This
introductory session is designed to help people learn the vocabulary, enhance
their knowledge and correct any misconceptions that might exist by presenting
an overview of the LGBTQ community. Once you are prepared with the facts, you
can speak out with confidence!
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.
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
Workshop Title:
College and Me
Description:
College-bound
LGBTQ students face many personal questions and issues when choosing a
college. You may have questions or concerns even before you start the admissions
process. What questions do you or should you have during the application
process? How can you find an LGBTQ-supportive environment for your college
experience? What information should you reveal and when? We will explore all
of these college issues.
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.
Workshop Title:
Bisexuality Explored
Description:
Bisexuality is
complicated and intersects with gender, gender expression, gender identity,
culture, and race. We will discuss what bisexuality is, and what it isn't, and
we will also look at some of the sub-types, such as pansexuality
and fluidity. Be prepared for a lively discussion!
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.
Workshop Title:
Being a Genderqueer
Ally
Description:
This workshop
will explore what it means to support people who identify as genderqueer, or not-a-boy-or-a-girl. We'll have
discussions on supporting non-binary identities and an activity to learn to use
gender-neutral pronouns. All are welcome (genderqueer,
trans*, cisgender, gay, bisexual, questioning,
pansexual, straight, queer, adult, youth, etc.), regardless of involvement in
or knowledge of the genderqueer community.
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.
Workshop
Title:
Healthy Relationships for LGBTQ Youth
Description:
What makes a
healthy relationship? Knowing yourself and feeling secure are the first and best
steps on this path. Explore, learn, and share about dating, communication,
and "the closet" in youth relationships.
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.
Workshop Title:
Battling Oppression - Can Life EVER Be Fair?
Description:
Who is
oppressed? Who is doing the oppressing? How did this happen and what can we
do about it? There's something wrong with how power and privilege work today.
When we try to understand what's really going on, we're met with words and
phrases that we just can't seem to wrap our heads around. This workshop will
address these issues and more with a fun and interactive activity.
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.
Kate has led numerous workshops and
discussions on LGBTQ issues. She is an advocate and aspiring filmmaker who
wants to make the world a better place.
Workshop
Title:
I'm Beautiful Dammit!
Body Image in the LGBTQ Community
Description:
Beauty is only
skin deep? Say what? How can we be happy, creative, productive people without
feeling that we should mirror the "acceptable" images that are
forced upon us daily? Let's discuss the pleasures and pressures of our
obsession with body image.
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.
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.
Workshop Title:
Be the Change: An Advocacy Workshop
Description:
Want to be
heard? Want to make a difference? Tired of the same old answer, 'You can't
make a difference?' Follow in the footsteps of Harvey Milk and Barack Obama
and create an action campaign of your own. Come join us as we identify the
issues facing the LGBTQ community and learn ways to be the change you wish to
see.
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.
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.
Workshop Title:
The Impact of AIDS - How AIDS Has Changed Our
World
Description:
Ever since a
small article appeared in the New York Times in 1981 making mention of a 'gay
cancer,' the virus that has come to be known as HIV/AIDS has changed the face
of our planet. Called 'the most political of diseases,' HIV/AIDS has touched
not only politics, but society, religion, science, and emotions, not to
mention the lives of the individuals who have been infected and those who
love them.
This workshop
will begin with a brief survey of LGBTQ images in film. We will discuss why
queer people have been portrayed most commonly as villains, psychopaths or
sad losers, and determine how far we've come in terms of positive portrayals.
Are there any films that have happy endings for same sex couples? Come find
out!
Dr. 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.
Workshop Title:
GSA Advisors Roundtable: Advising in the Era of
DASA - For Advisors Only
Description:
GSA Advisors,
it's time to take your expertise and put it to work! Share your successes, challenges
and best practices with other GSA Advisors and discover ways to lead your
district in the implementation of the Dignity for All Students Act.
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.
Workshop Title:
Self-Injury and LGBTQ Youth: Why Are They
Hurting Themselves? - Adults Only
Description:
In this
workshop (for adult attendees), the presenter will invite participants to speak
with one another about risk factors that contribute to self-harm among LGBTQ
youth. Based on her own research and counseling work with adolescents and
young adults, the presenter will have the participants identify strategies
for creating a safe environment for youth seeking help in their schools and
among their peers.
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.
Session 2 Workshops
Workshop Title:
LGBTQ for Beginners - Understanding the Basics
Description:
This
introductory session is designed to help people learn the vocabulary, enhance
their knowledge and correct any misconceptions that might exist by presenting
an overview of the LGBTQ community. Once you are prepared with the facts, you
can speak out with confidence!
