Mycelium grows underground in thread-like formations. It connects roots to one another and breaks down plant material to create healthier ecosystems. Mycelium is the largest organism on earth. –adrienne maree brown, Emergent Strategy
Mycelium is a group of queer & trans youth 16-29 across what is currently known as BC, who connect to center healing, pleasure, and justice in our lives as we envision and create a world liberated from HIV & Hep C stigma.
We are committed to reducing stigma related to HIV & Hep C and to building communities where we feel safe talking about the highs and lows of sex, drugs, relationships and all the things that bring us pleasure. Learn more about our our name here.
Mycelium events take place on traditional, unceded territories of various First Nations in what is now colonially referred to as ‘British Columbia’. We hold this fact in our hearts and actions throughout our work at Mycelium. Our team is committed to an ongoing process of learning and unlearning what it means to do work on these lands as peers with diverse relationships to these particular territories.
Mycelium offers online and in person programs organized by coordinators based on the traditional, unceded territories of the
- Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish)
- səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil Waututh)
- xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)
- kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem)
- S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō)
- Qayqayt
- Stz’uminus
- Lheidli T'enneh
- Dakehl Keyoh
Currently referred to as Greater Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, the Fraser Valley, and Prince George.
Core Group
Mycelium’s Core Group is a space for those of us interested in learning more about health justice, community care, and collective liberation. We'll learn about systems of oppression and liberation movements, with a focus on HIV & Hep C. Over 5 months, members will unpack our personal and community relationships to stigma through a series of anti-oppressive workshops on queer & trans organizing, harm reduction, fatphobia, and sex work, while centering decolonial and abolitionist perspectives on harm, pleasure, and care work.
Some of the topics and curiosities explored in Core Group include:
- What can queer & trans organizing look like? What are our personal and collective contributions to our movements?
- What can we learn from our histories and bring with us into our futures?
- How can harm reduction strategies, pleasure, and care inform our movements?
Core Group members meet online weekly, including attending monthly events held in our communities. All Core Group members receive an honorarium of $500 for participation.
Queer Artivism Circle
Artivism combines art with activism! Join us as we learn about artivism and community care! We'll covering HIV artivism, kitchen table organizing, harm reduction, and abolitionist care. Each week features different examples of artivism with dedicated art time for us to make our own zines! QAC is a cohort-based program that meets online each week. Supplies and honorarium provided ✂️❣️
Research Opportunities
Occasionally, Mycelium shares opportunities to participate in research relevant to our communities.
Social Events
The Mycelium team is excited to be offering a wide range of social events online and in these communities year-round! We ask folks attending our Lower Mainland events to please wear a mask. Free N95s are available!
You can also follow us on Facebook at Mycelium and on instagram @myceliumbc to find out what’s coming up in a location near you!
Social events range from make-up tutorials, picnics, craft circles, movie screenings, nature walks and much more. All events are organized to meet the current provincial health standards and will include access to masks and hand sanitizer.