I hope this e-mail finds you safe and recovered from the havoc caused by the blizzard. For those of you working or in schools, we hope that the school closings hasn't resulted in too many days taken away from your summer breaks!

I would like to especially welcome to Respect the 17 attendees who participated in the SAFE (Schools Are For Everyone) Training on January 30 - 31. The training was an amazing success with participants stating "The whole program was brilliant!" and "Everyone should do this workshop. It's the best one I have been to yet!" So, stay tuned for the next SAFE Training, or contact me if you'd like to schedule one for your school or district.

I'm sad to report that Liane Roseman has had to step down from her position as co-chair of GLSEN Connecticut. Liane has done some amazing work in helping to lead our chapter and it's been a privilege to work with her to make schools safe for all students regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Please join me and the rest of the GLSEN Connecticut Board of Directors in thanking her for her many years of service! I am hopeful that we'll have another co-chair in place later this month. Check your next issue of Respect for further details.

Finally, I'm happy to share a couple of GLSEN resources for Black History Month. Click here to download Black History Month Heroes and Sharing Communities Activity Guide for GSAs. Please let me know if you have any questions about the use of these in your schools. And, if you are not in school or working in schools, please share these with your friends and family members who are!    

Peace,

Leif Mitchell 

Co-Chair, GLSEN Connecticut