January 2020
Greetings!

“Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle.” – Eric Zorn

The start of a new calendar year creates changes in our mind set. We reflect back on prior year’s events that have passed and our thoughts drift to what could have been, what we could have done better. A new year marks the revival and new beginning. There is something vitalizing about making resolutions on the first day of the New Year, something invigorating about the pure days ahead that promotes a “can do” feeling of optimism. The New Year is a great time to look at the changes we would like to make in our lives and how to accomplish them. A resolution is like a promise to us to improve our lives and to make the New Year a better one for ourselves and others. Wanting to make resolutions is a good thing. The fact that so many people keep making resolutions year after year, even when they do not, or cannot, always follow through on them indicates they have hope and a certain level of belief in their ability to facilitate change, becoming more of who they truly want to be. (Psychology Today)

This year, AFCI hopes that you will join us in making a resolution to avoid using names or labels that might inaccurately describe someone according to their race, religion, sex or gender.

The bottom line is that people who make resolutions to change are ten times more likely to achieve those changes than people who want to change but never actually resolve to do so. Go ahead, make that resolution today!
Upcoming Presentations
Understanding Experiences of Attraction, Sexual, and/or Emotional Connection to Individuals of More than One Gender
Vanessa Schick, Ph.D 
01/15/2020 (9:00-10:00) United Way Community Resource Center

G ender Diversity: a Social Services Perspective
Mx. Cipactli Ovalle, BSW
01/15/2020 (10:30-11:30)
United Way Community Resource Center

Gender & Language: Linguistic and Social Constructs
Paul B. Mandell, Ph.D.
01/17/2020 (9:00-10:30)
United Way Community Resource Center

When Parents Disagree about Affirming Trans Kids (and Other LGBTQ+ Children)
Robert J. McLaughlin, Ph.D., CGP, FASAHP, Psychologist
Robbie N. Sharp, Ph.D., LSSP, Psychologist
01/17/2020 (11:30-12:30)
United Way Community Resource Center

Grief: Finding the Gift in the Wound
Enod Gray, LCSW, CSAT, CLC, Certified EMDR Practitioner
01/17/2020 (1:00-2:00)
United Way Community Resource Center
Upcoming Conferences
  • 02/08/2020 - 02/11/2020
  • San Antonio

Each February, the Professional School Counselor's Conference is held and this past February we were not able to attend. We are extremely happy that we will be able to go this coming February and share the free resources of AFCI with the school counselors of Texas to continue our mission to reduce rejection, including homelessness, of LGBTQ youth. This is possible because of the generous donation of James Walker at Walker Texas Lawyer. Last year when he heard that we were not able to attend due to funding, he stated, "Well that won't happen next year!" Join AFCI in thanking the Walker Texas Lawyer firm for their continued support of the mission and vision of AFCI.   www.walkertexaslawyer.us

https://txca.org/tcas_conferences.php#PSCC
Be part of the solution.
Help us end homelessness!
For all questions or inquiries related to AFCI, including interest in our educational programs or speakers, please contact us directly.
Mailing Address:
Association for Family and Community Integrity, Inc.
P.O. Box 667341
Houston, TX 77266