GLSEN: Happy No Name-Calling Week!

The lessons we learn from educators when we are students can have an impact for years to come. GLSEN created No Name-Calling Week 10 years ago to help educators teach students about the importance of being kind to one another in words and deed and to spark a conversation about valuing and respecting what makes us different.

Teaching empathy can drastically change a school's culture.

To help us celebrate GLSEN's No Name-Calling Week, author Tim Federle stopped by the office to share how a teacher helped him deal with bullying and, as a result, changed his life.

How to change a student's life | Tim Federle on No Name-Calling Week
GLSEN - Published on Jan 14, 2014
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkNuHwBu8lk

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Watch the trailer for Tim's newest book: http://youtu.be/tdyFZPS90D8 
Connect with Tim: http://www.timfederle.com 

FROM GROUNDSPARK RE: NAME-CALLING WEEK

Thanks to the generosity of GroundSpark's donor community, we are thrilled to be able to offer free streaming of two of our award-winning Respect for All Project documentary films for No Name Calling Week, January 20-24.

We are proud to partner with the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and Simon & Schuster Children's publishing to offer free previews of Let's Get Real and Straightlaced-How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up to schools and community programs that want to use the films as part of their NNCW programming this year.

Let's Get Real is recommended for students in grades 5 - 9 and Straightlaced is terrific for grades 8 - 12. Both films are also excellent teaching tools at the college level for students in education, gender studies, adolescent development, social work, and more.

After you preview, you also can receive an amazing 50 percent discount off the institutional price for these two films. Just use discount code NNCW14 and place your order by January 31, 2014.

The theme of this year's No Name Calling Week is "Celebrate Kindness". GroundSpark believes that the more students, staff, parents and guardians are supported to understand and address bias, gender norm stereotyping, and homophobia, the more likely it will be that students will actually celebrate kindness. As proud partners for NNCW, we are glad that our films and curriculum guides can help support discussion that opens up dialogue on these critical issues.

Please spread the word! Share this news on Facebook and Twitter or pass this email along to a friend who works with youth. Free streaming of GroundSpark films for No Name Calling Week!

Registration is now open! You've got choices.

If you are ready to register for Gender Odyssey, we are ready for you.  We've grown!  We've added an automated online registration process that we hope will streamline things for all.  It will look a little different when you go to register.  Know that we have kept our sliding scale options, early bird pricing from now until Mar 23rd, free registration for children 12 and under, and a way to contribute to our scholarship fund.  Speaking of scholarships, we have a new way to apply that should be simpler for all.  If you don't already know, we have three websites for three sets of programming.  Take a peak below.

Gender Odyssey
Gender Odyssey (GO) is an international conference focused on the needs and interests of trans* and gender nonconforming people.  Anyone interested in the thoughtful exploration of gender may attend.  Since 2001, GO has been growing and maturing right along with our community.  To learn more and to register, visit the GO website.

• We have reduced/waived rates for those with financial need
• Join our planning committee now!
• Submit a workshop (deadline Mar 2nd)

Gender Odyssey Family
Gender Odyssey Family (GOF) is a conference for families who are working to navigate the day-to-day realities of raising a transgender or gender nonconforming child.  The GO Kids Camp has been rocking it since 2007 and we have a full 3-day teen track.  Our presenters offer some of the best expertise that you'll find anywhere in the world.  Learn more here.

• Accepting workshop submissions for teen and parent programming now until Mar 2nd.
• Check out our awesome blog contributors and let us know if you'd like to contribute.
• Scholarships and subsidized rates available.  Look here.  
• WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ON OUR COMMITTEE - Learn more.

Gender Odyssey Professional
This two-day professional conference is for those professionals or students seeking to advance their understanding and knowledge of gender variance and transgender identities.  Gender Odyssey Professional (GO Pro) serves as a prelude to the GO and GOF conferences or as a stand alone event.  Register early and add either the GO or GOF conference for a significantly reduced rate.  Continuing education credits offered. Sign up now! 

http://illinoissafeschools.org/executive-director-search-announcement

I. ABOUT THE ALLIANCE

The Alliance is a 7-year old organization created out of the merger of Creating Safe Schools for Illinois (CSSI-formerly GLSEN Chicago) and the Coalition for Education on Sexual Orientation (CESO). The mission of the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance ("the Alliance") is to promote safety, support and healthy development for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, in Illinois schools and communities, through advocacy, education, youth organizing and research.

The Alliance envisions a world in which youth develop to their fullest potential, learning in safe and nurturing schools, living in communities that accept and honor differences, where everyone has the freedom to express their sexual orientation and gender identity.

The work of the Alliance includes: 1) Youth Organizing: To engage youth across the state of Illinois to become leaders in the LGBTQ safe schools movement and be agents of change in their own schools and communities; 2) Professional Development and Public Education: To educate and involve school personnel, community organizations, parents, public officials, youth and the general public in Illinois, regarding sexual orientation and gender identity issues and the needs of LGBTQ youth in schools; 3) Policy Advocacy: To conduct advocacy activities that will result in the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity issues in the programs and policies that support the safety and well-being of youth; and 4) Research: To gather and evaluate data on the impact of school policies and practices on the well-being of LGBT youth.

