GLSTN CONFERENCE UPDATE
Melissa Ponder (mponder@edcc.ctc.edu)
Tue, 13 May 1997 10:21:39 -0700
>**Another update on the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Teachers Alliance (GLSTN)
>Conference (for full conference information see below):**
>
>We are excited to announce that one of our keynote speakers will be
>SUZANNE PHARR, a social and economic justice worker from the South. She
>is the founder of the Women's Project which, for 15 years, has done
>multi-issue, multi-racial organizing and political education in Arkansas
>and nationally. A core organizational project monitors activities of
>white supremacists and the religious Right, as well as incidents of
>religious, racist, sexist, and anti-gay and lesbian violence in Arkansas.
>
>Working across issues with diverse constituencies, Suzanne has
>concentrated primarily upon the elimination of econonmic injustice and
>violence, particularly as they exist along lines of race, gender, sexual
>identity, religious affiliation, and class status.
>
>In recent years, Suzanne has focused most of her attention nationally on
>the resurgence of the Right. She works with organizations to develop
>analysis and strategies to defend against the Right's attacks and to
>develop a progressive vision. This work includes creating written
>analysis and political education materials, convening groups to work
>together on common issues, providing techincal assistance, and
>participating in organizing campaigns.
>
>Suzanne is the author of "Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism" and "In the
>Time of the Right: Reflections on Liberation."
>-----
>
>
>BRIDGING THE GAP: MOVING FROM IDEAS TO ACTION
>
>The first Canada/USA
>conference on gay, lesbian,
>bisexual & transgender issues
>in education
>
>John Marshall School
>Seattle, Washington
>August 18-19, 1997
>
>Co-Sponsored by:
>GLSTNWASH, GALEBC,
>GLSTNOR, GLSTN, and SMAC
>
>MISSION:
>
>Bridging the Gap: Moving from Ideas to Action is a two-day event which will
>provide participants with more than just ideas, more than just notes from
>workshop presenters and keynote speakers. Through a series of two-part
>worksessions, presenters will be responding to the needs of each participant
>by helping them to find mutual support and to initiate action planning to
>their specific situations.
>
>Bridging the Gap: Moving from Ideas to Action is the First Annual
>Northwest/International Conference on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender
>Issues in Education . . . the first such conference to bring together
>educators, students, parents and others from the USA and Canada. It is
>designed to help each of us gain insights into the successes and challenges
>of others.
>
>Bridging the Gap is an attempt to bridge varied ideologies, experiences,
>religious views, levels of interest, concerns about job security, and
>racial and ethnic backgrounds. It may seem that parents, teachers,
>administrators, and youth have differing needs and goals. This conference
>will provide a forum of collegiality where some of these chasms might be
>crossed.
>
>Bridging the Gap: Moving from Ideas to Action should prove to be a great
>way to start the 1997-98 school year--with a sense of mutual support and
>energy for action. Seattle is a delightful place in the summer, a
>wonderful opportunity for a working vacation. We hope you will join your
>friends and colleagues from throughout Western Canada and the United States
>for this exciting event!
>
>
>WORKSHOPS
>Worksessions will be set up so that each participant learns from the
>presenter and has opportunities to apply what is learned to one's own given
>situation. Most worksessions will be scheduled in two parts to achieve this
>goal: presentation and action planning. Some worksessions will be based
>entirely on active participation. There will be two sets of worksessions on
>each of the two days of the conference. To "Bridge the Gap," presenters will
>come from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and geographic areas. Youth
>presenters and participants will be important components of this conference.
>
>
>Worksession Topics:
>Administrative issues/action/support/voices
>Parents and family issues/action/support/voices
>Teacher issues/action/support/voices
>Yourth issues/action/support/voices
>BC, OR and WA, specific issues
>Elementary, middle, high school issues
>College-level teacher education and curriculum
>Advocacy
>Case Studies
>Health
>Community organizing
>Diversity issues
>Intervention
>Legal issues
>Legislation
>Printed and video resources
>
>KEYNOTES
>*SUZANNE PHARR, athor of Homophobia: Weapon of Sexism and In the Time
>of the Right: Reflections on Liberation, long-time economic and social
>justice worker, founder of the Women's Proejct
>
>*SCOTT NAKAGAWA, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force organizer, a leader
>of the Oregon NO ON 9 campaign, founding member of Artists for a Hate Free
>America
>
>*KELLI PETERSON, Co-founder of the East High Gay-Straight Alliance in Salt
>Lake City and receipient of the National Education Association 1997
>Humanitarian Award
>
>*PETER McCUE, First Vice-President and leader in gay/lesbian issues in the
>British Columbia Teacehrs Federation, school counselor in Nanaimo, BC
>
>
>SCHEDULE
>
>Sunday, August 17
>7-10 p.m.
>Opening Reception with Bobby Burns Jazz Trio
>(The Northwest School, 1415 Summit)
>
>
>Monday, August 18
>8 a.m.-5 p.m.
>Registration
>Opening Plenary Session: Suzanne Pharr
>Morning Worksessions
>Lunch (no-host at nearby restaurants)
>Afternoon Plenary Session: Scott Nakagawa
>Afternnon Worksessions
>
>7-11 p.m.
