In this issue: October Meeting, School & Resilience Resources | |
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This Month: Our October Meeting
Promoting Safe and Inclusive Schools for our Youth to Thrive
Tuesday, October 22, 7 pm
School can be both tough and supportive for Kindergarten through high school-aged youth. Come learn about legal rights for youth and what parents and allies can do to advocate for kids. School mental health professionals Corey Cohen and Rosina Keren will discuss issues of name change, privacy, safety, and inclusion for LGBTQ+ youth. The speakers coordinate mental health services and train teachers and staff at two different East Bay school districts around gender-affirming educational spaces and policies.
Note, PFLAG National is a partner in the Safe Schools for All website of resources for LGBTQI+ students.
Panelists: Rosina Keren is Coordinator of Mental Health Services, Berkeley Unified School District. Rosina was previously a middle school counselor. Corey Cohen, LCSW (she/they), coordinates wellness and mental health for an East Bay school district. They have been a school-based mental health professional for 25 years.
After the program, we will hold space for confidential sharing and support. We welcome you at our events with no judgment and lots of love.
Meetings are held from 7-9 PM in the Campbell Room at St. John's Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Avenue in Berkeley (look for the PFLAG banner). Masks are optional. We ask that you not attend if you are feeling unwell or if you've been in contact with anyone who is unwell. Between meetings, our board is still here to connect with you one-on-one. Email pflagoeb@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail at 510-562-7692 and we will call you back.
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Please Support Our PFLAG Chapter!
Your $30 PFLAG Oakland/East Bay annual membership allows us to compensate our speakers, host our website, and provide conference scholarships. You can submit dues online (scroll down to the "Donate" button) or by check payable to PFLAG Oakland/East Bay and mailed to P.O. Box 21195, Oakland, California 94620. Please renew or join by December 31. Thank you for giving back!
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Resources from Our September 2024 Meeting: Staying Resourceful and Resilient Amid Turbulence
Laura Peck, consultant, activist, and inspirational force, was our speaker in September on the topic of dealing with the stress of these times. Laura provided simple, practical breathing and centering exercises, and spoke of the four types of social support that we all need, all elements of good friendships and strong communities (like PFLAG). You can find related information at these links: Laurapeck.co (Laura publishes a monthly newsletter offering “practical wisdom”) and Four types of social support from verywellmind.com.
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LGBTQ+ History Month in October celebrated in local school district
At Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) this month, elementary school librarians are reading to young students from BUSD’s Welcoming Schools Library Collections. These books affirm LGBTQ+ students, families, teachers and staff, funded through Berkeley Schools Fund grants. Welcoming Schools is a bias-based bullying prevention program created by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
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Love Votes: Pledge to be a PFLAG Voter
This November, there’s a critical election that will determine whether LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones will have the freedom to learn, thrive, and be themselves. Join our Love Votes movement and take the pledge to be a PFLAG Voter. And then check out the Love Votes page on the PFLAG National website where you’ll find tools and resources to help folks register to vote, educational tools like slide decks and flyers with voting rights info for all 50 states, PFLAG Academy online trainings focused on getting out the vote, and more resources to take action.
October 16 Zoom Discussion about Election Impact for LGBTQ+ Youth
The stakes have never been higher for LGBTQ+ youth in the upcoming election, with a coordinated and extreme effort targeting the dismantling of public education and the stripping away of civil rights protections.
Join PFLAG National, GLSEN, Advocates for Trans Equality, and the American Federation of Teachers on October 16th at 5 pm Pacific in a discussion about what’s at stake in November for LGBTQ+ youth, LGBTQ+ educators, and their families. Learn more and register today!
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GLSEN National School Climate Survey
GLSEN has recently launched the 2024 National School Climate Survey. This survey aims to understand the school experiences of LGBTQ+ youth. The insights gathered will inform our continuous efforts to create safe and affirming environments for LGBTQ+ youth in schools.
The survey is available to students aged 13 or older who identify as LGBTQ+ and have attended middle or high school in the United States, a U.S. territory, or a U.S. military base overseas during the 2023-2024 school year.
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American Teenager by Nico Lang
From award-winning journalist Nico Lang comes a vivid and moving portrait of trans and nonbinary teenagers across the country, following their daily triumphs, struggles, and all that encompasses growing up trans in America today.
Nico is a nonbinary award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience covering the transgender community’s fight for equality. Their work has appeared in major publications, including Rolling Stone, Esquire, Time, and the Los Angeles Times. Visit pflag.org/ americanteenager to learn more and see Nico's tour dates.
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PFLAG San Francisco Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Special Event on October 17
The PFLAG San Francisco chapter is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, with a special event/fundraiser on October 17, 6 pm, featuring Annette Bening and other distinguished guests. The entire SF Bay Area PFLAG community is invited to help celebrate our sister chapter with inspiring stories, refreshments, nibbles, and a chance to connect with others who share a commitment to love, acceptance, and equality. Learn more and register.
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October is LGBTQ History Month!
Hastiin Klah (1867-1937), Diné Weaver & Healer
In honor of Indigenous People’s Day, we celebrate Hastiin Klah, a two-spirit weaver, healer, and artist of Diné heritage who is credited for saving Navajo weaving tradition. Klah collaborated with a Boston heiress to create the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe. Learn more about Klah in KQED’s story about two-spirit heroes.
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