrant energy the team created on a daily basis that had clients regularly dropping in for even a quick hello.

I feel so lucky to have been a part of the incredible work that Head & Hands does. My experiences with our clients confirmed for me that a fulfilling life entails supporting youth. I know that I will carry Head & Hands’ values with me as I work towards a future empowering youth as a mental health social worker.

New Volunteers on the Front Desk!

by Head & Hands on

Intern Émilie and volunteer ZaZa reorganize our zine library. Check it out next time you’re in!

We are so excited to welcome six awesome new front desk volunteers to Head & Hands! This group completed a thirty-hour training in February, where they learned about our approach and protocols through workshops and roleplays, and got to know most members of the H&H team. Huge thanks to intern Émilie, whose (often hilarious) contributions to the coordination and facilitation of this training were invaluable.

Volunteers will take on regular shifts each month, during which they’ll help keep our pamphlets stocked, our resources up-to-date, and our offices comfortable and welcoming for clients, while providing information, referrals, and support to those who call or walk through our doors. Their volunteer shifts also provide time off the front desk for our Info & Referral Coordinators, so they can carry out collective duties like committee work and peer-to-peer supervision, and create space for program visioning and coordination. This is the second year we’ve offered this volunteer opportunity, and we’re so excited to see what unfolds with this group over the next year!

Transsexual and transgender women denied access to shelters as temperatures drop in Montréal

by Head & Hands on

Reposted from ASST(e)Q, in solidarity and in support of their work and advocacy.

ASTT(e)Q urges Québec shelters to change discriminatory practices

25 January, 2013 – As temperatures drop to extreme lows, transsexual and transgender women in Montréal continue to be turned away from many homeless women’s shelters. Over the past week of bitter cold, ASTT(e)Q, a local trans health project of CACTUS Montréal, has witnessed several of our members be denied shelter on the grounds of being trans. While such refusals are frequently justified by administrative regulations, members of ASTT(e)Q believe that these exclusive practices are rooted in discriminatory attitudes towards trans people.

A majority of women’s shelters throughout Québec require trans people to have undergone sex reassignment surgery, and/or to have changed their legal sex. “Such requirements are unattainable for most homeless trans people, due to prohibitive costs, and extensive administrative requirements,” says Mirha-Soleil Ross, staff of ASTT(e)Q. “Trans women are left with no alternatives, as men’s shelters are clearly not an option. With no place to turn, homeless trans women find themselves on the streets, which in -30 below temperatures is nothing short of deadly.”

“Just this week, a trans woman who had her surgery months ago was refused access to a woman’s shelter because she didn’t have an ‘F’ on her identity documents! While we believe trans people should have access to shelter and housing regardless of surgical status, this is a clear case of discrimination disguised as administrative regulations,” continues Ross.

“We are currently seeing many important legal and social advances for trans people, including in neighbouring Ontario where one can change their legal sex regardless of surgical status,” says Nora Butler Burke, coordinator of ASTT(e)Q. “In Québec, trans people have been relentlessly educating intervention workers and calling for shelters to address the exclusion of homeless trans people for decades. Yet shelters continue to refuse trans people based on the outdated policies of the Québec Department of Civil Status.”

In the context of life threatening temperatures, ASTT(e)Q urges all shelters to immediately remove barriers to admission for trans people based on the legal documentation in their possession and/or their surgical status. More broadly, we advocate for access to shelters, as well as other gender specific services, to be available according to one’s social identity rather than according to their legal or surgical status. We encourage organizations across Québec to work in collaboration with trans community groups to ensure that trans people are no longer denied access.

About ASTT(e)Q (Action Santé Travesti(e)s et Transsexuel(le)s du Québec)

ASTT(e)Q aims to promote the health and well-being of trans people through peer support and advocacy, education and outreach, and community empowerment and mobilization. We understand the health of trans people and our communities to be interrelated to economic and social inequalities, which have resulted in trans people experiencing disproportionate rates of poverty, un(der)employment, precarious housing, criminalization and violence. We believe in the right to self-determine our gender identity and gender expression free from coercion, violence and discrimination. We advocate for access to health care that will meet the many needs of our diverse communities, while working collectively to build supportive, healthy and resilient communities.

For interviews: Nora Butler Burke at 514-347-9462
Email: nora@astteq.org
For terms, definitions and additional information about trans people: www.santetranshealth.org

Volunteer Opportunity: Front Desk

by Head & Hands on

We are looking for committed, open-minded and enthusiastic volunteers whose actions, mindset, and temperament parallel the non-judgmental, anti-oppressive, and empowering fundamentals of Head & Hands.

These volunteers will replace at the front desk (approximately one to three shifts per month), which involves directing clients to the appropriate Head & Hands service, providing referrals and information about other Montréal organizations, and acting as first responder to clients in need of support.