>Derivative Due and 70's Disco Dancing
>(The Timberline, 2015 Boren; 21 and over)
>
>Tuesday, August 19
>8:30-4:30
>Morning Plenary Session: Peter McCue
>Morning Worksessions
>Lunch (no-host at nearby restaurants)
>Afternoon Worksessions
>Closing Plenary Session: Kelli Peterson
>
>CONFERENCE LOCATION
>John Marshall Buildilng
>520 NE Ravenna Blvd.
>Seattle, WA 98115
>
>The John Marshall Building is located on NE Ravenna Blvd., between I-5 and
>Green Lake in the East Green Lake neighborhood. Via car travelling
>southbound on I-5, take exit #171; northbound on I-5, take exit #170.
>Parking is located behind the building. The neighborhood is served by
>Metro busses #16, 26, and 48
>
>Only three to five blocks away are the many restaurants and shops of the
>East Green Lake and Roosevelt neighborhoods. Green Lake is on the of the
>city's foremost recreational parks.
>
>
>REGISTRATION COSTS:
>
>Early Registration (Before June 15, 1997):
>$50 US/ $75 CDN regular
>$35 US/ $50 CDN limited income
>$10 US/ $15 CDN youth under 21
>
>Regular Registration (June 16-August 18, 1997):
>$65 US/ $100 CDN regular
>$50 US/ $80 CDN limited income
>$15 US/ $20 CDN youth under 21
>
>Several registration scholarships will be available. If you are interested
>in providing or obtaining such monies, please contact us. We regret that no
>provision will be made for partial payment by those who wish to attend only
>one day of the conference.
>
>
>IF YOU WISH TO REGISTER, PLEASE PRINT OUT THE FORM BELOW AND MAIL IT, WITH
>CHECK, TO THE SPECIFIED ADDRESS. DO NOT EMAIL YOUR FORM.
>
>If you want more information, please contact: GLSTNWASH, 206/343-8387;
>email: GLSTNWASH@aol.com
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>REGISTRATION
>
>Name: _____________________________________
>
>Address: __________________________________
>
>___________________________________________
>
>___________________________________________
>
>Phone: _____________________________________
>
>Email: ______________________________________
>
>
>Please include this registration form with a check for the appropriate amount
>listed elsewhere in this brochure. If you are paying in US funds, make
>checks payable to:
>
>GLSTN/WA
>1202 E. Pike Street #569
>Seattle, WA 98122
>
>If you are paying in Canadian funds, make checks payable to:
>
>GALEBC
>P.O. Box 93678
>Nelson Park P.O.
>Vancouver, BC V6E 4L7
>
>
>The following information will help us to provide an effective range of
>workshops and to obtain supplementary funding for the conference so that
>registration costs can be kept low.
>
>1. Are you currently a member of:
>
> _______ GLSTNWASH?
>
> _______ GALEBC?
>
> _______ GLSTNOR?
>
> _______ other GLSTN chapters?
>
>2. What is your gender? _______________
>
>3. What is your race/ethnicity? _____________
>
>4. What is your profession?
>
> ________ elementary teacher
>
> ________ middle school teacher
>
> ________ high school teacher
>
> ________ college/university teacher
>
> ________ school administrator
>
> ________ school counselor
>
> ________ librarian
>
> ________ high school student
>
> ________ college/university student
>
> ________ parent
>
> ________ retired educator
>
> ________ other: ______________________________
>
>5. If you are an educator, for how long have you been in the profession?
>
>_____________ years
>
>6. How did you hear about this conference? ___________________________
>
>7. Are you able to help with providing registration scholarship(s) for those
>with limited income? __________________
>
>8. Do you have specific dietary needs for the
>conference?_______________________________________________________
>
>9. Do you have specific local transportation needs while in Seattle?
>
>__________________________________________________________________
>
>10. Do you have specific housing needs while in Seattle?
>
>__________________________________________________________________
>
>11. Do you have comments, request, or concerns about the conference?
>
>__________________________________________________________________
>
>__________________________________________________________________
>
>__________________________________________________________________
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>HOSTS AND CO-SPONSORS
>
>GLSTNWASH: The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network is the largest
>national organization which strives to assure that each member of every
>school community is valued regardless of sexual orientation. One of over 60
>GLSTN affiliates, GLSTN/Washington State since February 1995 has sponsored
>meetings, retreats, and curricular materials for educators and provided
>support and advocacy for glbt educators, families, and youth.
>
>GALEBC: Gay and Lesbian Educators of British Columbia was established in
>1990. The organization has been involved in a wise variety of projects
>including: resource development, teacher inservice training, provincial
>lobbying of the education ministry, meetings, and social events. GALEBC
>works closely with a number of queer youth groups and many committees within
>the B.C. Teachers' Federation.
>
>GLSTNOR: The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network of Oregon is one of
>the more recent affiliates of GLSTN. The chapter was chartered in 1996. It
>has successfully sponsored a film premier and is working to provide
>Oregonians with safe and supportive school environments.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Melissa S.K. Ponder
NW Center for Equity and Diversity
EDCC
20000 68th Ave. W.
Lynnwood, WA
98036
FAX 206-640-1124