GSA
SUMMIT
Schedule of Events
Why attend the Summit?
1
LEADERSHIP TRAINING
The GSA Summit will help you become a leader at your school and in the LGBTQ community. Educator's can also recieve Continuing Education Units for attending the Summit.
ITINERARY
Below is a list of the days events.
There are speakers, workshops, break-out sessions and
round-table discussions as well as time to visit vendor tables, and enjoy a catered lunch.
2
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
AND ADVOCACY
You have an opportunity to be an advocate for LGBTQ youth and offer community outreach to those in need.
3
DISCUSSIONS AND WORKSHOPS
Choose from a variety of discussions and workshops that can help you start a new GSA or support an existing GSA. Learn about terms, issues and challenges facing GSA's and the LGBTQ community.
WORKSHOPS:
Starting your own GSA
Supporting your current GSA
Know your Rights: Federal Laws Protecting GSA's and LGBTQ Students
Learn what a GSA is, what purpose it serves, and how to start a GSA. The role of advisor is discussed, as well as how to advertise, plan, and keep meetings balanced, focused, and supportive.
Learn how to better serve your students, school and community by improving your existing GSA. Learn how choosing the right leader, selecting the right fundraising events, and maintaining documentation can help ensure your GSA will remain for years to come.
FUNdraising Roundtable
LGBTQ Terms and Definitions
This session will explore the protections which exist for LGBTQ youth, the formation of a GSA, and anti-bullying legislation.
Talking About Gender
Details coming soon
Common LGBTQ terms, acronyms, and symbols will be explored.
I Live for Trans Education
How Hard it is to NOT Come Out
Experience firsthand how you can harness the power of personal stories to create intersectional dialogues via interactive activities, videos, and discussions in your community. Join us as we go beyond Trans 101 to examine how trans people navigate social pressures associated with their trans identities and discuss how we can create affirming spaces for trans people in this workshop from I Live for Trans Education, our new grassroots multimedia curriculum.
Details coming soon
This workshop provides resources for cisgender, trans and gender non conforming persons to name and experience gender identity. Specific resources include Guide to Preferred Gender Pronouns, gender terminology, the Genderbread Person, and Trans-etiquette for dialogue.
– Dr. Mary Ann Zimmermann
and Rev. Rachelle Brown
Telling Her Story – Dr. Mary Ann Zimmermann “How Hard it is to NOT Come Out”
How to be an Ally
Answering the "Angry Religious Person" Without Losing Your Cool
Hear the story of Dr. Zimmermann and her experience of coming out to herself and building a support system one person at a time. She will also address the importance of having a plan and planning your words, managing rejection and suicidal feelings, and finally celebrating affirmation and open doors.
- Dr. Mary Ann Zimmermann
Learn what being an Ally means. Learn how to create an open and supportive environment. Find out what resources are available to you. Gain knowledge and education on how you are similar to and different from LGBTQ people. This session will better prepare you for your role as advisor, sponsor, and as an Ally.
Not all religious and spiritual persons are anti-LGBTQ! When an “Angry Religious Person” wants to argue, this all you will need! Hear affirming quotes and messages from international authorities on religion, sexuality, and gender. Each participants gets a Pocket Guide. – Rev. Rachelle Brown
SPEAKERS
Rev. Mary Ann Dier-Zimmerman
Mary Ann has over 20 years experience as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Mary Ann has specialized education in Religion, Spirituality and Psychology. She can help you integrate these powerful sources of healing to improve your life. Your beliefs, life situation, and gender orientation are respected, and honored as pathways to transformation. She has worked compassionately with the LGBTQ community and their families for many years.
Mr. Robert de Oliveira M.A., M. Ed.
Bob de Oliveira was born in New York, but was raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He moved to the Kankakee Area in the early 80’s. Since then, he has earned a BA in Education and a MA in Educational Leadership from ONU, as well as a MA in Latin American Studies.
