OUTniagara hires team for transformative project
OUTniagara hires team for transformative project
OUTniagara is moving forward with a long-range vision for Niagara’s sexual- and gender-diverse community with the hiring of two individuals who bring a wealth of experience to their new positions.
Late last year, OUTniagara received funding from the federal government that will empower the organization to build capacity and strengthen networks in Niagara’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community. A government embargo prevents OUTniagara from disclosing details of the project, called Informed, Inclusive, Indivisible: Advancing 2SLGBTQ+ Equality in Niagara+, until a formal funding announcement is made.
The hiring of a project co-ordinator and project assistant to carry forward the initiative’s objectives was a key component of the funding request.
“OUTniagara is thrilled to offer Laura Ip (she/her) the position of Project Coordinator and Kerry Duncan (they/them) the position of Project Assistant,” said Celeste Turner (they/them), chair of OUTniagara’s board. “These two individuals will move Niagara’s sexual-and gender-diverse community forward in a significant and meaningful way. Kerry and Laura bring valuable skill sets to the project, and we’re confident they will work hard and capably on the community’s behalf. They are eager to hit the ground running.”
Laura, a lifelong resident of Niagara, has worked in public, private, and non-profit sector roles. She is the founder, president, and head coach of Underdogs Boxing Club, which is a local, entirely volunteer-run, fully inclusive non-profit organization. The club offers recreational non-contact boxing programming to the community, including women-identified and non-binary survivors of violence, and youth.
As a first-term Regional Councillor representing St. Catharines, Laura was successful in convincing Niagara Region to join the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities. She introduced motions to have Niagara Region recognize racism, homophobia, transphobia, and all forms of discrimination or oppression as public health issues. Laura also moved to have the Region create a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee along with an Anti-Racism Advisory Committee and a 2SLGBTQQIA Advisory Committee.
Laura is a graduate of Brock University (Hons. Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, concentration in Social Justice & Equity Studies) and Niagara College. She is the mother of two teenagers.
Kerry is a community-educated queer family caregiver and activist, with an academic background. Kerry is a white settler who grew up on the traditional lands of the Saugeen First Nation, lived many years on unceded and unsurrendered Algonquin territory, and is now based on the shared territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, Wendat, and Chonnonton peoples—territory governed by the Dish with One Spoon Agreement. Prior to moving to St. Catharines, they worked with uOttawa students’ union, OPIRG-Ottawa, and CUPE Local 4943. In Niagara, Kerry is best known for working at OPIRG Brock and 2SLGBTQ-friendly Mahtay Café in St. Catharines. They also occasionally contribute to Niagara’s The Sound magazine.
One of the top project priorities will be to work closely with partner agencies and members of Niagara’s 2SLGBTQ+ community in the formation of a Regional Advisory Committee. The advisory committee will guide an extensive Community Strengths and Needs Assessment of Niagara region’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community across all 12 municipalities.
Based on the outcome of the assessment, the project will help to build collective capacity through skills development, and building managerial capacity through governance, organizational and strategic planning.
Once they become available, a full description of the project and its objectives will be updated on OUTniagara’s website. For ongoing updates or to learn more about OUTniagara and its work, please click on www.outniagara.org.
