DATE:
May 30th, 2015
TO:
Richard Utama & ACAS Staff
FROM:
Brian-Bao Ly
SUBJECT:
SLAM! Report 2015
As requested, here is a written report of my findings for REAL: SLAM! 2015. The information is presented in the format as follows: 1) the event overall, 2) an overall analysis of the survey/evaluation forms, and 3) the information extracted from registration. Below are a few key findings from recorded data:
“You be the Judge” scenarios were well received and generated useful information and discussion for future by ACAS and SLAM! The inclusion of all the participants in one room helped discussion between participants, without any loss of information that was found to happen from previous years, when participants were split into groups and different rooms Inclusion of the Privilege and Oppression exercise helped create awareness and understanding of the topics for almost all participants
In addition to the report, I have included my own personal findings that have been observed during the SLAM! 2015 event, and may be addressed in the future:
Think about closing registrations a day or week earlier, instead of keeping it open to the morning of the event; having registrations open for 2 weeks still allowed enough time for 50 registrants (and 33 attendees) Scenarios should be practiced beforehand with advisory committee, so that we can gauge the proper time allotment for each; we need to be stricter on the time allowance for each scenario Book the venue 2 or so months in advance to secure the location; we found that 2-days in March/April was difficult, and we had to reconcile the time-frame to 1 day only; the event was still able to convey the objectives we set out in the advisory committee For ACAS to be more inclusive, there should be a section in the registration that specifies Cis and trans male identification
Thank you, Richard, the board members, and ACAS’s staff for allowing me the opportunity to organize the event. I look forward to helping organize and plan future events. If you have any inquiries about the report, the event or general inquiries, please contact me at the ACAS office. 1
OVERALL EVALUATION Held on Saturday, April 25th, 2015 at Friend’s House, REAL: SLAM! was attended by 33 people (not including staff, advisory committee, and specialists/facilitators). The event was introduced by Richard Utama, Brian-Bao Ly, and Ryan Tran. The event began with a workshop facilitated by Raymark Garcia on Privilege and Oppression, as a precursor to the afternoon’s “You be the Judge” Scenarios. The evening session was split into 4 different scenarios, which were formulated and facilitated by our specialists: Raymark Garcia, Constantine Cabarios, Elmer Bagares, and staff. No identifying information was kept, but the material was written onto chart paper and is transcribed for our personal records. The information shown in the next few tables were collected from the 3 evaluation forms completed throughout the day.
SLAM!: Real Evaluations FIRST SURVEY Question 1. How are you feeling this morning? 2. How often do you use condoms? 3. How would you describe your recent sexual experience? 4. What's your STI/HIV/AIDS knowledge like? 5. How involved are you in the LGBTQ community?
RANK
1
2
3
4
5
2 2 6
5 1 1 1
10 8 4 12 7
11 16 16 14 21
5 6 6 5 4
2
3
4
5
11
6
1
SECOND SURVEY RANK Question 1. Do we still have your attention? 2. Did this exercise give you better understanding of privilege and oppression?
1
3 YES: 27
13 NO: 4
N/A: 2
Total Number of Entries: 33 (a few discrepencies) LAST SURVEY Question 1. What do you think of SLAM!?
2. What was your favourite Scenario? 3. What was your least favourite Scenario?
4. Do you think the scenarios we used were realistic? 5. Will the workshops help you in current and future relationships?
RANK
1
2
3
4
5
4
11
7
10
Scenario Race/Pref HIV 13 7
8 5
8 6
RANK
2
3 12 9
1
MH
3
Love You N/A 2 8 4 6 14
1 6 5 14 6
Total Number of Entries: 32 Comments written will be attached to appendix
2
Analysis of Each Survey: General Knowledge: Each question has 5 ranks Please reference Appendix I - IV First Survey: Q1 – General opening question, the results were non-concerning. Q2 – This question was ambiguous because we did not ask if the acts were with regular partners or with casual partners, though it is uplifting to see most do use condoms. Q3 – General Question to show that we are being “REAL” and not afraid to showcase our comfort level with participants and their lives. Q4 – This is a welcome surprise: our initial objective for SLAM! was for it to never be an HIV/STI 101 event, so the responses to the HIV/STI knowledge question allows us the freedom to touch upon the social interactions people have with each other and the stigma associated with HIV/STIs. Q5 – General question, glad to see the response was well received.
Second Survey: Q1 – General Question to see how people feel after the Privilege and Oppression Workshop Q2 – We used this question to gauge the participants’ retention of the information that they received from the workshop, and it’s nice to see that most retained a fair amount. -
Open-ended Responses:
Most of the responses for the Privilege and Oppression exercise were positive; the general take away was that privilege has many forms, and we all have a form of privilege – this was the lesson that we wanted people to get from the workshop
3
Last Survey: Q1 – General question Q2 – This question was to gauge the effectiveness of each of the scenarios we used, though because “Do you love you?” was not used as a scenario because of time-constraints, we will not regard results with it. There is an even amount of attention paid to each scenario, which may correlate that the delivery was done well and the discussions were thought provoking Q3 – Again, please disregard the results for “Do you love you?” because it was not presented the way it was intended. Here there is also an even division of opinion, which showcases the fact that there are still some details we need to work out, but overall the reception of each scenario was good. Q4 – This was a good indicator for our advisory committee and organizers: the scenarios we used were not too farfetched from real scenarios that could happen to people in their lives, which added to the authenticity of the event in providing life skills Q5 – See comment above
4
REGISTRATION EVALUATION Below is the data collected from the registration; this does not directly reflect the number of people that attended the event (33 of the 50 registered attended the event).