Training will include a variety of workshops aimed at introducing you to Head & Hands’ diverse clientele and different approaches to meet their needs.

Ideal applicants will meet the following criteria:

  • Age 17 years or older
  • Able to commit to 12 months of volunteering
  • Able to commit to 5 to 20 hours a month of volunteering
  • Monday-Friday daytime or evening availability
  • Fluency in English and spoken French
  • Available for training sessions at the following dates in 2013:
Monday 21 January, 6:00 - 9:00 pmWednesday 23 January, 6:00 - 9:00 pmSaturday 26 January, 12:00 - 4:00 pm
Monday 28 January, 6:00 - 9:00 pmWednesday 30 January, 6:00 - 9:00 pmSaturday 2 February, 12:00 - 4:00 pm
Monday 4 February, 6:00 - 9:00 pmWednesday 6 February, 6:00 - 9:00 pmSaturday 9 February, 12:00 - 4:00 pm

If you meet the above criteria and are interested in being part of our team, please complete the volunteer application form and send to Hannah at info@headandhands.ca by 5 December 2012.

If you have any questions please feel free to email, or call at (514) 481-0277!

Internship Offer: Volunteer Training Coordinator

by Head & Hands on

Does your program require you to do an internships, stage, or placement? Do you want to do it at a community organization whose approach is holistic, empowering, and harm-reductive? Are you seeking an internship to develop your skills in program planning and facilitation? We’re looking for you!

We’re seeking an intern who will work about 10 hours or two days a week for the full academic year. In collaboration with their supervisor, the intern will design, publicize, and co-facilitate a 30-hour training program for front desk volunteers.

The ideal candidate is:

  • Committed to the H&H mission, vision, and approach
  • Self-directed and independent
  • Ready to contribute their ideas about addressing sexism, racism, transphobia, and other forms of oppression in a volunteer training setting
  • Bilingual
  • Comfortable animating groups and navigating group dynamics
  • Available Thursday evenings and one other day/afternoon/evening per week

If you’re interested, email info@headandhands.ca ASAP and let us know why you think you’d be a great candidate for this internship. Please attach your CV! Head & Hands recognizes the important experiences and perspectives brought to the table by those who are members of traditionally disadvantaged groups, and encourages candidates from those groups to apply.

Clients, give us feedback!

by Head & Hands on

As part of our strategic planning process, we’re seeking information from clients who currently use our services or have used our services within the last year. If you have a few minutes to fill out this short survey, please help us out! We would really appreciate your input so we can consider you as we plan our future!

Top Three: Our New(ish) Website

by Head & Hands on

Last Friday, we posted a video to thank the fine folks at Plank Design. We won their pro-bono project competition in late 2010, and they worked with us for just over a year to build the beautiful site you are now enjoying as you read this post! In further thanks, we’d like to highlight some of our favourite improvements:

  1. New Branding: Plank rescued our stalled logo redesign process, after we’d considered and tried everything from resurrecting an old logo to working with a volunteer graphic designer to opening a public competition with prize money. Maria’s work was absolutely gorgeous, and we really appreciated Warren and Emerson coming into one of our staff meetings to present concepts to the team!
  2. Clear Navigation: Just look at those menus! It may have taken approximately one thousand re-numberings of our site map (thanks for keeping track, Sarah!) but now you can find the information you need in a logical place. We also love the way our programs are featured on our homepage–because in our hearts, services for our clients are what we’re about.
  3. WordPress: Going with WordPress instead of a custom CMS was something Warren, Jenn, and Hannah agreed upon pretty early in the process. Why? We now have a blog! Our staff, from luddite to tech lover, can now update pages without worrying about breaking something! Our website can easily grow with us, as our programs expand and change over time!

We’re looking forward to new favourites in the coming years!

Did You Know?

by Head & Hands on

A lot of you probably know about services like our medical and legal clinics, counseling, and Sense Project sexual health workshops–at least based on how many phone calls we get about them! Today we’d like to highlight a few of our less visible services. Did you know that Head & Hands offers…

  • Accompaniment! Sometimes life throws you situations that can be confusing or scary.  Our team is available to go with you to your abortion appointment or court date to provide support and help clarify the process.
  • Tons of community workshops! Besides sex ed, we’ve got workshops on racial profiling, legal rights, drugs, healthy boundaries, and relationships. We are often able to tailor workshops to the needs of your school, group home, community centre, or organization. One example? “Paddling the Pink Canoe: The Importance of Talking About Female Sexual Pleasure.”
  • Food Pantry! Up to twice a month, youth can drop by the main offices to pick up groceries intended to last 1-2 days in emergency situations.
  • Free tutoring! Every fall, we match students aged 12 – 18 with volunteer tutors based on scheduling and subject. The pairs work together weekly at Head & Hands.