Start your Positive Leadership Development Institute (PLDI) journey in 2020. Core Leadership Training supports people living with HIV (PLHIV) to realize their individual leadership potential and helps to strengthen a network of PLHIV leaders in British Columbia. Core Leadership is the prerequisite for other PLDI training events.
We had planned to offer Core Training in 2020 at Loon Lake in Maple Ridge, on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie) people. We had scheduled two training events- one for spring (June 18-21) and one for fall (November 12-15), but we unfortunately have had to cancel these training dates.
With the arrival of COVID-19 and restrictions on face-to-face gatherings, we are rethinking, and working on virtual training events. We are adapting to the new normal-for-now, and excited to be focusing on a whole new method of supporting leaders to realize their potential. We will feature updates here and via PAN Weekly News, our weekly newsletter. Subscribe at the bottom of the page.
What is the Positive Leadership Development Institute?
The Positive Leadership Development Institute (PLDI) is a multi-module training program for people living with HIV and offers an opportunity to identify and develop leadership skills. PAN works in an ongoing partnership with the Ontario AIDS Network and COCQ-SIDA (Quebec) to deliver the PLDI trainings in BC, Ontario and Quebec.
The four modules of the training are:
- Core Leadership Training
- Communication Skills Training
- Bored? Get on Board! (Board/organizational governance)
- Mental Health First Aid
Core Leadership Training seeks to answer the question: “Who am I as a Leader?”
The three main goals of the training are:
1. To identify personal values and philosophy;
2. To develop leadership skills and practices;
3. To gain community knowledge and awareness.
The curriculum objectives for the training are for participants to have the opportunity:
• To understand the 5 principles and 10 commitments of leadership
• To realize individual leadership potential
• To participate in building a network of leaders within the PLHIV community
• To realize the potential and strengths that each individual brings to the network
• To learn about and practice leadership skills in a safe environment
• To inspire others to become leaders
• To encourage participants to take on facilitator and mentoring roles within the community
• To expand participants awareness of our community
Important: It must be emphasized that the PLDI trainings are professional development opportunities and not retreats. The Core Leadership Training will take place over the course of four days, and these days are very structured and intensive. While there are scheduled breaks, the days are quite long and people attending the training are expected to be present and participating for the duration. This training is therefore recommended for people whose physical and mental health is at a place that they can fully participate.
Due to the location of the training, if for any reason someone decides to withdraw, or is dismissed from the training, they agree to remain at Loon Lake until the bus departs and returns to Vancouver. In this instance the individual may still partake in meals provided to those participating in the training as well as remain in their assigned accommodation.
Who is eligible to attend?
In order to attend, a person must be living with HIV/AIDS and a resident in British Columbia. Applicants must also have the endorsement of a PAN member agency or healthcare provider practicing in BC. PAN is committed to ensuring diverse representation including women and Indigenous PLHIV. Core Leadership Training can be beneficial for PLHIV both new and experienced in HIV work.
What is the application process?
There are 18 seats available for each training.
All persons interested in taking the training must complete and submit an application form. After you’ve reviewed all the information on this page, you’ll see a link to the application page. We prefer that all applications be submitted through the PAN website. This makes the work of our volunteer Selection Committee members a bit smoother. If necessary, we will accept applications via email: see download documents and instructions after the link for the online application.
This year we are accepting applications on an ongoing basis, and ask you indicate your preferred session on the form. Should your application be successful, we’ll do our best to offer you your preferred session, though we can’t guarantee it.
By submitting an application, a person is indicating that they agree to the Code of Conduct & Financial Guidelines. Please read these through before applying; failure to adhere to guidelines may result in your sponsoring organization being charged a fee.
We are asking for official support/endorsement from the Executive Director of a PAN member agency/organization or healthcare provider for each submitted application. There is a space to indicate that endorsement on the application form.
Important – By endorsing someone’s application, this means that the Executive Director:
1. Recommends the applicant for this professional development (not retreat) opportunity; and
2. Understands that PAN is not in a position to provide per diems or additional meals for those attending the trainings; and
3. Agrees to the $150.00 fee established for the training (see below); and
4. Agrees to the “no show” policy that has been established for this training (see below).
Who will decide who gets to attend the training?
All applications will be reviewed by our volunteer Selection Committee comprised of PLHIV and it is the Selection Committee that will decide who is best suited to attend each training. A small wait-list will be created as well.
Who delivers the training?
Training is delivered by members of the BC PLDI Training Team.
What is the fee for the training?
The PAN member organization, or other endorsing partner or organization who wish to support the applicant living with HIV to attend the training from their agency or organization agrees to pay a fee of $150 per person.
We do not want this to represent a barrier to PLHIV from being able to attend the training, so some flexibility will be in place for cases where paying this amount would present a true hardship for the PAN-member agency or organization in question.
An invoice for the fee will be sent to the Executive Director or endorsing organization via email. All fees are due to PAN prior to the start of the training, in order to confirm a person’s attendance. Fees will be refunded in the event a person is unable to attend the training, provided notice is received by PAN 5 business days prior to the start of the training. After that date the fees are non-refundable.
What other costs are covered? What costs are not covered?
PAN will cover the following costs for all successful applicants: long-distance or local ground or air travel to and from Vancouver; bus transport from meeting point in Vancouver to and from training facility at Loon Lake Lodge; accommodation and meals while at the training; hotel room pre and post-training, for persons travelling from outside of the Vancouver area, where required.
We will also provide child care subsidies wherever possible, which is up to $50 per day. If your application is accepted, please contact us to talk about this in advance.
“No Show” Policy
We only have the resources to provide this training to a very limited number of PLHIV, and hope that we will not have any “no shows”. All accepted applicants are responsible for notifying PAN of any cancellations within 5 business days of their scheduled arrival in order to avoid charge. Details will be sent to successful applicants.
What might participants expect to get out of attendance at the PLHIV Leadership Development Training?
The feedback from past BC training events has been profound. Participants expressed a great deal of satisfaction with the training and the vast majority of participants have indicated that the training has encouraged them to increase their involvement in work/volunteering. Participants also stated that the Leadership training increased their confidence at work/when volunteering, with friends and family and with professional/health care providers/service providers.
If after having read all of the information above, and having reviewed the Application Form, Code of Conduct and Financial Guidelines, if you still have questions, please email us at [email protected] (Marc Seguin). On behalf of our volunteer trainers we would like to thank you for taking the time to consider this worthwhile opportunity.
Review Code of Conduct & Financial Guidelines.
Sample of Release of Liability
Click here to go to online application page
Option to download application
For those that can’t apply online, applications should be emailed with the subject line: PLDI application (your last name). We will obtain the necessary signatures with all successful applicants. Applications should be sent to the following email address: [email protected]
Application in Word document for those who can’t access computer.
We greatly appreciate the vision of our government funders and their ongoing commitment to supporting the work of the Pacific AIDS Network. In particular we gratefully acknowledge the Public Health Agency of Canada – HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.