II. ABOUT THE POSITION

The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance is seeking a full-time Executive Director who can provide strategic and visionary leadership to the organization. We are seeking an experienced, inspirational, strategic, dedicated and self-starting leader who can engage our various constituencies to share in the Allianceʼs growing reputation and influence in the safe schools national movement. We are seeking an individual who is a social justice champion and one who understands the intersection of race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

The Executive Director is responsible for managing the daily operations of the Alliance and implementing the vision, strategic goals and objectives of the organization. The Executive Director supports the Board, directs the staff, builds and maintains stakeholder relationships, develops and manages sources of income, and ensures the quality and effectiveness of policy and program-related work. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors.

III. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/FUNCTIONS:

1. Organizational Development/Communications

• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with internal stakeholders (e.g., the staff, volunteers, and board members) to build the Allianceʼs capacity.
• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with external stakeholders (e.g., other LGBT organizations, other safe schools and education justice organizations, funders, elected officials).
• Monitor the strategic plan, and oversight of new planning as needed.
• Be the primary ISSA spokesperson with the media and at special events/public gatherings. Share role as appropriate with youth and other staff.
• Ensure consistency of messaging and efficacy of outreach efforts.
• Maintain the credibility, reputation, and good standing of the organization.

2. Program Development and Policy (in conjunction with program staff)

• Ensure programming is developed and carried out in line with strategic plan goals.
• Ensure that programs are mission driven and youth focused in delivery and content.
• Oversee program evaluation tools to ensure programs are meeting outcomes.
• Oversee research that can inform the work of the Alliance, and of the larger safe schools movement.
• Lead policy and advocacy efforts with local, state, and national-level policymakers.

3. Fundraising (in conjunction with the development staff)

• Establish, maintain, and grow strong partnerships with external stakeholders such as individual donors, elected officials, corporations, foundations, and local & national LGBT groups, to build the Allianceʼs capacity.
• Direct grant research, writing, and reporting.
• Create, design, and implement an annual fundraising plan to increase the donor base and overall dollars raised.
• Provide leadership and direction for special events, including the annual fundraising event.
• Provide guidance and training to Board of Directors to support their fundraising efforts.

4. Financial and Operational Management

• Develop and monitor the Allianceʼs annual budget and cash-flow model.
• Maintain financial records in coordination with the Board finance committee, treasurer, and accountant/auditor.
• Properly manage income and expenses.
• Prepare and present monthly financial reports to the Board.
• Work with auditors to ensure a clean, unconditional annual audit.
• Monitor the Alliance's fiscal agreements.
• Negotiate and manage relationships with consultants.
• Negotiate office lease/space.
• Supervise/guide all staff, including hiring, firing, performance reviews, and professional development.
• Oversee Board relations, including development of materials and staffing committees.
• Ensure recruitment and retention of volunteers.

IV. ABOUT YOU - SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated understanding of LGBT youth issues, intersectionality of race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
• Experience in fund development, with demonstrable results.
• Senior-level nonprofit management experience, preferably including experience serving on nonprofit boards of directors.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with an ability to grow and maintain key relationships with multiple stakeholder groups.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Bachelors or Masters degree in a relevant field, or comparable experience.

    Organizational leadership skills, including:

• Capacity for, and comfort with, building a team-based work environment.
• Ability to hire, retain, and supervise paid, intern, and volunteer staff.
• Ability to manage finances and prepare/execute an annual budget .
• Ability to implement strategic objectives and annual program plans.
• Ability to multi-task and juggle competing projects and interests.
• Detail-oriented.
• Willing and able to travel (state-wide regularly and nationally as necessary).
• Skilled using technology for planning, management and communications, including Microsoft Office, web platforms, and social media.
• Substantive experience with local, state, regional, and national LGBT entities and leaders.
• Experience working with youth (preferred).
• Experience with advocacy, youth organizing, professional development and public education, and/or research (preferred).

V. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Please include salary history and requirements in cover letter.
• Health and hospitalization coverage, short-term and long-term disability insurance, and life insurance.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and personal holiday leave as part of a Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual plan, in addition to other paid holidays.

VI. HOW TO APPLY

The Alliance has engaged Morten Group to assist in this recruiting effort. Applicants should email a cover letter and resume to Christina Smith at chris@mortengroup.com with subject line "The Alliance Executive Director Search."

Documents should be emailed in .doc or pdf format and should include your last name in the title of each document (e.g., SmithResume.doc, SmithCoverLetter.pdf, etc.). Cover letters are required, as they will be evaluated as a writing sample; resumes without a cover letter will not be considered.

Interested candidates should apply no later than Friday, February 7 by 5 p.m. CST for best consideration. Questions must be directed to Christina Smith at the email address above. No phone calls, please.

Please note that due to the number of applications we receive, we will only respond to those candidates whom we would like to invite to interview for the position. If we are interested in your candidacy for the position, we will contact you directly. However, even if you do not hear from us, your materials will remain on file at Morten Group for future executive searches.

The Alliance is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, transgender individuals, people with disabilities, and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

The next Safe Schools Coalition meeting is Tuesday, January 21st from 3-5pm at Planned Parenthood on Capitol Hill in Seattle, WA.