Honor Adams has
a BA in Spanish and Women's Studies from SUNY New Paltz where she studied
Spanish at the Universidad de Oviedo in Spain and interned for the Battered
Women's Services and the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Honor continues to work towards her passions, advocacy and justice, through
her work as a Community Educator for the Domestic Violence Education and
Prevention.
Rich Agostinho is a student at the UConn School of Social Work
and a graduate of Trinity College. He is working at Noah Webster Micro
Society Magnet School in Hartford as a social work intern, and has worked at
the Grace Webb School. Rich is a former member of the Board of Directors of
True Colors, Inc. and is on the Board of the National Youth Advocacy
Coalition. As a youth activist, Rich was an organizer for the Queer Prom and
the True Colors Conference and one of the organizers of a politically active
youth group called Queer & Active. He has presented at National Lesbian
and Gay Task Force's Creating Change,
NYAC'S Youth Summit, and True Colors.
Nathan is the
Community Programs Manager at the Trevor Project and is based in New York City.
Nathan speaks to youth and adults across the country about The Trevor Project
and how to create more supportive environments for youth. Nathan oversees the
wide array of education programs offered by the Trevor Project as well as
developing and implementing new programs.
Ryan Cassata is
a 17 year old transgender activist and musician from New York. Ryan has
spoken at over 25 schools and conferences and has played over 200 concerts.
You may have seen Ryan on The Tyra
Banks Show or The Larry King Show.
Ryan has two CD's out, "Distraction" EP and "The Theme Of
Humankind" LP.
J.R. is the Youth Pride Coordinator for CANDLE in Rockland
County, and organizes retreats for LGBTQ youth, including Common Threads,
Queer Spirit Camp, and Change the World: A Young Queer Activists' Retreat. He
feels privileged to be Professionally Queer - providing education, support
and advocacy for LGBTQ youth in the Hudson Valley. J. R. is very excited to
be back at PrideWorks for a 2nd year to help you begin your
understanding of all things queer.
Rob is an
active volunteer currently serving as the Co-chair for the GLSEN Hudson
Valley Chapter and is on the GLSEN National Advisory Council. Rob is a
Founding Member involved in the development of the Hudson Valley LGBTQ
Community Center and has facilitated support groups for people living with
HIV/AIDS and numerous youth programs. Rob is employed as the Statewide
Program Manager for the Children's Centers in New York courts, providing
quality, drop-in childcare and linkages to services for over 56,000 children
annually. He is a graduate of New York University and holds a Masters in
Counseling from Mercy College.
Dr. Susan A.
Conte is a clinical social worker and an associate professor at the College
of New Rochelle where she teaches graduate students in the Guidance and Counseling,
and Mental Health Counseling programs. Her research on self-injury was driven
by her love of working as a counselor of adolescents and young adults. She
believes that her clients are the experts and she wants to help them to speak
for themselves about their experiences. She is very concerned that young
people who are LGBTQ have higher rates of at-risk and suicidal behaviors than
their heterosexual peers. She would like to understand why and to find ways
to help.
Meredith is the
Assistant Head of School and the first Director of Diversity at RCDS. For
over 15 years she has worked in independent schools. Meredith has spearheaded
a number of important diversity initiatives, including drafting a diversity
mission statement and a diversity strategic plan. She also designed and
conducted a two-year diversity audit of RCDS's entire PreK-12 curriculum,
which included collaboration with 10 area schools to produce a review of best
practices in curricular diversity. Meredith's training in Anthropology and
her doctoral work in Education, Culture, and Society continue to fuel her
passion for diversity work with multiple constituencies.
