What We Do

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Meet the YAC

The development of Project Acorn has been informed and guided by a diverse group of dedicated youth volunteers who collectively make up the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC).

	Angie Swiggum is a super psyched returning YAC member! Ze had a blast at Project Acorn 2011 and can’t wait to learn, laugh, and make magic at Project Acorn 2012! Ze is also 19 years old, a second year social work student at Carleton University, and a member of the organizing committee for Vermont Witch Camp. Angie has experience working and playing with queer and trans* communities in both Toronto and Ottawa. Hir interests include gender studies, veganism, sitcoms, good books, and board games.
	Erica Butler is 21 years old and finishing up her time as a public relations student at Algonquin College. She's lived on both coasts of Canada (and in Scotland), but has been settled in Ottawa for the last several years. Erica loves reading, scrapbooking, and watching everything ever produced by BBC Earth. She's volunteered as an events coordinator and workshop facilitator for Pink Triangle Youth, planned events with Capital Pride Youth, and led the positive and safe space committee for Algonquin's Queer Student Alliance. After having an amazing time at last year's Project Acorn, she looks forward to being a part of this year's YAC!
	Myron Khatheer is living gleefully in the NOW. He is currently a first-year at Algonquin College studying Child and Youth Work. He has been an active member of his community through volunteer work. He has been an advocate and philanthropist for the LGBTQ community as well as newcomer communities in Ottawa. He is quite the social character and very outgoing, always viewing the world with optimistic eyes. Yoga, Hula-hooping, dancing and adventuring through nature are his most favorite things to do! He has participated in Project Acorn for the past 2 years and is EXTREMELY excited to be on the YAC to provide the experiences and memories for the next generation of hopefuls! <3
	Alanna Eberlee is a dramatic-poetic bombshell with a lot of lofty ideals. She spends a lot of her time these days promoting sex positivity and educating youth around sexual health and wellness, for it brings her great joy to envision a world in which everyone is educated and empowered in expressing their sexuality however they find comfortable. Sitting and pondering is her favourite activity. She loves to peer deeply into the nature of things, and enjoys sharing this experience with others as well! Cooking delicious (and often spicy) vegetarian food, yoga, writing, and readingreadingreading are other delectable pastimes that enthrall her dancing mind. She is thrilled to be on the YAC for her third year, and can't wait to see the magic happen!
	Kamilla Riabko is a first year student at Carleton University doing her Bachelor’s of Social Work. She has been a participant at project acorn in the past two previous years and is stoked to join the YAC and get a whole new spin on acorn and its nuts and bolts! You’ll always find Kamilla on the go! When she’s not at school, she’s out volunteering with the many services she is involved with, which most often include work with child and youth mental health. If she’s not volunteering, she’s out exploring the city with friends or curls up into a good book. When at home, Kamilla loves to cook up storms of delicousness or work on her art pieces. With the beauties of the outdoors, sometimes she’ll take her camera out for an adventure as well! Kamilla LOVES meeting new people so never hesitate to stop her and say hello!
	Sophie Clarke is 20 years old and in her third year at Carleton University, studying Social Work with a Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. This her first year with the YAC, and she’s excited to meet new people and help make this year’s Project Acorn wonderful! She’s a born advocate, passionate about life in general. She enjoys reading, writing, biking, traveling, and any type of music that she can sing along to… and maybe air-guitar. She is looking forward to contributing her passion to the collective energy that is Project Acorn!
	Ruby Pascoe is 18, and in her last year of high school. She has run her school’s GSA for 2 years, and has been a part of it throughout her entire high school career. She’s been greatly involved within the school board to create the first ever Rainbow Dance (which will be celebrating its 3rd year!) and to run the Rainbow Youth Forum, which she co-hosted this year. She’s quirky and is famous for her loud, encouraging voice and constant smile. She loves to burst into dance and song and to give lots of hugs. She is looking forward to meeting all the new people at this year’s Project Acorn and making it as awesome as it can be!
	Christina Parsons is 22 and in her masters at Carleton University. She is very excited to be a member of the YAC this year after being a participant at the first Project Acorn and a YAC member last year. Christina enjoys everything to do with pirates, Latin America and sports (especially curling) and will gladly talk your ear off about any of these subjects.
	Quinn Blue is working on his degree in Women’s Studies at the University of Ottawa. He loved the experience of Project Acorn last year, which was inspiring, healing, challenging, and glitter filled, and is super excited to be involved in the YAC. His does activism and work on queer and trans stuff, reproductive justice, consent, and sex positivity (and loves to have conversations about it!) He also enjoys the awesomeness of delicious food, cooked and consumed with friends, dancing, and longboarding.
	Ashley Palen is quiet and enthusiastic. This is her first year volunteering with Project Acorn, and she is very excited to share a safe space with such amazing folks. She has lived in Ottawa her entire life. Ashley is currently enrolled in the Pre-Nursing program at Algonquin College. However, she hopes to study chemistry at Carleton in the fall. During her free time, she enjoys knitting, painting, reading, self-reflecting and going to yoga. She is also a cat-lover, meow!