Radical Pride, Radical Allyship: Community Talk, Workshop & Dance Party! | Toronto

About this event

How can you celebrate Pride amidst a global pandemic? How can you fully accept and love who you are? How can you be an ally to the LGBTQ2IA+ movement and other historically excluded communities? How can you connect to the original roots of Pride to fight for a more loving and equitable society?

Let’s talk! These are the questions keeping up Social Change Strategist, Community Organizer & Leadership Coach Melissa Andrada up at night. Melissa will share her own personal journey of loving transformation and allyship as a once painfully shy, straight A student who came out at 27. She’ll bring an intersectional lens informed by her lived experiences as a queer Filipina American born in Nigeria who came to the States as an undocumented immigrant who went on to achieve conventional forms of success as a Chief Operations Officer of a VC-backed startup in London then later completely re-designed her work and life to align to her values around love and social justice.

The first half of this community event will focus on Radical Pride: How to Fully Love and Accept Who You Are

Sharing her story as a catalyst for opening up the room for vulnerability and real conversation, Melissa would love to hold space for you to share your stories and self-limiting beliefs, and get the community support to feel seen and take greater pride in who you are. 


The second half of this event will focus on Radical Allyship: How can You Courageously Fight for Marginalized Communities Melissa will facilitate a session to develop practical ideas and strategies to co-create a psychologically safe space, particularly for those facing the greatest oppression and suffering with the LGBTQ2IA+ community (such as but not limited to trans folks, the elderly, people of color, people living in poverty, people with disabilities, people coming out later in life, people practicing nonmonagamy).

Time & Agenda Two Hours


This is a highly interactive transformational workshop that will involve a TED-Style Talk, individual reflection, partner sharing, group discussion, difficult conversations and debate -- do not join if you just want to sit back and multi-task while you’re in another meeting or washing dishes!

• Authentic Networking & Intros (10 mins) 

• Melissa’s TED-Style Story of Transformation & Allyship (15 mins)
• Interactive Session: Radical Pride: How to Fully Love and Accept Who You Are (30 mins)

• Interactive Session: Radical Allyship: How can You Courageously Fight for Marginalized Communities (45 mins)
• Authentic Networking & Dance Party (20 mins)

Takeaways

• Get practical stories, inspiration and tools to begin the journey of:
• Radical Pride: How to Fully Love and Accept Who You Are:
• Transform self limiting beliefs into soul magnifying beliefs

Radical Allyship: How can You Courageously Fight for Marginalized Communities Generate actionable ideas and strategies for building a psychologically safe community, particularly for those facing the greatest oppression and suffering with the LGBTQ2IA+ community (such as but not limited to trans folks, the elderly, people of color, people living in poverty, people with disabilities, people coming out later in life, people practicing nonmonagamy).

What people said about Melissa’s workshops

“We need women like you to stand up and have the balls to inspire us all!” - Corinna Stuck Senior Culture Manager, Busuu

“I found your class powerful and you are truly inspiring. I admired your ability to speak up for yourself when something's not right, your confidence, and everything you say, you say with such passion.” 
- Jay Grant
 Admissions Manager, General Assembly