 Creative Expression Contest
Deadline: March 2, 2012
Creative Expression is an opportunity for students to submit original pieces, in all mediums, that convey their experiences and feelings about name-calling, and their ideas for putting a stop to bullying in their schools and communities. This year there is a new category in the exhibit for video submissions focusing on anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (anti-LGBT) name-calling, bullying and harassment. For more information, click here. |
GLSEN at the Super Bowl
As many of you know, GLSEN's ThinkB4YouSpeak PSAs were aired at the Super Bowl this year, on monitors outside of the host stadium. This opportunity, which resulted in thousands of people viewing the PSAs, was made possible through a generous donation of airtime by Grazie Media.
Please take a minute to help us thank Grazie Media.
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SAFE Training
The Governor's Prevention Partnership, GLSEN Connecticut, The Anti-Defamation League and True Colors, Inc., are co-sponsoring SAFE (Schools Are For Everyone) Trainings in Connecticut. The program is designed to address anti-LGBT bias in schools and create change through the minds and hearts of the adults who teach our children.  The next SAFE Training will be facilitated by Robin McHaelen and Leif Mitchell on April 3rd and 4th in Hamden. Click here to register.
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Register Your GSA with Us!
GLSEN has supported GSAs for more than 20 years, providing resources and a place for more than 4,000 clubs to register. In the midst of a busy school year we know some GSAs may not have registered with us yet. Plus, we want to know from all GSAs how we can provide even better support during the school year. Are you a GSA member or advisor? Make sure your GSA is counted! |
GLSEN Connecticut is a member of Community Works of Connecticut, a progressive workplace giving program.
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Please Note: This electronic message from GLSEN Connecticut contains information and opinions deemed relevant to ending anti-LGBT bias in schools and other items which may be of interest to the LGBT community and its valued allies. Not all opinions expressed are those of GLSEN Connecticut.
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Greetings!
GLSEN Connecticut recognizes Black History Month - a month dedicated to celebrating the enormous contributions African-Americans have made to U.S. history - as one of our Days of Support.
We encourage all GLSEN supporters to promote Black History Month to students and GSAs, and advise school communities on how to make their Black History Month observances LGBT-inclusive. For assistance check out these great resources, including
Black Heroes of the LGBT Community.
We are happy to announce that GLSEN Connecticut will be participating in the 2012 Students of Color Organizing (SOCO) Summit. This is an opportunity to work with other like-minded students and GLSEN Connecticut leaders to develop your own year-long project aimed at addressing current school climate issues in your community. If you are interested in SOCO, please contact us or click here.
GLSEN Connecticut is also delighted to announce that we have been selected as a designated beneficiary for the Imperial Sovereign Court of all Connecticut, an organization which raises needed funds for the community at large, and for social service organizations, through fundraising activities. This means that GLSEN Connecticut will receive monies next year from various fundraising events the Imperial Sovereign Court sponsors. We are honored to be one of their three beneficiaries, and look forward to promoting their events throughout the year to our membership!
We want to wish those who donated to GLSEN Connecticut during the holiday season a sincere thank you! We are so grateful for all your support. If you didn't have a chance to make a donation, you can always visit our web site and make a donation today. With your support, we are making schools safe and affirming places for all students!
Leif Mitchell and Liane Roseman
Co-Chairs, GLSEN Connecticut
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Playgrounds and Prejudice
 GLSEN recently released a new report on school climate, biased remarks and bullying, Playgrounds and Prejudice: Elementary School Climate in the United States. The report, based on national surveys of 1,065 elementary school students in the 3rd to 6th grade and 1,099 elementary school teachers, examines students' and teachers' experiences with biased remarks and bullying, and their attitudes about gender expression and family diversity. The surveys were conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of GLSEN during November and December 2010. Please click here to download the report.
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| Educator's Corner: Ready, Set, Respect!
 To support elementary school teachers, principals and school staff, GLSEN has released a major new resource Ready, Set, Respect! GLSEN's Elementary School Toolkit, developed in partnership with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - leaders in the field of elementary school education. Ready, Set, Respect! is part professional development and part curricular resource, with lesson plans that focus on name-calling, bullying and bias, LGBT-inclusive family diversity and gender roles and diversity. The templates are designed for teachers to use as either standalone lessons or for integration into existing curriculum content or school-wide anti-bullying programs.
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New Year's Wishes from GLSEN's Jump-Start Student Leaders
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Alberto Cifuentes, Jr., Adult Jump-Start Coordinator
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After an enjoyable holiday recess, I am excited to announce that the Jump-Start Student Leadership Team will resume meetings in February to start planning for our first-ever safe schools advocacy summit. We can't wait to begin organizing this event and look forward to the many community collaborations as well as help from our prospective Jump-Start Student Volunteers.
More information about our upcoming Jump-Start Student Volunteer Program will be given on our website and in next month's issue of Respect, so please stay tuned for more details!
This New Year, I feel so honored to be an agent of this incredible team of student leaders with a fierce commitment toward providing and fostering safe schools for ALL students. I recently asked four of them about their hopes for the New Year. Here are their responses along with some brief profiles of the great work they've already done in their schools and communities. Please feel free to contact them with any of your questions about the Jump-Start program.
Here's to an exuberant and empowering year of social change driven by our wonderful Jump-Start Student Leaders!
"After meeting all the members of the Jump-Start Team, I'm sure we'll be achieving great things throughout the year. I'm really excited about the True Colors Conference because we've been working on some workshops that I know will have an impact on people and make them aware of what's going on with schools in Connecticut."
- Julian Arias is the Student Coordinator of GLSEN Connecticut's Jump-Start Team. He is a Junior at Stamford High School and a very active member of his school's GSA.
 "This New Year, I look forward to reaching out to more schools against bullying and harassment. One thing I personally love to do is make people feel like they can come to me or any member of the team for guidance and support. I hope the success of our summit will help put our team on the map. There is truly a bright future for us, and I cannot wait to see it happen!"
- Mara Skowronek, a second-year GLSEN Connecticut Jump-Start Student Leader, is a Senior at East Hartford High School and Vice-President of her school's GSA. She also co-founded her school's Animal Rights Club.
 "I am looking forward to organizing a fantastic summit that includes GSAs from all across the state. I am also looking forward to speaking and meeting with members of those GSAs in particular. I am really hoping the team can create a network of students and teachers to strengthen the queer and ally community in the state and help establish a safer school system."
- Skylar Liam Spear, a GLSEN Connecticut Jump-Start Student Leader, is a Junior at Amity High School. An active member of the queer community, he is also a board member of GLSEN Connecticut.
 "I'm really excited for the summit in May... to meet a lot of new people and share knowledge with them. And in the long run, I want to help the progression of equality and acceptance in schools and reduce the number of GLBTQ youth who go through bullying and unfair judgment. Through GLSEN Connecticut, I hope to spread awareness, knowledge, acceptance, and, ultimately, peace."
- Nick Sherman, a GLSEN Connecticut Jump-Start Student Leader, is a Sophomore at New Britain High School and an active member of his school's GSA. He also tutors and helps with programs at his local library.
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