INTRODUCTION TO OUR PORTAL

Welcome to The Peer Support Network (Toronto) - a space for Peer Support Workers, Navigators, Healers, Specialists, Animators and more … to connect ! If this is your first time in Slack, welcome! 

 Slack is an easy-to-use instant messaging program to keep in touch, network, learn from each other, share resources, and coordinate around organizing ourselves in the Peer Movement. This guide includes community norms and directions on how to navigate this easy Portal.  

 COMMUNITY NORMS   

 This is a safe and caring space: In this stressful time, doing stressful work we’re all here to support one another and build resilience in this moment. Let’s maintain respect and care for one another while we do this work. 

 We vet and cite our sources: When we share news or information, we include a link to the source of that information. That way we make sure we are sharing accurate, credible information. 

 GETTING STARTED ON SLACK

One of the nice things about Slack is that it doesn’t take long to feel comfortable messaging and navigating your way around.  The best way to do this is to click on the left side hashtags like: # welcome, # announcements, # training-and-more-meetings, and # good vibes. 

 You can add a photo to your Profile.  Then click on the # welcome to add your pronouns, organization if applicable, Peer title – there are so many – Navigator, Worker, Personal Support Worker/Peer Supporter…and share a brief message here to introduce yourself.  The Slack software works on your smartphone, on a laptop or desktop. It is available as an app  that you can download on your computer or phone. 

 TERMS AND TIPS

 Channel

A channel in Slack is like a “room” for discussions, usually arranged around a topic of discussion. This is the main difference between Slack and other sharing platforms such as Facebook.

 When there's new activity in a channel you're apart of, it will be highlighted in your sidebar. When someone really wants you to see the new activity in that channel, there will be a notification ‘dot’ next to it.

 We’ll create channels as we go along when a topic is specific enough to fall outside of an existing channel and we’ll revisit this as a group.  Taking an organic approach to this usually works and we won’t sweat some overlap.

 Private Channel

 Like a regular channel, but where you can invite a group member to reply just to you. 

 @Anne @Sam @Name

To send a notification to a specific person inside a channel, type @ and then the person’s name like above.  If you would like to reach your Portal host, it’s @Elizabeth.

 DM

Direct/private message between you and one or more others. If you need to name a group DM (direct message) you can use a Private Channel.

 @here

If you type @here before your message it only notifies people that are online and active.

 /open

Opens a new channel.

 /leave

Drop out of a channel.

 /collapse

Hides all images and GIFs in a channel. Useful for when you're scrolling through a long channel…

 /remind

Set reminders for yourself and others. Super powerful.

 /giphy [WORD]

Giphy roulette! Inserts a gif associated with the word or phrase of your choice. The best.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

Notification settings

You can customize these. You can set push notifications to your phone, do not disturb/sleeping hours, and more.

 Slack voice & video calls 

They are a thing -- just click the little phone symbol in the top bar in any conversation or channel. The quality is pretty good. To activate video, click the video icon in the bottom bar.  ZOOM meetings, webinars and more are all available on our Slack Portal. 

 What is a Slackbot?

 A Slackbot is a friendly ‘bot’. You can ask Slackbot simple questions, but it may be easier to go directly to the Help Centre to find more information.  For example, how to edit a message you have posted.