Eva Dolgin,
MSW, is a Deputy Director of Programs at My Sisters' Place, where she
supervises all training, education, and prevention programs, including the
Domestic Violence Education and Prevention Program, Operation Safety, for
medical providers, the Sister-In-Law volunteer accompaniment program, and the
Self Sufficiency Program that helps survivors envision and move towards
self-sufficient lives. Prior to joining My Sisters' Place, Eva worked as the
LGBTQ Coordinator and Advocate at Victims Assistance Services, where she
worked directly with victims of crime, providing advocacy, counseling, and
specialized LGBTQ services and trainings. She is a facilitator of TRUST, a
support group for LGBTQ and allied teens, and Queer Spirit Camp for LGBTQ
people aged 18-24. Eva received her BA from Vassar College with a major in
Women's Studies and a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and received
her MSW from Fordham University's Graduate School of Social Service.
Tom is a freshman
in college and has participated in a number of LGBTQ conferences and
retreats. He is excited to be presenting at PrideWorks for the first time! As
the result of many of Tom's experiences, both amazing, and not-so-nice, he
has come to know himself better and hopes to help others on their journey. It
is one of Tom's goals to help everyone be more open-minded, respectful, and self-aware. You can
read more about Tom in his interview for www.wearethyouth.org at www.wearetheyouthproject.blospot.com/2011/03/my-story-tom.html
Donna Festa, LCSW, is a graduate of the Fordham University
School of Social Work. For the last 12 years, she has been the Coordinator of
the Gateway Program, a Mental Health Program for the LGBTQ community at
Westchester Medical Center. She is currently on the faculty of the National
Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Westchester Division. She has been
on the faculty at Fordham University, NY Medical College and Westchester
Community College.
Dr. Douglas
Geiger is the Vice President for Student Affairs at Manhattanville
College. He is also a member of the Westchester County LGBT Advisory Board.
Dr. Geiger has worked in higher education for 22 years, also serving as
adjunct faculty and higher education consultant.
Presenter:
Pat Griffin
Affiliation:
Changing The
Game: The GLSEN Sports Project - www.sports.glsen.org
Pat Griffin is Project
Director for Changing the Game: The Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network
Sports Project. She wrote a book entitled Strong
Women, Deep Closets: Lesbians and Homophobia in Sports. She played
basketball, field hockey and swam at the University of Maryland. She coached
high school basketball, field hockey and softball in Maryland, and coached
swimming and diving at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
With over 9
years of experience in the non-profit world and a lifetime spent using the
latest gadgets and online services, Jake enjoys the challenge of finding new
ways to bridge the gap between people and technology. Throughout his time at
The Fresh Air Fund - one of New York City's foremost not-for-profits - Jake
has taken countless opportunities to educate youth on the internet's
advantages and dangers.
Dominique, who
has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, graduated from the School of
Visual Arts in 2008. She was instrumental in the development of the
techniques in this workshop, having come up with several effective
bully-deflecting techniques after being relentlessly bullied in school. She
also illustrated 15 Ways to ZAP a
Bully!.
For the past 7
years Jackie has presented anti-bullying programs to students and parents
across Long Island. She wrote 15
Ways to ZAP a Bully! because her daughter, who was bullied
relentlessly in middle school, came up with a general strategy for taking the
fun out of bullying for the bullies. Her ideas are the basis for this
workshop.
Presenter:
Glenis
Hunter
Affiliation:
My Sister's Place
e-mail:
ghunter@mspny.org
About the Presenter:
Glenis has a BA in
Psychology and Women's Studies from SUNY New Paltz where she worked as a peer
counselor and student trainer for the Oasis program, a suicide and homicide assessment
program. She also has been a victim's advocate and residential and hotline
counselor at the Grace Smith House, a domestic violence shelter. Her passion
for advocacy and prevention education is evident in her current role as a
Domestic Violence Education and Prevention Community Educator.
Sam Iwen is a youth leader from the Boston area. He has been
working with youth organizations since he was 17 years old. He has a variety
of interests and is generally fun to be around.
Chip James,
LCSW, is a trainer for CANDLE, a social worker in Clarkstown
Schools and a psychotherapist in Nyack. He is a speaker for the American
Psychological Association, and the National Association of Social Workers.