SLAM! always attracts a diverse age group each year. This allows different exchange of life experiences and information among participants during discussions. ACAS’s network is effective for reaching a large age range, which has not changed from the data collected from last year’s SLAM! as well.
5
Most participants have received some form of education. We have also seen an increase in STI and HIV knowledge from participants as well; this may be because of the network ACAS has created in recruiting participants for SLAM! and also recurrent participants to SLAM! as well.
6
As in the previous years, gay men remain the majority of participants; though we have seen an increase in new registrants to SLAM! that identify as Transgender. We did not have a part of the registration that asked about Cis/Trans gender, though this may be put in the future to be more inclusive and address the difference.
7
ACAS remains the main referral of SLAM! registrations; we have seen that connecting with other networks such as other non-profit agencies, has reached a broader audience, especially people who are not affiliated with ACAS.
8
EVENT EVALUATION The event flowed from one subject to the next, with almost no delays in programming. The food arrived on time. We were able to conclude the event at 4:30pm. After the event, Elmer (Hassle Free Clinic) conducted anonymous HIV testing and 5 participants took part. This part of the event was considered successful because we also released a disclaimer about who should consider getting tested, and also provided additional information on the testing clinics and sites provided by Hassle Free Clinic. We will be consistently providing anonymous HIV testing at future SLAM! events because even reaching just 5 people creates awareness about the testing to those at the event.
PARTICIPANT SURVEY COMMENT EVALUATION The comments and recommendations presented by participants in the evaluation forms allows us to see that there is still a need for more content/workshops outside of the SLAM! event, and we are still meeting these needs throughout the year. Carrying over from last year, participants still find that ACAS should provide more social events, and also for workshops that focus on specific topics discussed in the appendix.
BUDGET EVALUATION The event was organized with funds received from both ACAS and Toronto Urban Health Fund.
9
APPENDIX - I First Survey: “Feeling Good? We Have To Make Sure” Disclaimer: Information you provide is confidential, non-identifying and will only be used for statistical and administrative purposes for ACAS. How are you feeling this morning? 1 AX was fun last night
2 Ask me after my coffee
3 I’m here at least
4 Good, lots of cute guys here
5 Ready? Okay! SEX TIME!
How often do you use condoms? 1 What’s a condom? Not really
2 If they’re cute, Maybe not
3 Hmm… 50/50?
4 Yeah, most of the time
5 I like to wrap my cock in rubber!
How would you describe your recent sexual experience(s)?
1 Doesn’t Exist
3 I am picky! So mixed
2 Meh
4 They’ve been pretty alright
5 AMAAAAAZING!
What’s your Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS knowledge like? 1 What are those?
2 I know the names…
3 It wouldn’t hurt to learn more
4 I would pass a test with about 70%
5 I could write the book!
How involved are you with the LGBTQ community? 1 There’s an LGBTQ Community?
2 Don’t like to be associated w/ LGBTQ
3 I’ve been to Church St. a few times
4 I’m involved with a few things
5 I’m here! I’m EVERYWHERE!
What is your favourite sex position?
10
APPENDIX - II Second Survey: “Are We Being Real Yet?!” Disclaimer: Information you provide is confidential, non-identifying and will only be used for statistical and administrative purposes for ACAS. Do we still have your attention? 1 WTF?!
2 I got distracted by the facilitator
3 Pretty interesting
4 Lots of new things to consider
5 You’ve got me thinking a lot!
Tell us three things that grabbed your attention about the exercise we just did:
Did the exercise give you a better understanding of privilege and oppression? Yes
No
In what way:
Fun Fact! You are a: Top
Bottom
Vers
Oral Only
Power Top
Power Bottom
Power Vers
Hands Only
11
APPENDIX - III Last Survey… WE PROMISE! Disclaimer: Information you provide is confidential, non-identifying and will only be used for statistical and administrative purposes for ACAS.
What do you think about SLAM!? 1 Waste of time!
2 It’s okay…
3 I’m glad I came!
4 So goooood!
5 I love getting SLAM’d!
What was your favourite Scenario?
Racist or Preference?
HIV Disclosure
Mental Health
Loving You
What was your least favourite Scenario?
Racist or Preference?
HIV Disclosure
Mental Health
Loving You
Do you think the scenarios we used were realistic? 1 Not relevant to me at all
2 Sounds like a TV soap opera
3 Maybe, sounds like it
4 A friend just asked me that
5 I’ve gone through something like this before
Will the workshops help you with your current and future relationships (yourself, friends, family, strangers and intimate relationships)? 1 Fuck No!
