The Latest
Articles, quizzes and personal stories on hope, healing, gratitude and giving
It isn't even to be openhearted and give your trust to others while letting them in. This quiz will get you thinking about the power of vulnerability and how it might benefit you. share Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on linkedin LinkedIn Share on pinterest Pinterest
It isn't even to be openhearted and give your trust to others while letting them in. This quiz will get you thinking about the power...
In Part One, we looked at the ways that you...
Karla's Korner
Stories, rants and lessons on living with cancer from our Stand Up Speak Up Co-Founder
The Science of Healing Thoughts
This title was handily provided by an article in the magazine, Scientific American. Science journalist Jo Marchant brought her considerable…
How I Confronted My Bias
When I started my company, my first goal was that I wanted to build something that was designed to give…
Karla & Zach Train in Mental Health
One of the causes close to both of our founders, Karla and Zach’s hearts is mental health awareness and working…
My bed is my enemy and my best friend
There is a relationship in my life that I have never talked about out loud or really admitted to myself…
Steamed Prunes and My Sexy Poop Dance
If you have ever browsed through our Circle of Strength Workshop Series, you might have wondered why I included a…
How To Focus On People NOT Their Mental Illness
Lisa Klein is co-director, writer, and producer of OF TWO MINDS, a film about the person behind mental illness. Klein…
This is an honest look at the rollercoaster of cancer treatment.
I am grateful for my cancer meds everyday. I am grateful that I live in a place where they are…
Midnight Musings: The End Is Looming
Strange how I feel the same age as my parents. Not in birth years, but physically, mentally and emotionally. Since…
The Making of Finding Shelley: Amber's Story
One day, 32 years ago, my brother’s grade 10 high school friend went missing. This was a time of no…
Reflections from My Youth: Communication
I want to share some recollections of my youth and while this is therapeutic for me, I hope you’ll find…
Secrets Can Shape Us
Part One: The Secret *Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault* We all have secrets. Some don’t hurt anyone and are small enough…
Why an Ally Collection?
When we were preparing to launch StandUpSpeakUp.ca, I knew that I wanted to add some new products that would really…
Turning Inward
Articles and quizzes on self discovery
Quiz: How Open Are You to Vulnerability?
It isn’t even to be openhearted and give your trust to others while letting them in. This quiz will get…
Quiz: What Is Your Next Big Move?
We are all changing and evolving all the time. It is inevitable. Find out more about where in your life…
The Science of Healing Thoughts
This title was handily provided by an article in the magazine, Scientific American. Science journalist Jo Marchant brought her considerable…
Quiz: How Can You Explore More Happiness?
It might seem like an easy task to name the things that most make you happy. But, the truth is…
A Celebration of Gratitude
Gratitude was always something I wanted you to have in your life. I have always wanted you to understand how…
3 Ways to Prepare for Stressful Times
The past year and a half have taught us all of the different ways that we can try to protect…
What Does Self Improvement Even Mean?
If the Circle of Strength event was one thing, it was unabashedly and completely Karla. Down to the décor and…
Self Care Is Expanding Your Horizons
As we have learned throughout our self care series, practicing self care is different for everyone and is based on…
Redefining Selfish in Self Care
In our previous articles on self care, we have looked at what exactly it is and why it is necessary.…
Making Time for Exercise
The majority of us were forced to rework our schedules and priorities during the pandemic. Now, as we start to…
Lessons in Happiness from a Toddler
You could never really call me a happy person. Like anyone, I have my happy moments. But I’ve often just…
Present but Focused
One take away that I think many of us got from the Circle of Strength event that Karla hosted in…
Why Laughter Is My Lifeblood
For me, humor has always been a beacon calling me back to the light. Even in the darkest moments, I…
Why Self Care Isn't Selfish
As caregivers, parents, workers, women or just as members of units of people and communities, we are taught that we…
Why Is Self Care Important?
We hear so often that if we want to be truly content and healthy, we need to practice self care.…
Quiz: What Kind of Feminist Are You?
You believe in the power of women and that we need to create societies, systems and communities where people of…
What Is Self Care?
For years, we have heard about self-care and how important it can be to mental and physical health, to maintaining…
Be Brave
Anyone who has met Karla is aware of her bravery and fearlessness. But what I learned from her on the…
What Does It Mean to Be Grateful?
Working for Karla has always been an experience that had me exploring different sides of myself or the world. Whether…
Why Sunshine May Not Actually Make You Happier
Every year around this time friendly reminders to get outside to enjoy the sun are in overwhelming supply online. While…
How To Know You've Found Your Soul Sister
Friends enter our lives for many reasons. Some come and go, serving a purpose for only a little while, but…
Kindness Stories: Jamey's Journey
The Stand Up Speak Up Kindness Stories series was created to bring awareness to the actions and good work of…
Journal Prompt of the Week: Describe a Success
*Our weekly prompts are meant to help you in your journaling practice. Use them as you choose. You can either…
Be Kind for You! See the Benefits
It seems a little ridiculous at first to need to ask adults to be kind to each other. After all,…
Looking Outward
Stories about the world, issues we are passionate about and amazing people
Staying the Course & Advocate Burnout – Part Two: Creating Community & Self Care
In Part One, we looked at the ways that you can stay engaged and focused throughout your advocacy work to…
Staying the Course & Advocate Burnout – Part One: Focusing Your Advocacy Work
While certain topics move in and out of the public eye with current events, being an advocate is a lifelong…
Finding the People Already Doing the Work
In these modules, we have said again and again (and will continue to say) that the best sources of information…
Advocacy in Action: Researching Exercise
Research and learning is one of the best things that you can do as an advocate. Not only do you…
Your Advocacy Tools
As we highlighted in our Allyship 101 Workshop, finding your role as an advocate is as much about your own…
What Does It Mean to Act as an Advocate?
