Darla/D Matombe, BA, AEIP – Workshop Facilitator

Availability: Canada, USA
Languages: English, American Sign Language (ASL)
Specializations: Sexual and gender diversity, intersectionality, diversity, equity and inclusion in social services and education, allyship, communication, individual and group humility and empathy, ethical and consensual relations.

Darla Matombe (pronouns: they/he/she) is a training facilitator, sex educator, and a facilitator mentor.  D facilitates training through a Deaf-positive, queer positive, body positive, culturally appreciative, de-settling lens. In all facets of their life, D works to dismantle barriers surrounding people who are marginalized and devalued by society.

Growing up on a farm in Saskatchewan, D began working as a coach, managing their local skating-club coaching team, developing training and overseeing all club coaches. After relocating to Winnipeg, D founded and was a long-standing organizer of a Winnipeg grassroots organization for young adults exploring and learning about sexual diversity. There, D delivered and coordinated training sessions on sexuality topics from an inclusive, ethical and sex-positive framework. Additionally, D also provided ethical oversight to a network of sexuality organizations. Darla’s strengths include facilitating team-strengthening exercises and empathy building practices, trauma sensitive diversity training, racial equity practices, and accessibility evaluation.

Darla advocates for the recognition and dismantling of systemic oppression and colonization. D promotes human rights, equity, and appreciation of diversity. As a queer and gender-queer professional who deeply values allyhood with communities of racialized people, neuro-divergent people, and people disabled by societal barriers, D is keen to increase awareness on the important topics of sexuality, equity and inclusion as part of the Diversity Essentials team.