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.
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
Workshop Title:
GSA Student Roundtable - For Student Members
Only
Description:
How can your
GSA become more visible in your school? How can you attract new members? Don't
sit around waiting for the Day of Silence! Start growing your GSA
today. Learn and share great ideas for effective and exciting meetings.
Meet members of GSAs from other schools to exchange great ideas for fun
activities and effective advocacy.
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.
Workshop Title:
Ally-ning Your Middle
School: Creating Space to Talk about LGBTQ Issues
Description:
What's the best
way to start a GSA at the Middle School level and why is it important to push
through resistance to make it happen? We will share some of the conversations
that emerged while starting our Middle School GSA. We will discuss the
importance of helping students find their voices, the strategies we used to
help them find them, and the tools we used to engage different Middle School
constituencies in conversations about LGBTQ issues. Participants will engage
in hands-on exercises and activities that will encourage participants to
confront the issues they face in order to create safe learning environments
for all of our students.
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.
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.
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.
Workshop Title:
Transgender 101 and Gender Dysphoria
Description:
This workshop
consists of Ryan Cassata's personal coming out story from lesbian to
transgender man. Ryan shares his story through words and original song. This workshop
will include a detailed explanation of the transgender umbrella and key terms
and also include an inspiring slideshow on gender dysphoria.
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.
Workshop Title:
Power in Relationships
Description:
Through
interactive role plays, visual aids, games and discussion we will address how
each person's sexual and gender identities can be celebrated and used to
empower each other (in a healthy relationship) or can be manipulated and
abused by a partner's use of power and control (in an unhealthy
relationship). Participants will help create an action plan to create
relationships where power is shared and there is a sense of respect, equality
and safety in the relationship.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Workshop Title:
The Bible and the LGBTQ Community
Description:
The language of
religion, especially the selective use of "proof" texts from both Hebrew
and Christian Scripture has long been used to support bigotry and
discrimination against LGBTQ people. What does the Judeo-Christian Bible
really say and how can speak to those who use Sacred Literature to exclude
rather than include people based on their sexual orientation?
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.
Workshop Title:
Respect. Are You Bringin' It? Making Sports A Great Place for LGBTQ
Students
Description:
Students on athletic
teams and in physical education classes often hear anti-gay name-calling or
are subjected to bullying and harassment that are accepted as "part of
the game." Participants will talk about sports and physical education in
their schools and identify specific resources, strategies and initiatives to
make these parts of our lives safe, respectful and inclusive for LGBTQ
students.
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.
Workshop Title:
Verbal Judo for Deflecting Bullies
Description:
Bullies need an
emotional reaction the way fire needs oxygen. But it's hard to come up with snappy
comebacks at the moment you're being bullied. This workshop shows how to use
'verbal judo' for throwing bullies off their game by using the interactive
format of role-playing exercises. Signed copies of the book 15 Ways to Zap a Bully!will be given as prizes for best performances.
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.
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!.
Workshop
Title:
"Fixing" What's Not Broken: The Damage
of Reparative Therapy and the Ex-Gay Movement
Description:
We hear it all
the time: "Jesus can cure you of your homosexuality." Yet, when the
research is done, we find that no one has really "prayed the gay
away." In fact, most people attending "change" groups end up
harmed and feeling much worse than when they went in. Dr. Rix,
an ex-gay survivor and author of Ex-Gay
No-Way: Survival and Recovery from Religious Abuse will lead a lively
and insightful workshop for anyone to attend.
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.
Workshop Title:
Pinklisted! Book
Banning in Public School Libraries
Description:
In this
workshop, members from Lambda Legal will discuss some of the issues
surrounding banning LGBTQ books in public school libraries, as well as steps
students, parents, and faculty members can take to stop the removal of these
materials and make their libraries more LGBTQ-inclusive.
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.
Workshop Title:
Out Online: The Online World of LGBTQ Youth -
Adults Only
Description:
Whether you are
someone who uses the internet daily or someone who's never sent an email, you
will leave this workshop with a better understanding of why and how today's
LGBTQ youth are using online social networks designed with them in mind. From
friends to dates to hookups, we'll discuss the highs and lows of this digital
world.
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.
Workshop Title:
Care and Feeding of LGB Teens: Knowledge,
Support, Advocacy - For Adults Only
Description:
This workshop (for
adult attendees) will be both experiential and didactic. We will examine and
review a knowledge base for framing/providing support and advocacy, which are
especially challenged in times of social extremism.