2 Maybe not
3 It’s good to have the info
4 I might be able to use them
5 Fuck Yes!
12
APPENDIX - IV What topics would you like covered in the next forum?
What services can ACAS provide you in the future?
Lastly, which facilitator or participant would you like to be real with?
Thank you all, and your attendance to this event and filling out these forms! It’s really appreciated!
Please do not hesitate to use the below space to provide feedback as well! THANK YOU!
13
APPENDIX - V Survey Questions and Comments: First Survey: Didn’t have any comment sections Second Survey: Tell us three things that grabbed your attention about the exercise we just did: Dancing Racial Preference Religious sexual predator Should we judge someone not in our Union Practises man sex but denies community Privilege: winners and losers – someone suffers It’s great we talk about some emotional and sexual issues for gay Asians Racism Straight Talk - 2 Ageism Sex Hierarchies The discussion is interesting; Ray handled the conversation very well Dance moves The stigma toward HIV and its fear of rejection Facilitate people was good Topic is also good It was easy to talk with the atmosphere Many ideas People exciting
Fun Active participation Slides showing Sense of Humour Class level Experiences Immigrant Church Who I am I’m not alone We all have a role to play in fighting oppression We all need to learn about other people’s circumstances Labelling or willingness to label Topic on being gay & catholic If the category (LGBTQ categories) are good thing or not
Did the exercise give you a better understanding of privilege and oppression? In what way: More ways it exists Privilege not about equality Some of us may have been judgemental without sensibility. This even opened our eyes Deeper thoughts I know that there’s a difference Being more open-minded Good reminder
Class, glass ceilings, representation How it impacts Asian gay and bi men To more about it Privilege is just acknowledging stuff that puts you at an advantage Re-evaluated the amount of privilege I have but more how others understand or describe privilege 14
We are both privilege and under privilege at the same time How different people react The discussions
That a lot of our thinking really is constructed by media and society; we need to be more critical At least the definition of oppression Needs more details and examples
Last Survey: What topics would you like covered in the next forum? Intra-Asian Discrimination Looking for platonic encounters FOB vs 1st Generation Mental Health Race Online Dating/Relationship – 2 – 3 Gay Sex Same-sex Marriage How to dance properly How to interact with other gays Coming out Internalized Homophobia/self-image Personal health and acceptance
Aging BDSM - 2 Pornography Representation Media Sex tips! Where is the sex tip workshop you promised? Sexual Fetish Harm Reduction Self-Esteem How to make relationship Hot to fight against discrimination More Loving You
What services can ACAS provide you in the future? Social Sports Fun events SLAM - 2 Self-Esteem Workshop More groups Sex tip workshop Same sex marriage Immigration
Confidence Opportunities Power More Social Activities Higher availability/transparency in counselling Line dance to start with for relaxation HIV Test Keep doing what we do
15
APPENDIX – VI BUDGET JUSTIFICATION
A)
Friend’s House Booking
Cost based on Meeting Room + Additional Breakout Room Meeting Room: 1st Session ($110) + 2nd Session ($100) Sun Room (Breakout Room): 1 Session ($35) Subtotal: $245.00
B)
Meals and Break (Food for Event)
Meals are calculated based on 40 participants + 10 staff = 50 persons Snacks: 50 participants x $2.50 per participant = $125 Lunch: 50 participants x $5.00 per participant = $250 Subtotal: $375.00
C)
Advisory Meeting Expenses
Refreshments provided at meetings, calculating $30.00 / meeting at 5 meetings $30.00/meeting x 5 meetings = $150.00 Subtotal: $150.00
D)
Honoraria for Final Report
Compiling and creating a Final Report for SLAM! 2015 Subtotal: $230.00
Expenses Total:
$245 + $375 + $150 + $230 = $ 1000
16
APPENDIX – VII
LOGISTICS:
Promotional Planning and Execution -
Branding
-
Multi-stage promotional plans
Speaker Organization and Contribution -
Advisory Committee Speakers
-
Facilitator Speakers
Volunteer Organization and Contribution -
Setting up
-
Cleaning up
-
Collection of Materials
-
Food Pick-up
Registration Planning and Execution -
Online Registrations
-
Facebook Event
February – April
February – April
March – April (Day of)
March – April
Surveys, Note Taking
January – April
Gifts, Prizes
February – April
-
Distributed on the day
17
APPENDIX – VIII SLAM! April 25th 2015
Work Plan
Action Contact Venue (Food/Accomodation)
Timeline Beginning of April
Who Brian/Admin
Advisory Committee Recruitment
End of Feb
Richard Brian
Create TOR
Feb
Advisory Committee
Working Advisory Committee
End of Feb – End of the Event
Hiring Committee
Beginning of Feb – End of the Event
Evaluation Team
Beginning of Feb – End of Project
Richard Brian Advisory Committee Advisory Committee Richard Brian Brian Advisory Committee
Logistics Team
End of Feb – End of the Project
Brian Volunteers
A/V Team
Day of the Event
Promotion Plan
March – Day of Event
Richard Ryan Brian Volunteers Brian Meza Ryan Christian Advisory Committee Facilitators/Specialists
18