First Light St. John's Friendship Centre Inc.

Published purpose

Through this 51-month project, First Light St. John’s Friendship Centre (First Light) will increase its ability to prevent and address gender-based violence (GBV) against Indigenous women, girls, or 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Newfoundland and Labrador. This will be achieved by investing in their organizational capacity through recruitment and training opportunities, managing action circles with partners, community members and allies in relation to priority Calls for Change, and building partnerships with the business community. Furthermore, First Light will complete policy research to support the implementation of priority Calls for Change, conduct cross-sectorial provincial outreach and enhance the organization’s data systems. By the end of the project, First Light will have strengthened their capacity to prevent and address GBV against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Newfoundland and Labrador. With the supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, First Light will establish the Voices and Relations Team to embed Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBTQQIA+ lived experience in justice and health systems reform, strengthening grassroots leadership, and building it into First Light’s ongoing advocacy structures. They will plan and host seasonal Gatherings of Voices to strengthen public accountability, community leadership, and the organization’s coalition-building capacity by engaging institutional partners in dialogue on systemic drivers of GBV. Additionally, First Light will develop and pilot experiential learning modules at the Lunar Inn to mobilize GBV-related policy research findings, and documenting lessons that will guide future GBV prevention efforts and systems-level reforms. Through this they will further advance Gender Equality.