We increase access to alternative and DIY natural health products, cosmetics, household products, and sexual health products through eduational, hands on workshops that aim to reduce exposure to 160+ harmful ingredients in DAILY!
OUR MISSION: Anarres improves health by educating about toxic ingredients, sharing natural, affordable DIY alternatives through accessible workshops.
Anarres confronts harm from endocrine disrupting petrochemicals in our daily lives, from bodycare and sexual health, to household products.
We have piloted the Anarres Outreach Project by providing affordable (by donation, by honorarium, and sliding scale) hands on mini workshops at street festivals, daycares, coops, private employers, social housing projects, and to diverse members of our communities. We deliver hands on workshops using an anti oppression, client centred, customized approach on a variety of topics that link to reducing hormone disruption: DIY natural body care making, alternatives to hormonal contraception, healthy sex toys, DIY natural cleaning products. We have developed, piloted and are ready-to-deliver some 34 workshops in 1 hour, 1.5 hour and 2 hour formats. For example:
Self Spa: Participants are invited to create a custom face mask, body scrub, and bath salt as hydrotherapy that promotes self care, detoxifying and hormone balancing natural and affordable ingredients.
DIY Natural Cleaning: Participants learn about healthy common ingredients and create all natural household cleaning products in less time than it takes to shop for these, for only 20% of the cost of commercial products that disrupt hormones and poison the planet.
Natural Lubes: Participants are invited to feel and use natural ingredients to compose their own healthy personal lubricant.
Healthy Safe & Effective Contraception Options: Participants are introduced to and invited to explore non hormonal contraceptive options such as CycleBeads (the Standard Days Method), the FemCap (cervical cap), the Caya Diaphragm, and contraceptive gels (Contragel Green, Caya Gel).
Moon Cycles for Budding Women: Participants who will be or are currently experiencing menstruation for the first time learn multi-cultural traditions in conjunction with menstruation and anatomy. Participants will learn how our pineal and other glands relate to the cycles of the moon and create their own custom glass cycle beads.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF ANARRES OUTREACH?
Our work will reduce daily exposures to the 160+ dangerous ingredients that women and trans people. We will increase awareness of these ingredients, and safe alternatives through outreach oriented workshops and demonstrations that promote de-marginalization and foster community building, making these safer options affordable and available. We empower women, trans, and LGBTQ+ community members by providing products in a safe, non judgmental, sexuality positive environment.
HOW DO WE MEASURE OUR IMPACT?
Qualitative impact will be measured through:
~ Accessible plain language and visual feedback forms
~ Follow up surveys with select participants and
~ Randomized, pre agreed follow up email and phone surveys
Quantitative impact will be measured through:
~ Number of workshops provided, education hours and participants reached
~ Number of groups & organizations that re-book with us
~ Financial contributions from donations and honoraria
~ Number of follow up information requests following workshops
ABOUT AVA, OUR OUTREACH COORDINATOR:
I am an experienced public speaker and facilitator, comfortable working with a diverse group of people. I am active member of the LGBTQ+ community, an advocate for social change, and a passionate about the Earth. I volunteer with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Pride Toronto, The Stop. As an experienced project coordinator for Sanctuary Space at ORP: Presents Solstice Gathering, I create safer public spaces to learn and work together. As a part time sex worker I have an abiding interest in sexual health. My love for body care, natural health alternatives, and safer sexuality, called me to apprentice at Anarres Natural Health Apothecary I learned how to create my own natural body care and healthy household products through workshops. I am motivated to provide education and DIY workshops to at risk youth, and other marginalized groups, and to those who many not know that natural alternatives are available to them. I want to free us from the toxic hold that so many conventional products have on them. I am driven to share my knowledge and experience with people in my community and strive to make our communities safer through empowerment and hands on education.
CHALLENGES AT PRESENT:
Presently, we offer workshops by donation and Pay What You Want rates on a monthly basis: Karma Coop the second Tuesday of each month, Make It Natural the first Wednesday of each month, BIG on Bloor, Wychwood Barns and Bloorcourt Festivals annually, and offer subsidized and work exchange spots at twice monthly Friday evening and Monday full day workshops.
We are seeking funding to move the Anarres Outreach Program forward with maximum impact. This requires having the time available to focus on outreach as well as to find the groups and organizations to deliver workshops to. I need time to promote, book and host workshops and demonstrations. I would like to be able to spend 100% of my time on growth and development of this project and I simply cannot afford to do this at this time without the boost I would receive from funding.
OUR FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY MODEL:
Anarres Outreach has piloted a number of revenue generating strategies.
Our revenue model includes:
~ Accepting donations for mini workshops at fairs, street festivals and community events
~ Offering workshops by suggested donation and Pay What You Want that are promoted for free through NOW magazine and other media channels
~ Providing three tier sliding scale for workshops hosted at Anarres Apothecary where we will ask that members 1. Pay less than cost but no less than materials 2. Pay cost + labour or 3. Pay cost + labour + pay for tier 1
~ Providing workshops by honoraria (Organizations pay us what they have in their budget.)
~ Providing Train-the-Trainer workshops to leaders and facilitators from youth, to recreation and social service workers, by honoraria based on orgs staff training budget
~ Connecting private and public sector sponsors with workshops for partial or full funding
- Accepting grants for fully compensated workshops combined with Pay What You Can registration to allow us to grow a scholarship fund, thereby increasing participants
We reduce our need for funds by:
~ Creating a realistic, easy to follow budget
~ Using all available no cost promotional tools such as social media, networking, word of mouth referral requests, contests, sponsorships (offering Gift Certificates for workshops to silent auctions for example) and media generation (radio, print & local TV interviews)
~ Using good SEO practices on our website, reaching organizations by phone & print & email, offering on site and outcall info sessions for organizations, print (NOW, SNAP etc.)
~ Cultivating donations of time, volunteer help, barter, work exchange, sponsorship, Anarres’ contribution of at cost materials, copying, and laptop computer, student placements for promo/marketing, providing coop positions in high school hours.
AVA SHARES:
Coordinating Anarres Outreach allows me to live my passions, and truly focus on my goals. This project is a combination of all of my passions. Sexual health, safe spaces for LGBTQ+, community growth, natural alternatives to current body care and household products, these are topics I am called to share with my community. I am young and driven, this project can mean a brighter future for myself and every person I get to teach.
My community is at risk. Just recently Johnson and Johnson was successfully sued for selling baby powder containing toxic ingredients, specifically marketing this product to women and children. I can help. I need to help. There is a safer way to live life beautifully. I have so much knowledge to share, and Coordinating Anarres Outreach can make that truly possible.