GLSEN Connecticut Safe Schools Summit a Success!
 | | Alberto Cifuentes, Jr. Jump-Start Adult Coordinator |
I want to again congratulate our fantastic Jump-Start Summit Organizing Team on successfully facilitating and coordinating our chapter's first annual state-wide Safe Schools Summit on Saturday, May 12, 9am-5pm, at Common Ground High School in New Haven. I also want to applaud our fantastic Board of Directors at GLSEN Connecticut for their tireless leadership and support as well as the many other individuals involved in the summit planning and organizing process. I especially want to thank Common Ground High School's Executive Director Melissa Spear, without whom the summit would not have been possible.
The summit was attended by almost fifty adults and youth all committed to making their schools safer for all students. Our chapter received such warm and inspiring feedback from our summit's participants. We plan on making next year's summit even bigger and better, so please stay updated with all our upcoming plans and events by visiting our website or reading our newsletter!
Our Jump-Start Organizing Team Members had much to say about their experiences at the summit:
 It was fantastic to see so many people show up for the summit! It was also great to hear all of their feedback and know that they enjoyed coming. I was glad to get a chance to meet everybody and have conversations about safe school issues that I don't get to have every day. I'm more than happy to be part of the team that organized our summit. Skylar Liam Spear, Amity High School 
Our summit was everything I could have hoped for and more. My workshops had wonderfully engaged, interested young people who genuinely cared about safe schools issues. There's something so touching and inspiring about having student-led groups develop two action plans to take back to their schools, based on discussions directly arising from my workshops. It was such an empowering, incredible event for me. If anyone would be interested in getting involved with the Jump-Start Student Leadership Team, please, please come talk to me about it. It is so completely worth it. Gil Borrino, Watkinson School  The summit we held at Common Ground High was nothing short of fabulous. I had a great time working with all of the adults and students that attended. I learned so much about organization and leadership through attending some of the workshops and working the registration booth. The summit was as much of a learning experience as it was a great time, and I look forward to the next one!
James Rockett, Somers High School  My experience at the summit was an eye-opener. Meeting people from all over the state was both interesting and fun. While it does bother me to hear that some schools aren't as safe as others, I'm glad to know that through these summits other students can see other team members and me as outlets. I hope students at the summit felt that they were meeting not only new friends but resources for their school. I hope this summit and others with the same intentions continue to happen all throughout the state. Mara Skowronek, East Hartford High School  Organizing and attending the summit has easily become my favorite experience of my senior year. Not only did I meet the most amazing people but I had an opportunity to make a difference in the LGBTQ and ally community by facilitating two well-attended and productive workshops. By joining the Jump-Start Team, I've made great friends and helped educate others on LGBTQ and ally activism. Indeed, I couldn't have asked for a better year.
Alta McKinney, Stafford High School I hope many of our student readers will take their advice and apply to become a Jump-Start Team Member before the school year ends! Middle school students as well as high school students (Gr. 6-12) can apply, and applications are available online on our Jump-Start page. Our Jump-Start Team has worked very hard this year to provide schools with the best resources and tools possible to empower both students and adults to change their school climates. I'm so proud of not only our team and chapter but also those youth and adults who are already making a difference in their schools and communities. Thank you again for your continued support, and have a great summer! | 
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