Delivering the Glitterbug 2SLGBTQ+ EarlyON Mobile Program – The 519

• Glitterbug is a unique mobile program that works with EarlyON Centres across Toronto to promote inclusion and affirmation of gender and sexual diversity among children and families.
• The Glitterbug team conducts outreach to different EarlyON Centres across all four quadrants of Toronto, to work with them in improving inclusive programming.
• The program combines an understanding of 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion with a play-based learning approach (i.e. interactive circle time, field trips, etc.) for children and families to develop a broader understanding of inclusion at EarlyON Centres across the city and in the early years sector.
• Programs and Services offered include:
o 2SLGBTQ+-affirming interactive workshops for parents, caregivers and guardians.
o 2SLGBTQ+-affirming drop-in programming to support queer, trans and 2Spirit inclusion.
o Designated programming for 2SLGBTQ+ families
o Special events and pop-up visits
o Resources (Proud to Be Me – The 519, Elise Gravel, Education and Training – The 519
• The team is mindful of existing barriers and challenges for the program including discomfort, uncertainty, and lack of knowledge around 2SLGBTQ+ children, families, and issues.
• Glitterbug serves children 0-6 years of age, and after aging out of Glitterbug, participants can move up to programming for youths from 6-9 (Kids Action and Arts Space), 10-14 (Youth Action and Arts Space), 14 years+ (Trans Youth Mentorship Program), 16 years+ (Building Power Advocacy)

Individual, Program and Service, and Community Levels:
• Glitterbug includes and reflects on Land and African Ancestral Acknowledgements in programming.
• Glitterbug implements land-based practices focusing on Indigenous Reconciliation.
• Collaborates with TDSB EarlyON’s on their mandate as well as The 519’s commitment to the health, happiness, and full participation of 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Toronto and beyond.
• Supporting inclusion through the Proud to be Me Campaign:
o Developed for EarlyON centres across the city, child-care environments, schools, and any space accessed by children and families.
o The campaign reminds everyone in those spaces of the diversity that exists among children, young people, and their families, and of the celebration this diversity deserves.
o Attempts to capture unique interests, personalities and perspectives that make kids who they are, and to create spaces where kids are proud to be their true selves. (Proud To Be campaign posters (Proud to Be Me – The 519),
o Encourages to be proud of themselves and meeting folks where they are at and using strength-based practices to develop a sense of self, community and self-esteem.
 i.e, Being proud of your community, being proud of your family, being proud of yourself.

Community
• Glitterbug programming engages families and children together, and show that 2SLGBTQ+ communities are here and proud, for example:
o Partnering with 2SLGBTQ+ artists and BIPOC artists to share their talents and gifts.
o Programs that support healing together as a community
o Programming for different age groups and targeted to different cultural needs/norms

• Glitterbug reflects relationship building through collaboration in various EarlyON’s in the four quadrants of the city.
• Through visiting EarlyON’s in the four quadrants of the city doing pop-up visits (based on the needs of the agency), workshops, circle times, resources, and providing new ways of incorporating best practices in creating 2SLGBTQ+ affirming environments. Through these visits, Glitterbug creates and forms relationships with families and their children.

• The 519 focuses on being observant, and reflective of practices and programs within their organization through receiving thoughts, concerns and feedback from participants. In turn, Glitterbug is working on developing an FAQ to support provide answers to commonly asked questions and furthering development of programs on education and training.
• Hoping to have all communications resources in one space for participants, including resources that provide information on the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and children + family in relation to this.

• The Glitterbug team is very intentional about the way that work is done. The 519 works with students, who are always working on projects and making contributions to the program. This supports development of the community and safety. The 519 also works a lot with volunteers.
o The team is responsive to the needs to early years staff and families and puts effort towards normalizing asking questions and overcoming hesitation in asking questions.
o This is a model for any child care space focused on being responsive to the needs of a specific community
• With 53 sessions and 1543 participants to date in 2023, Glitterbug continues to partner with new EarlyON’s annually. Based on agency needs and requests, Glitterbug provides programming and services. Families that meet Glitterbug team follow Glitterbug from EarlyON to EarlyON.

• We use lived experience of folks to guide the programming and resources. We are responsive to community, and to the trends that are happening in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, such as violence towards drag queens and providing resources about transitioning.
• Glitterbug works directly with partners involved in developing programming for community, by community. Action is taken at all levels in creating a safe space, promoting inclusion and affirmation of gender and sexual diversity, and doing so via play-based learning with action on the ground.