Events
LGBTQIA+ Social Justice Education Track (Session 1)
Date and Time
Tuesday, January 12, 2021 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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Description
The LGBTQIA+ Social Justice Education Track offers a progressive two-day, cohort-based learning opportunity for community stakeholders and organizations who seek to build initial awareness, knowledge, and actionable organizational strategies to support LGBTQIA+ youth.
In support of the True Colors Fund initiative, the program seeks to equip youth-serving agencies with staff who are knowledgeable and informed about the needs and strengths of LGBTQIA+ youth so that agencies will be able to maximize their mission by creating an atmosphere where inclusion and equity are central. We view participants as experts in their practice and thought partners in discussing organizational specifics.
The first half of the training will engage participants in a broad conversation around diversity, equity, power, and privilege to understand how one's own identities impact our ability to work effectively with people different from and similar to ourselves. Our facilitators will translate this learning into LGBTQIA+ inclusive concepts and practices including virtual best-practices for serving clients and community in our current context.
These trainings are supported by a generous grant from the Our LGBTQ Fund of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation.
- Tuesdays, January 12 and 26, 2021
- Zoom Workshop
- Limited to 40 participants
- Registration Fee: $20
- 7.5 Social Work CEU's are available for an additional $10 (Grand Valley State University School of Social Work, an accredited social work education program, is authorized by Administrative Rule 338.2965 to award Michigan social work continuing education contact hours.)
Learning Outcomes
- Develop an understanding of one’s own social identities
- Understand one’s own positionality related to sexual orientation and gender identity
- Understand how one’s relationship to power, privilege, and oppression may affect personal and professional interactions
- Comprehend the differences among and diversity within gender, sex, and sexual orientation
- Gain allyship skills and strategies to support LGBTQIA+ youth
- Identify opportunities to shift institutional policies and practices to better serve LGBTQIA+ youth
- Gain an awareness of issues impacting the LGBTQIA+ community
Consultants/Trainers
- Jen Hsu-Bishop (she/her), MPA, GVSU Director, Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center
- Marla Wick (she/her), Ph.D., GVSU Associate Director, Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center
Those who complete the program will receive an award of completion and eligibility to participate in a train-the-trainer program (invitation only).
Who Should Attend?
LGBTQIA+ Youth Service Providers defined broadly as anyone who may interact and serve LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13-24 (from the True Colors recommendations), examples include the following sectors:
- Housing support
- Mental health
- Educators/school administrators
- Healthcare
- Juvenile justice/criminal legal system
- Social work/casework
- Violence prevention and services
- Social services
We encourage teams and employees of all levels of an organization (direct-service providers, supervisors, organizational leaders, administrators, volunteers, interns) to attend this training together. We invite those interested in creating sustained, long-term change in their organizations and communities to join us.
Training Schedule
Day 1
- Introduction
- Social Justice 101
- Intersectionality
- Queer and Trans 101: Part I
Day 2
- Queer and Trans 101: Part II
- Considerations for LGBTQIA+ Youth Service Providers
- Thriving Social Justice Organizations, Policy Considerations, and Planning