Supporting Transgender Youth: Community Connections Panel

Join Saint Paul Public Schools for an upcoming gender inclusion workshop on, open to individuals outside of the school district. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of a panel of local experts whose work is centered on supporting transgender and gender variant people. Topics will include child development and legal rights, and speak to multiple racial and cultural influences on gender diversity. See below for more details and to register.

Supporting Transgender Youth: Community Connections Panel
November 19th, 2014
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
360 S Colborne St.
St Paul, MN 55102

Description
Participants will have the opportunity to hear from and ask question of a panel of experts in the community whose work is centered on supporting transgender and gender variant people. Topics will include child development, legal rights, and community resources. Multiple racial and cultural influences on gender diversity will be shared.

Panelist Information

Roxanne Anderson
Community Organizer
Associate Director for Trans Organizing at OutFront MN
Director of The Exchange
Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs

Ryan Dean, Ph.D., L.P.
Licensed Psychologist
Private Practice
Pronouns: He/Him/His

Jill Gaulding, J.D.
Civil Rights Lawyer
Co-Founder and Legal Director of Gender Justice
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Background
St. Paul Public Schools is committed to ensuring that all students have a safe, non-discriminatory school environment that will support their academic achievement and prepare them for college and careers.

Registration
Please register on PDExpress. Course title: Out for Equity/MLR (S): Gender Inclusion, Perspectives from Community Experts Panel and Discussion. Non-SPPS employees may register by emailing outforequity@spps.org.

Microaggressions Mini Film Festival Videos + Takeaways

On October 30, LOCUS hosted our Microaggressions Mini Film Festival at the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation. Chelles' Kitchen provided delicious chili and cornbread for dinner and we made sure ample popcorn was available during the show!

We screened over a dozen short videos during the event, beginning with the following New York Times-produced piece that helps define and explain microaggressions.

After viewing a set of videos reflecting a wide array of diversities and related microaggressions, we facilitated a lively large group conversation discussing reactions to and questions arising from the pieces. Attendees expressed that the videos helped expand their conceptions of microaggressions, giving them additional clarifying language as well as shedding light on the multitude of possible "unintended discriminations."

Reflecting on the question of key learnings and takeaways from the evening's viewing and conversation, participants co-constructed this list of 6 important insights:

1. Microaggressions matter because they're the minor manifestations of systemic racism and policies that advantage the dominant culture.
2. "I" statements are key to effective education.
3. (Personal) safety first. Know the environment, and then choose your battle. 
4. It's your choice to speak up or not. The burden of your people is not on you. Do right by you.
5. As people of color (POC), we should be aware of our own microaggressions against other POCs. Stand up for other POCs, in the community and with your own family and friends.
6. Microaggressions are not only race-based, but are religious, gendered, ability-focused, etc.

Thanks again to those who came out to share in a tasty meal, clever videos, and meaningful dialogue!