ARC Foundation aims to build Awareness, Respect and Capacity through education so that students of all sexual orientations and gender identities can live their authentic lives.

School might be the only place a student feels safe to be their authentic self. For youth who don’t experience a sense of belonging at home, a teacher could be the one supportive adult that helps them feel valued. When a student feels connected to their school, they have a higher chance of graduating, are less likely to experience substance abuse and experience better mental health into young adulthood. ARC Foundation is committed to a long-lasting and far-reaching approach to changing the experience of youth one school at a time.

About 40% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as 2SLGBTQ+. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are five times more likely to consider suicide, and seven times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers. The rate of discrimination experienced among students who identify as LGBTQ+ is three times higher than heterosexual youth. 66% percent of Bachelor of Education graduates from the past five years say they were not prepared for SOGI-inclusive education. Homophobia and transphobia affect all students whether they identify as LGBTQ+ or not.

Change is needed now as much as ever. For students, the emerging anti-2SLGBTQ+ sentiment that they see in social media and North American politics only emphasizes some of their struggles to come to terms with their own sexual orientation and gender identity.

SOGI 1 2 3 is our flagship program.

SOGI 1 2 3 helps educators make schools inclusive and safe for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGI). It accelerates systemic change and grassroots action by building province-wide networks of educators and then supporting them in three key aspects of SOGI-inclusive education:

1. Creating SOGI-Inclusive School Policies

2. Creating SOGI-Inclusive School Environments

3. Using SOGI-Inclusive Teaching Resources