(Vancouver, BC) In September 2014, MOSAIC launched a 6-month pilot project involving lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) newcomers. Funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the program examines the needs of the LGBTQ newcomer community by seeking to address the intersectionality between sexuality, gender, race, cultural diversity, class, criminalization and colonialism.In a January 26, 2015 forum, over 80 participants from the LGBTQ community, service providers and community organizers came together to discuss the strengths, gaps, barriers and challenges of LGBTQ newcomers in the Lower Mainland. Alongside the forum, the team has also been providing space for weekly support groups, one-on-one support and collecting data from needs assessments. A summary of the findings as well as recommendations on how to assist this community will shortly be published.The funding from CIC officially ends on March 31st. MOSAIC is committed to ensuring sustainability of the project beyond this period.MOSAIC is a non-profit organization and the primary settlement and employment services agency in Vancouver assisting newcomers in Canada with over 40 programs and 30 sites across Metro Vancouver.