Chip has been a founding member of the Common Threads Youth Empowerment
Retreat for LGBTQ teens, and has been a facilitator for TRUST, a weekly group
for LGBTQ teens and allies, both administered by CANDLE
Reverend Maddalone entered
seminary as a second career student after many years of discernment following
her decision to join the Presbyterian Church. She earned a Masters of
Divinity from Union Theological Seminary and a Masters in Sacred Theology
with an emphasis in Social Ethics and Preaching from Union Theological
Seminary. She was ordained in 1999.
Jen is
Sexuality Educator working with Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger
Lakes for the past four years. She has bright red hair, loves vegan baking
and is a bit of a nerd when it comes to reading things about sexuality. She
has been the facilitator for the Tompkins County LGBTQ Youth Group for the
past year and has loved every minute of it.
Anthony has
been doing HIV/AIDS Outreach and Education work for over twenty years and has
done Sexuality/Community Education for over five. He was also a special
education teacher in NYC. Anthony worked for Long Island Gay and Lesbian
Youth, educating teens and adults around issues of diversity. He has created
programs for young men in the Suffolk County probation system and conducts
male involvement workshops. Anthony also does outreach on Smart Wheels, the
PPHP mobile education van. He holds a B.A. in Sociology and Dual NYS
Certification for Social Studies and Special Education.
Kyle is the
Middle School Diversity Coordinator and a 7th and 8th
grade history teacher at RCDS, as well as a doctoral student in the
department of Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia
University. He and Stephanie Teachout helped found
the Middle School GSA at RCDS.
Cameron is a
pretty cool transboi who likes high school but is
glad to be going to college next year. This is his third year coming to
PrideWorks, and his first presenting. He thinks a lot about gender and its
implications for people, both inside the gender binary and out. He likes to
do drag -- both kinds -- and believes in fun, respect, and affirmation.
Sarah Elspeth
Patterson, M. Ed., is a sexuality educator and trainer at Planned Parenthood
of NYC. She holds an MA in Human Sexuality Education from Widener University
and a BA in Literature and Women's Studies from Rutgers University. Her
concern for the rights of LGBTQ youth began in her teenage years, when she
established her high school's first Gay-Straight Alliance. Since then, she
has worked with and trained a variety of activists, advocates and educators
around social justice for sexual minorities. Previously, she worked with
CHEST at Hunter College.
Presenter:
Kristine
Poplawski
Affiliation:
My Sister's Place
e-mail:
kpoplawski@mspny.org
About the Presenter:
Kristine is a
Licensed Social Worker currently coordinating the Domestic Violence Education
and Prevention Program at My Sisters' Place. Kristine received her MSW at
Fordham University and her BA in English and Marketing at Fairfield
University. She has worked with gender-based violence both in the United
States and throughout Eastern Africa to assist women affected by war.
Kristine has extensive experience working with youth and developing
programming, particularly with Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
ZaharaRaine is the National Community Educator for Lambda
Legal. Raine oversees the Community Education team as
it increases Lambda Legal's visibility and
participation in public events across the country including Pride
celebrations, conferences, and other public engagements. She also develops
training and education programs and curricula used by Lambda Legal's staff, partners, and the general public.
Speaker, author
and educator, JallenRix
has come a long way to be a sex expert. Growing up as a Southern Baptist, he
was taught spirituality was heavenly but sexuality was from the devil. While
obtaining a B. A. in creative arts and a minor in theology, he also went to
great lengths attempting to change his sexuality from gay to straight in an
ex-gay ministry - to no avail. That experience set him on a journey of
discovery that resulted in earning a Doctorate of Education in Sexology from
The Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco, where
he is now Associate Professor. Over the years, Jallen
has become an expert on the damaging effects of, and recovery from, the
ex-gay movement. He has appeared on TV talk shows, such as Talk or Walk and ABC's News Magazine 20/20. He pens the popular advice
column, Sex Ed in Bed. As a
sexologist, Jallen creates an accepting and safe
environment that provides support, humor and insight for a wide variety of
people to raise their awareness for a more positive and healthy sexuality.
