Settlement Program’s I Belong Project has been selected to receive AMSSA’s 2015 Riasat Ali Khan Diversity Award for being an exemplary example of innovative and groundbreaking program development. The award will be presented at AMSSA’s Annual General Meeting on September 18th.I Belong was initiated to better serve LGBTQ immigrants and refugees by providing practical settlement support, while also addressing the intersectionality between sexuality, gender, race, cultural diversity, class, criminalization and colonialism. Since it first began as a pilot in October 2014, I Belong has hosted a community dialogue (recommendations were gathered into a report – PDF); formed an advisory committee; and continues to offer individual settlement support, as well as social mentoring and a bi-weekly support group. Language support is provided at I Belong activities so that all LGBTQ newcomers, regardless of English capabilities, have the ability to share experiences and make new connections as they build their new lives in Canada.The following video, created by I Belong participants, summarizes the project:
