Self-advocates from across British Columbia came together in Kamloops for the SUSA (Speak Up Self-Advocacy Awareness) conference, Where We Belong, a gathering focused on learning new skills, building confidence, sharing experiences, and taking a stand for the issues that matter to them.
Held during Community Inclusion Month, the conference brought together approximately 40 participants, including people from Prince George, Kitimat, Nanaimo and other communities. For its first year, the event was a meaningful success, creating opportunities for self-advocates to connect, learn from one another, and strengthen their leadership.
Building skills and confidence
The conference offered a range of workshops and activities to help participants grow as leaders and self-advocates.
ESATTA led two workshops on the first day. One focused on building self-esteem, while the other invited participants to write a one-page story titled Who I Am. Participants can share this personal statement with family members, support workers, and even doctors to help others understand who someone is, what matters to them, and how they want to be supported.
Storytelling was another important theme, with Shelley Nessman sharing her experience and helping participants explore the power of telling their own stories. Other sessions focused on healthy living, voting, and inclusive housing. Jo-Anne and Chelsea from the BC People First Society (BCPF) also helped plan the conference and presented on inclusive housing, highlighting the importance of having a place to live where people feel included and belong.
These opportunities help self-advocates develop the confidence and skills to express their views, make their own choices, and influence decisions that affect their lives.
Celebrating identity, creativity and belonging
One conference highlight was a workshop on the Art of Drag with performers Ms. Mousse and Stevie Nips. Participants explored self-expression, talked about being themselves, tried makeup and even joined the performers on stage. The experience sparked so much enthusiasm that participants suggested having a longer session at the next conference.
A marketplace also gave artists a chance to showcase and sell their work, celebrating the community’s talents and contributions.
The conference continued with a film night featuring A Place Where I Belong. Two actors from the film joined a panel discussion afterward, giving participants an opportunity to reflect on the film and talk about belonging and inclusion.
Stronger together
At its heart, the SUSA’s conference was about bringing people together. When self-advocates connect, they learn from one another, build friendships, and find encouragement to take action. They can also recognize the power of their collective experiences to raise awareness and advocate for change.
Organizing a conference also brought valuable lessons for the SUSA team. Making an event accessible and affordable takes planning, promotion, funding and community support. The team is proud of what participants accomplished and is already looking ahead. SUSA hopes to hold the conference again in 2028, with more support from community partners.
This year, their partners were BC People First, Community Living BC, ESATTA Cooperative (Empowering Self Advocates to Take Action), Kamloops Society for Community Inclusion, and New Horizons Professional Support Services.
The success of this first gathering is a reminder that self-advocates are leaders. They bring important knowledge, ideas, and lived experience to conversations about inclusion. With events like the SUSA Conference, participants strengthen their skills and their ability to create change.
Here’s to more opportunities for self-advocates across BC to connect, grow as leaders, and make their experiences count!
Follow SUSA on Facebook to stay up to date on what they are doing in Kamloops.
This article was featured in our monthly newsletter, Inclusion in Action.
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