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
Session 3 Workshops
Workshop Title:
Are Labels Just for Soup Cans?
Description:
GBLTQIALMNOP .
. . We use labels to define ourselves, separate from what we are not and
connect with those like us or who we like. Labels inform and obscure, include
and exclude, empower and restrict. This interactive workshop will encourage
participants to think about the significance of labels in their own lives as
well as the benefits and limits of labels for community and coalition
building.
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.
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.
Workshop Title:
College and Me
Description:
College-bound
LGBTQ students face many personal questions and issues when choosing a
college. You may have questions or concerns even before you start the
admissions process. What questions do you or should you have during the
application process? How can you find an LGBTQ-supportive environment for
your college experience? What information should you reveal and when? We will
explore all of these college issues.
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.
Workshop Title:
Bisexuality Explored
Description:
Bisexuality is
complicated and intersects with gender, gender expression, gender identity,
culture, and race. We will discuss what bisexuality is, and what it isn't,
and we will also look at some of the sub-types, such as pansexuality
and fluidity. Be prepared for a lively discussion!
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.
Workshop
Title:
Building Communities of Respect, Trust and Safety:
The Role of Leadership in Removing Fear from Schools - For Adults Only
Description:
This workshop
(for adult attendees) will examine the ways that school leaders influence
school culture through words and deeds, policy and program, setting priorities
and embedding norms of behavior. Participants will reflect on opportunities
to build culture that exist in daily interactions in and out of the classroom
and how narratives develop that support the evolution of a safe environment.
The workshop will integrate objectives and performance indicators included in
the New York State Learning Standards to provide access to an inclusive
classroom environment.
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."
Workshop
Title:
Healthy Relationships for LGBTQ Youth
Description:
What makes a
healthy relationship? Knowing yourself and feeling secure are the first and best
steps on this path. Explore, learn, and share about dating, communication,
and "the closet" in youth relationships.
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.
Workshop Title:
Native Spirit
Description:
While religion
has been used to sustain and attack our LGBTQ Tribe, it is refreshing and
empowering to know that LGBTQ people in Native American and other indigenous
traditions have historically been revered as spiritually important. When any
of us are separated from our spirit or faith, we are placed at higher risk
and may be harmed. Come hear about Native Spirituality and our place in it,
in this workshop consisting of presentation, discussion and experience.
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.
Workshop
Title:
I'm Beautiful Dammit!
Body Image in the LGBTQ Community
Description:
Beauty is only skin
deep? Say what? How can we be happy, creative, productive people without
feeling that we should mirror the "acceptable" images that are
forced upon us daily? Let's discuss the pleasures and pressures of our
obsession with body image.
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.
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.
Workshop Title:
Allies: Sharing the Struggle
Description:
What does it
mean to be an "ally" to a friend, classmate, a family member, or a
community? This workshop will explore the designation of "ally" and
what it means to be an ally, whether one is gay or straight. Learn how allies
can partner with the queer community and also how to identify allies.
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.
Workshop Title:
Safer Sex Across the Spectrum: Creating and
Promoting Inclusive Sexuality Education for Teens
Description:
How inclusive is
comprehensive sexuality education? How can we teach LGBTQ students and allies
without confining their experience to one portion of a lesson plan? Through a
discussion of sex education history, policymaking, and skills-building, this
interactive workshop will help give participants tools to build inclusive and
affirming sexuality dialogues.
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.
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.
Workshop Title:
Creative Writing Workshop - Express Yourself!
Description:
Do you write or
journal or doodle or express yourself creatively? We will take a look at some
inspiration from queer artists and allow you to create and share your own writing.
The only prerequisite participants need is their feelings, but folks who
consider themselves poets and writers are welcome.
Dr. 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.
Workshop Title:
The Lifeguard Workshop - The Trevor Project -
For Adults Only
Description:
The Trevor
Project has developed the Lifeguard Workshop program in response to an unmet
need for suicide prevention education with specific messaging about what it
means to be an LGBTQ young person in the United States. This workshop (for
adult attendees) will demonstrate the services The Trevor Project provides,
and show you how to get help for youth in need.
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.
Workshop Title:
Making Schools Safe for Trans Youth - For Adults
Only
Description:
This workshop
is intended to provide teachers, administrators, counselors, advisors, and
others with a greater understanding of the issues faced by transgender youth
so that school communities have the necessary information and can work
together to create the most welcoming and inclusive school environment
possible with respect to transgender students.
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.
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 at 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