“We need people to stand up and take on the problems borne of oppression as their own, without remove or…
Ways to Start Confronting Your Bias
We all hold biases and if we are not careful will make decisions based on them. While we might fundamentally…
Why Confront Your Bias
To test whether you have any implicit biases, consider the following scenarios. How would you feel if: You observe a…
The Nature of Bias
The concept of equality – of everyone being afforded the same rights and freedoms and treating everyone with the same…
How I Confronted My Bias
When I started my company, my first goal was that I wanted to build something that was designed to give…
To all parents, from your child suffering from depression
By Noor Islam, an Honours Kinesiology Student, minoring in Medical Physiology at the University of Waterloo To all parents, No…
Quiz: What Is the Root of Your Prejudice?
We are not born with prejudice, but we are taught. Prejudice can be conquered through education and experience. What is…
Quiz: How Do You Handle Prejudice at Work?
Our workplaces can be both one of the most important and the most precarious places to be a strong and…
Quiz: How Do You Deal With Your Prejudices?
Unconscious bias and existing prejudices are things we always need to be working to eliminate in ourselves. How do you…
Quiz: Is Your Workplace Equal for All?
Becoming an effective ally means trying to boost the equality and fight against discrimination, bias and unequal systems throughout your…
3 Small Changes with Big Impact
Being an ally for universal equality and representation and a conscious citizen is something that takes work and attention every…
5 Good Ways of Building Effective Allyship (and 2 Bad Ones...)
Becoming and maintaining yourself as an effective and engaged ally for any group, person or organization is something that takes…
LGBTQIA2S+ Quiz & Glossary
As well as our first pride month blog, we have created a glossary of terms for your reference. Once…
My Coming Out Story
*The author of this piece wishes to remain anonymous. I felt different than many of my friends growing up. I…
Happy Pride Month! Let's Talk About Language
“Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start.” -Jason Collins (Former professional NBA player) Happy…
Turning My Life Around After a Rough Start!
I am a child of the 60’s, grew up in Los Angeles in a lower income area. My mother left…
Missing And Murdered Native Women: The Delaine Copenace Story
The following blog post was written by Drew Penner, a reporter who took a close look at the disappearance of…
Kindness Stories: Jamey's Journey
The Stand Up Speak Up Kindness Stories series was created to bring awareness to the actions and good work of…
This is How Great and F*cked it Gets: The One Year Lockdown Anniversary
By Carol Devine, Humanitarian Practitioner, Writer and Researcher *The main image is plastic garbage Carol collected on a Cleanup Svalbard…
The Midlife Call to “Speak Up” in a Way Uniquely Our Own
By Susan Heinrich Perhaps you’ve found your way to Stand Up Speak Up because you wanted to learn about their…
Quiz: Can You Recognize Sexual Harassment?
In the age of the MeToo Movement, improving the dialogue surrounding sexual harassment is necessary to move forward into a…
Killed In RECORD Numbers: Why Indigenous Women Are Victims Of ASTONISHING Violence
The Canadian Department of Justice reports that Aboriginal females are more than three times as likely to become victims of…
Quizzes
Test your knowledge on social justice and world issues, find out more about yourself
Quiz: How Open Are You to Vulnerability?
It isn’t even to be openhearted and give your trust to others while letting them in. This quiz will get…
Quiz: What Is Your Next Big Move?
We are all changing and evolving all the time. It is inevitable. Find out more about where in your life…
Quiz: How Can You Explore More Happiness?
It might seem like an easy task to name the things that most make you happy. But, the truth is…
Quiz: What Is the Root of Your Prejudice?
We are not born with prejudice, but we are taught. Prejudice can be conquered through education and experience. What is…
Quiz: How Do You Handle Prejudice at Work?
Our workplaces can be both one of the most important and the most precarious places to be a strong and…
Quiz: How Do You Deal With Your Prejudices?
Unconscious bias and existing prejudices are things we always need to be working to eliminate in ourselves. How do you…
Quiz: What Kind of Feminist Are You?
You believe in the power of women and that we need to create societies, systems and communities where people of…
Quiz: Is Your Workplace Equal for All?
Becoming an effective ally means trying to boost the equality and fight against discrimination, bias and unequal systems throughout your…
Gratitude Workshop: Mini Quiz #3
Our Gratitude Workshop was inspired by our co-founder Karla’s Circle of Strength event, which brought together over 100 women from…
Gratitude Workshop: Mini Quiz #2
Our Gratitude Workshop was inspired by our co-founder Karla’s Circle of Strength event, which brought together over 100 women from…
Gratitude Workshop: Mini Quiz #1
Our Gratitude Workshop was inspired by our co-founder Karla’s Circle of Strength event, which brought together over 100 women from…
Allyship 101 Workshop: Mini Quiz #3
Our Allyship 101 Workshop was designed to explore what effective allyship looks like today. Learn more about barriers to allyship…
Allyship 101 Workshop: Mini Quiz #2
Our Allyship 101 Workshop was designed to explore what effective allyship looks like today. Learn more about privilege, intersectionality and…
Allyship 101 Workshop: Mini Quiz #1
Our Allyship 101 Workshop was designed to explore what effective allyship looks like today. Learn more about what defines an…
Quiz: Can You Recognize Sexual Harassment?
In the age of the MeToo Movement, improving the dialogue surrounding sexual harassment is necessary to move forward into a…