Tuesday, February 13, 2024, from 12 pm to 1:30 pm EST – This is a free networking event for 2SLGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people.

Pride at Work Canada has been bringing 2SLGBTQIA+ women and non-binary* professionals and job seekers together for years. As many 2SLGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people don’t feel safe in many professional networking spaces, Rendez-Vous: 2SLGBTQIA+ Women x Non-Binary Digital Connect creates a unique opportunity for 2SLGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people to make professional connections in a casual and comfortable setting – from anywhere!

*Pride at Work Canada understands that these terms may not resonate with everyone and endeavors to include all those who do not identify as men. This includes trans women, cis women, non-binary folks, agender folks, and more. We also host Matrices: Trans, Non-Binary & Agender Digital Connect to those who would prefer a trans, non-binary, and agender specific space.

Our guest speaker will deliver brief remarks, then attendees will be placed into breakout rooms to discuss our speaker’s story and the event theme, and to meet other professionals and jobseekers. After the breakout room discussions, we’ll come back as a group to share our takeaways and close the session.

Bilingualism: At this event, there will be a Francophone breakout room, and automated French captioning will be available.

Help us make Rendez-Vous a safer event! All attendees will be provided with a set of community guidelines prior to the event that they will be expected to read and honour. Discussion facilitators will be present in our breakout rooms, and there will be a BIPOC-specific breakout room, as well as a non-binary specific breakout room, for folks who wish to join that space.

Guest speaker:

Shelly-Ann Skinner (they/them, she/her), Founder/President, UPlift Black

Shelly-Ann Skinner is an Award winning activist, anti- oppression educator, mentor and community builder. With her lived experience of intersectional discrimination and gender-based violence, Shelly, carries a story of inspirational perseverance, resiliency, and dedication to the betterment of her community. In 2020, amid a global pandemic, Shelly founded UPlift Black; the first social service agency based in Simcoe County, Ontario dedicated to increasing the visibility and socio-economic development of local Black communities. Shelly believes, in order to achieve true equality and liberation for Black people in Canada, the movement for systemic change must include a transfeminist approach that challenges both homophobia and misogyny and fights for disability justice. With Shelly’s fresh new take on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, she is using a Social Justice Framework to ensure fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all. In recent years, Shelly has established herself as a sought-after leader whose influence resonates in the communities across Canada, and beyond. Overall, Shelly brings passion, leadership, and drive to everything she does, and she inspires people from various backgrounds to become the leaders their communities sorely need.

Who should attend?
The purpose of this event is to provide space for folks who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ women or non-binary. There is no desire to monitor anyone’s gender or create barriers to entry. If you come to this event you will be welcome. While the support of people who identify as allies to 2SLGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people and communities is always appreciated, please remember that the best support sometimes comes in the form of leaving space for people to connect around their shared identities and lived experiences.

Who can answer my questions about the event?
Please direct questions about this event to Iyol Martínez (they/them), Leaderships Program Coordinator at iyol.martinez@prideatwork.ca. You may also contact events@prideatwork.ca with questions about any Pride at Work Canada events and activities.

Accessibility:

• Captioning will be provided by 3 Play Media Canada
• English to French automated captioning
• If you have any accessibility requests please email events@prideatwork.ca with requests by January 31, 2024

Limited number of participants in this free networking event for 2SLGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people.