Grad Minds

Zoom Townhall Meeting

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Attendees:
Jeffrey Lynham Co-Chair
Esther Silk Co-Chair
Mao Thao Secretary
Gabrielle Member
Karen Member
Alexa Member

Meeting will be called to order at 5:34 pm

1. Meeting comes to order

a. Townhalls are an opportunity for graduate students to be able to voice their
concerns or questions. How can we improve Graduate student mental health
and wellness at UofT? Are there any issues you would like Grad Minds to take
action on? How would you like to help Grad Minds achieve this mission?

2. Addressed concerns and questions from members (Jeffrey and Esther)

a. Gabrielle
▪ Our new Yoga and Mediation instructor
▪ Graduated from yoga teacher studio – power yoga and hot yoga
▪ Once a month over Zoom will host Yoga Events for students
▪ Do some meditation component
▪ All level’s class and will talk about modification
▪ Tentative date: Monday October 26, 2020
▪ Day Gabrielle starts may change, as a yoga teacher you need to have
insurance
▪ The other yoga instructor, Josh, paid weekly yoga sessions on Wednesday
at 12 pm
▪ Will have to promote this activity, if needed will delay the event by one
week depending on yoga insurance
▪ What time of day would be best?
• Maybe early evening, so everyone can make it
▪ Gabrielle will send us a headshot, blurb so we can promote this.
b. Karen
▪ Want to learn about Grad minds and what initiatives we’re running
▪ Jeffrey shared about our Biweekly workshop series
 ▪ Have some volunteer opportunities – 5 options
1. Shared circle facilitators
a. people coming together to discuss and learn from each
other, have different topics that we talk about
2. Online destressing activities
3. Advocacy working group – want to advocate for better mental
health
a. Story portal
b. Help students easily access mental health supports
4. Peer support initiative
a. Do online training and then launch a different website,
featuring peer support person
5. Help with updating the website
a. More resources to feature on the website
c. Alexa
▪ Trying to get more involved in UofT’s community
▪ She is a part of the volunteer groups in Grad Minds
▪ Shared a file where people can share anonymous submissions:
https://qfreeaccountssjc1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8Iet16lDFol2W
Bn

3. Townhall Meeting Turnout (Esther, Jeffrey and Mao)

• What we did last year? We had our Executive meetings and invited others to join us
• Having townhall by itself is a new format
• What to do about our low townhall meetings turnout?
o Mandate ask that we hold monthly meetings
▪ Meetings need to open to all students, so students can have a say in
what’s going on
▪ Must occur at least once per calendar month
o Ideas: Make it like office hours? Cancel townhall meetings, open executive
meetings?
o Decided on having meeting registered as an Eventbrite, where people
register to come. Help us gauge how many people are coming
▪ If there’s 5 people or more we can set up a meeting
▪ If there’s less than 5 people we’ll email the participants

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Mao Thao
Secretary