Learn more about Jallen's background by reading his
book Ex-Gay No Way.
Emily Saltzman,
MSW, currently serves as the Adult Role Models Coordinator at Planned
Parenthood of NYC. While Emily's commitment to sexuality issues began as a
teen in the Minneapolis suburbs, her connection to a radical community of
organizers, educators and social workers in NYC has allowed her to continue
this work through an alternative framework. Building on positions previously
held at Gay Men's Health Crisis, Queers for Economic Justice and the Undoing
Racism Internship Project, Emily co-developed a Human Sexuality Competency
Needs Assessment for schools of social work.
Miyuki is a
senior in high school. She is Vice President of her GSA and has been an
active member since 9th grade. She has attended PrideWorks for 2
years, but this is her first year presenting. She has attended other
workshops and conferences, such as HHREC, SAHLS, and CrossRoads
at Columbia. She is thrilled to be a student leader, and would love to answer
any questions regarding allies, Asian-American identity, etc.
Dr. Schleyer is
a clinical psychological in private practice, working with the LGBTQ
population. She facilitates the Bisexual Group at The LOFT: LGBT Community
Services Center.
Amelia is a high
school senior with a passion for all kinds of social justice work and a love
of community organizing. She has been involved in queer activism for several
years, participating in the YES program at the LGBTQ Center, spitting about
growing up queer at various slams, leading the GSA, and running workshops at
various conferences and events on gender and sexuality.
Shane is
currently a student at the UConn School of Social Work and a graduate of
Eastern Connecticut State University. He is working as a school social worker
intern at New Britain High School, where he serves as an advisor for the Gay
Straight Alliance. He also works at the Village for Families and Children in
Hartford, CT. Shane is heavily involved in the
School of Social Work student organization and is co-chair of the PRIDE
organization. He has extensive experience working with vulnerable populations
in schools and residential settings and serves on the Board of Directors for
St. Philips house in Plainville, CT.
Rachel M.
Simon is an adjunct professor of writing, gender studies and film courses at
SUNY Purchase College, Pace University, and the college program at Bedford
Hills Correctional Facility. Dr. Simon's published poetry collections are Theory of Orange and Marginal Road.
Lyn is the
Youth Community Educator for The Advocacy Center, a domestic and sexual violence
services agency in Ithaca NY. She is a thoughtful, out of shape, coffee
drinking, country raised, butch queer, parent activist of a somewhat older
generation.
Stephanie is
the Director of Student Diversity Programs and 6th grade social
studies teacher at RCDS. She helped organize the first Day of Silence
Assembly in the Middle School and co-advises the Middle School GSA with Kyle Mitschele.
David is a
senior political science major and public policy minor at Hunter College.
Also the Lead Policy Strategist for the Center on Energy and the Environment
with the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network, David's primary interests lie in
policy research and advocacy. Having recently finished up an internship with
the Transit-Oriented Development Group at the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority, David is thrilled to have also completed an internship with the US
Department of State this past spring. David now proudly serves as president
of the Roosevelt Institute at Hunter, where he works with students to
formulate, write, and advocate for progressive public policy.
Dr. Wills
served as Superintendent of Schools in Briarcliff Manor for sixteen years
until her retirement in 2010. Prior to this, Dr. Wills was Superintendent of
Schools in Belfast, ME for five years after twenty years in diverse teaching
and administrative positions in Maine. She earned her Ph.D. from the
University of Wisconsin in Educational Administration. Dr. Wills has been
active in leadership development and management of all aspects of District
operations. She has been recognized for her mentorship of women in
administration and educational leadership. During her service at Briarcliff the
District was awarded a "Dignity Diploma" from GLSEN. Dr. Wills has
taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Maine, Orono and Fordham University and is working with the
Center for Educational Leadership at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES. She approaches
her life-work as an educator through the lens of a metaphor from Emily
Dickinson: "Dwell in Possibility."
