Quick Escape 
YWCA Hamilton is proud to support speqtrum, a youth-founded and youth-focused skill-sharing and community building program for Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ young people. speqtrum’s goal is to build community by offering a variety of programs and supports, including online one-on-one support, group events, and skill sharing workshops that help our community build capacity and advocate for change.
speqtrum offers essential services to Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ youth in Hamilton – but we couldn’t do it without our community, donors, and funders.
In 2021-2022, speqtrum received generous support through the Pride & Remembrance Foundation (PRF). The foundation is funded with the help of proceeds from the Pride & Remembrance Run, an annual fundraising event that takes place during Toronto’s Pride Week. The 5K run promotes community spirit, volunteerism, charitable giving, and sportsmanship, while raising funds for registered charities benefitting the LGBTQ+ community.
With this funding speqtrum received from PRF, we were able to continue offering our virtual peer check-in program, as well as a variety of virtual and in-person events and activities. The support from PRF helped us reach more than 200 Two-Spirit LGBTQIA+ youth and promoted increased safety and inclusion, connection to caring allies, effective advocacy and referrals, and better physical and mental health outcomes. We are so grateful to PRF for partnering with us to make a difference for queer youth in Hamilton!
If you’re interested in joining in to support a proud speqtrum partner, the 2022 Pride & Remembrance Run will take place on June 25. If you’d like to participate, please visit priderun.org for more information.
Not ready to run? Here are some more ways to support speqtrum!
Join the Revolution! All gifts big and small to speqtrum can change the life of a young person who needs support. Your donation will power community-building programs for Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ young people in Hamilton.
Spread the Word about speqtrum: Follow speqtrum and YWCA Hamilton on social media and share our content so Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ young people can find out about our group events, skill sharing workshops, weekly Check-Ins and Peer Support. Find us at @ywcahamilton and @speqtrumyhm!
Host a PRIDE Fundraising Event: Show your PRIDE this June and host a fundraising event with your friends, family or colleagues. From a bake sale, to a trivia night, to a dance party, there are so many awesome ways to raise awareness and funds for speqtrum. The funds you raise will help Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ youth in our community get the support they need.
Launch a PRIDE Month Promotion and Donate a % of Sales to speqtrum: Your business can create change for Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ youth in our community when you donate a percentage of sales to speqtrum during the month of June. In the past we’ve seen rainbow donuts, specialty ice cream flavours, and car test drive incentives, all of which helped to make speqtrum’s impact possible. No matter your business, there is a creative way to engage your customers or clients during Pride month and show your solidarity with Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ youth. Plus, when you register your Pride Month promotion, we will be able to share it with our broad network of supporters and help showcase your solidarity to our audience.