2024 Provincial ActionPlan

The project: working with the Province of Nova Scotia Justice Department, Office of Equity and Anti-Racism to:

• establish a relationship with, consult, and collaborate with the Elderberries on engagement activities with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to inform a government action plan; and
• Have ELDERBERRIES SOCIETY conduct engagement activities with communities they are most closely connected with and people they serve.
• The Department’s support for the engagement activities must be recognized and acknowledged through inclusion of the Province of Nova Scotia logo in electronic and print materials.

Our Understanding Of The Project

The question:

• What elements of homo/trans-phobic hate are Halifax / Nova Scotian Q elders concerned about?
• Within an LGBT context, make BIG list of what people are afraid of, are concerned about

The Methodology

1. Anonymized, right? Where subjects get assigned code names and we keep the identities escrowed?
2. A Google Forms survey, distributed by email and socials, to frame up the questions and possible scope of answers,
3. One Zoom and one or two facilitated in-person events, with catering - a lunch event and a supper one, probably, with recording,
4. Followup interviews for some people,
5. Compiling a report with concepts extracted from the survey, in-person events, and interviews, with supporting quotes from people.

Our Provincial Contacts

• Executive Lead – Miranda Romkey, Office of Equity and Anti-Racism
• Executive Lead – Luke Power, Office of Equity and Anti-Racism
• Executive Lead – Jenny Benson-Pratt, Office of Equity and Anti-Racism

Budget

The Work

The objectives of the engagement campaign for the 2SLGBTQIA+ Action Plan initiative are outlined below.

• Meaningful Engagement: Actively listen and understand concerns, challenges, and insights of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Where possible, bridge these perspectives into provincial policy, programs, and services to enhance accessibility, equity, and safety.
• First-Person Stories: Gather first-hand knowledge and personal stories to provide nuanced insights into the challenges faced by the community.
• Building Partnerships: Identify, collaborate with, and establish relationships with community champions, leaders, organizations, and Elders.
• Community-Driven Actions: Understand community needs and convert insights into actionable plans.
• Collaboratively integrate these actions across various provincial government departments, aligning policies and services with genuine needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
• Core activities associated with the ELDERBERRIES SOCIETY in support of engagement for the 2SLGBTQIA+

Action Plan initiative are described below

1. The objectives of the ELDERBERRIES SOCIETY will be to:

• Lead engagement sessions with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community; and
• Report to OEA the insights, issues, and solutions shared by community members during engagements to inform an all-of-government action plan for the community.

2. Activities associated with engaging community as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Action Plan initiative and associated benefits/outcomes include, but are not limited to:

• Using the guidance and templates provided by the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism, conducting in-person and/or virtual engagement session(s) with community members, including (but not limited to):
  • Facilitating broad attendance by community members;
  • Securing a location including ensuring technology needs are met;
  • Arranging for refreshments;
  • Ensuring the accessibility needs of participants are met; and
  • Using a Trauma-Informed approach to deliver the sessions as well as facilitating participant comfort and safety for information sharing.
• Promoting the engagement session(s) they are leading, for example:
  • Social media activity to advertise sessions (e.g., posting to Facebook and X; as well as media interviews);
  • Printed material: posters, flyers, newsletters, bulletins, etc.; and/or
  • Pre-recorded video messages.
• Reporting to OEA the feedback from community members that was shared using the provided templates and within two weeks of completion of engagement activities. Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Executive Leads will be consulted as necessary to support ELDERBERRIES SOCIETY and to approve any changes to the agreed approach: