About Us

During COVID 19 we are offering online, virtual programming to stay connected! Please contact us for our offerings.

 

What we offer

For youth

PSN provides community-building events, workshops, referrals and mental health support.

We host weekly drop-ins and annual Pride events for 2SLGBTQ+ youth. We also host the Youth Action Committee which is a by-youth-for-youth steering committee. As a bonus, you can always reach out to us to join your school-based 2SLGBTQ+ club for a session.

If you need to be connected with a community service or with gender-affirming gear, we’ve got you covered.

And you can access local mental health support at ROCK’s walk-in clinic, therapeutic groups and through on-site mental health support at our drop-ins.

For parents & families

We at PSN are here to support you as you learn how to best support your child, youth and/or loved one age 24 years and under. We host a group for parents and caregivers of trans* and non-binary youth, mental health and consultation services through ROCK’s walk-in clinic and provide information and resources to support your advocacy. You are also welcome to sign up to receive our newsletter (below) to keep yourself in the loop about upcoming programs, webinars and workshops!

For community partners and organizations

PSN hosts a network of community partners that is dedicated to creating a future where 2SLGBTQ+ youth of all backgrounds and life experiences can live in a supportive and loving world. PSN provides training, workshops, resources and organizational support to make this happen. Our mental health clinician is also available for consultation.

For teachers and schools

PSN provides support and resources for 2SLGBTQ+ clubs, participation at the annual GSA conference and posters & visuals.

Staff

Matthew Conroy (He/Him)

Programming Coordinator

Matthew is the new coordinator for the PSN Drop-In programs. His role is to coordinate and facilitate weekly programming for 2SLGBTQ+ youth while creating a sense of community among participants. Matthew is wrapping up his Bachelor of Social Work degree, and also holds two diplomas in Mental Health & Addictions and Social Service Work. Matthew enjoys spending time playing with his cats and is looking forward to making connections with youth in the drop-ins!

Kelly Giuliani (she/her)

Manager of Community and Youth Development

Kelly has been working with children, youth and families for over 25 years and most of those years have been with ROCK. Kelly is passionate about mental health. She has worked in the frontline, community-based settings and realizes that having access to equitable, diverse and appropriate programs, services and resources is essential in our community.Kelly believes it’s so important for us to feel heard and connected to the people and services we are engaged in. So please say hello to Kelly when you see her. She would love to connect with you.

Sarina Sarraf headshot

Sarina Sarraf (she/they)

Resource Coordinator

As a member of the PSN team, Sarina’s role encompasses some unique duties with the focus to engage community members and various  partner organizations, support youth, and build community capacity. Sarina does this by facilitating and creating accessible resources and connects existing supports in Halton. With this, Sarina attempts to bring new guest speakers, host workshops and plan seminars. Sarina love’s having the opportunity to connect with new folks, share some laughs, and perhaps invite some good eats!

Shaiden Keaney, MSW, RSW (they/them/their or xe/xem/xyr)

ROCK Therapist and 2SLGBTQ+ Mental Health Specialist

Shaiden’s greatest passion in life is supporting the mental and social well being of 2SLGBTQ+ youth. At ROCK and with PSN, Shaiden engages youth in one-to-one therapy, through family conversations and in groups. Xe works to prevent interpersonal violence as a self-defence instructor and mitigates the effects of trauma as a Somatic Experiencing® practitioner-in-training. Shaiden is an expressive arts facilitator, published author and former independent journalist working to unleash the power and talents of all generations – present, future, and past. Reader, take note: healing is not a linear act.

Phi Trân Trinh (They/ He) Consultant | QTBIPOC Program Coordinator

Phi is a former Halton resident and is a new consultant for PSN. They are committed to creating safer opportunities for QTBIPOC youth to explore their identities in ways that meet their desires and needs. Phi has worked frontline in community-based settings as a facilitator, storyteller and artist. They launched the “Expressive Zine Program” in 2017 to celebrate the stories of strength amongst the QTBIPOC youth in Halton. (This program has been renamed “Off the Grid” as of 2020.) Phi is passionate about breaking down barriers to support youth in ways that allow them to have fun, and generate a sense of belonging in the community. When Phi isn’t developing programs they are watching drag, reading comics and checking out zine festivals.
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Land Acknowledgement

In honour and in solidarity with the youth with whom we work, we gratefully and explicitly recognize that the Positive Space Network operates on the stolen lands of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosunee, Neutral nations and Mississaugas of the credit. This land is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

This territory is covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant which is an agreement between the Haudenosaunee confederacy, the Ojibwe confederacy and allied nations. This agreement is a commitment that no one group of people will take more than they need. We seek to restore this covenant, which has been broken.

It is important to remember that treaties are ongoing and relevant today as we make steps towards reconciliation. We are all treaty people.

As part of this land acknowledgment, PSN commits to take initiative by creating space and providing support for 2-Spirit and LGBTQ+ Indigenous youth in all of our programs. The question of how to best show up is ongoing.

We encourage every youth, parent and family that we serve, and every team member and community partner with whom we work to take time to learn about the lands where they live and work, and to explore this Indigenous Ally Toolkit and put these learnings into action today, tomorrow and every day thereafter.

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