He is a Spanish teacher as well as Latin American Studies teacher at Kankakee High School. He is starting his 20th year in Education. Bob speaks three languages, Portuguese is his native language, Spanish and English. In 2012, he was selected to lead the first GSA club at the high school. His group is one of the strongest in the area, with over 80 students participating, and a host of teachers and administrator’s support. Affectionately known as “Mr. de” at the high school and community, he has also instituted a very successful international travel program at KHS.
Matthew Hedding-Hess
Matthew Hedding-Hess is a youth mentor for Redeploy Illinois and Outside The Lines LGBTQ Youth Group. He has worked with a range of youth for over 8 years as a direct care worker at Indian Oaks Academy. He has provided training on numerous topics, including self-injury, therapeutic crisis intervention, and language choice therapy, and new employee mentoring, sharing his passion for impacting and changing young people’s lives. Matthew is pursuing his bachelor’s degree at Governors State University in psychology and with a concentrate in LGBTQ counseling. In January 2015, Matthew started Outside The Lines LGBTQ Youth Group. OTL is a community-focused youth group intent on providing a safe place for support, information, and fun, as well as creating a network of resources specific to LGBTQ youth in Kankakee & Iroquois counties. More information about Outside The Lines can be found on Facebook at Outside The Lines LGBTQ Youth Group.
Jo Daly
As the advisor for the Gay-Straight Alliance at Kankakee Community College, Jo has created numerous fundraising opportunities and has helped the KCC GSA become one of the most active clubs on campus. She has worked in higher education for 12 years and has been the GSA advisor at KCC for 3 years. A graduate of Kankakee Community College, she went on to pursue her Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Franklin University, and is currently working on her Master’s degree in Management Information Systems. She is also the Race Director for The Rainbow Run and has helped turn the GSA around to the successful and active club it is today.
Rev. Rachelle Brown
Rev. Rachelle Brown is an Emerging Church Specialist for the MCC Office of Emerging Ministries. She has served as an Intentional Interim Minister and the North Central MCC Network Leader, and often facilitates the online MCC Sexuality studies course. As an educator, she is an adjunct professor in both university and Seminary settings. Rev. Brown holds a Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO and Master of Communications from Missouri State University, and is currently working on her PhD at Chicago Theological Seminary.
As a theologian and educator, she explores intersections of queer ethics, theology and human sciences, with an interest in the historiography of modern religious thought and practices. Rev. Brown’s passion for ministry began in the bayou country of Southern Louisiana and developed through various faith experiences reflecting the theological diversity of MCC. Her gifts for leadership, teaching, and evangelistic spirit are evident in her ministry.
Melvin Whitehead
Melvin Whitehead is a same-gender loving, transgender librarian and educator who strongly believes in the power of education through storytelling to end stigma and violence against marginalized groups. He has been a speaker and panelist on topics such as race, gender identity, and diversity. In addition to fulfilling his current duties as a librarian at Joliet Junior College, Melvin works to improve the campus climate for all students through his work in developing the college’s Safe Zone Ally program and Safe Zone Speakers Bureau, advising G.L.O.W. (the college’s Gay-Straight Alliance student group), advocating for LGBTQ-affirming initiatives, and facilitating workshops on gender identity and sexuality. Beyond the campus walls, Melvin engages with his community through leading a support group for transgender and gender non-conforming people in Joliet, volunteering for the Trans Oral History Project, and working to make his church an affirming place for LGBTQ people.
Michael Ziri
Michael Ziri, a veteran in legislative affairs and a former Springfield elected official, is the Director of Public Policy at Equality Illinois.
Mike spearheads an aggressive legislative agenda in Springfield, builds and strengthens relationships with officials and political leaders throughout the state and in Washington, D.C., and develops policy initiatives. He also staffs the election-related activities of the Equality Illinois Political Action Committee.
Joining Equality Illinois in January 2015, Mike brought to the organization seven years of experience working for Illinois state government, capped by his current position as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. His previous positions included legislative liaison for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, legislative analyst in Gov. Pat Quinn’s office, and legal assistant for the EPA.