Workshop Summary

Participants of this workshop will learn the language and definitions that are utilized when discussing SOGIE as well as the impact language can have on the wellbeing of LGBTQ youth. This workshop will provide a foundational understanding of the basic concepts of SOGIE: sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex assigned at birth. In addition, participants will learn LGBTQ+ specific terms and concepts as well as gain an understanding of the coming out process. The objectives of the workshop are as follows:

• Examine and distinguish the various components of SOGIE
• Develop your language so that it can become a tool for your professional practice
  
• Understand the impact language can have on the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth
  
• Dispel myths and stereotypes about SOGIE and LGBTQ+ identities
  
• Understand sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex assigned at birth as spectrums
• Develop a foundational understanding of the coming out process

The workshop will utilize a combination of lecture style presentations and voluntary participant engagement. The last 15 minutes will be reserved for a Q&A session.

Presenter Bios

Eden Sarkisian initially joined the Los Angeles LGBT Center as a Residential Assistant before transitioning into their current role in the RISE Program drawing on their background in social justice education and intergroup dialogue as well as academic research skills.

Doni Tadesse (he/him/his) Desiring a direct involvement with the well-being of youth in this population, particularly those of intersecting identities such as LGBTQ+ youth of color, Doni sought involvement with the nationally-recognized RISE Program at the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

https://rise.lalgbtcenter.org/

Workshop Summary

The workshop will provide professionals working with Latinx LGBTQ youth an understanding of family and cultural factors that contribute to or prevent the risk for substance use among this vulnerable population.

Presenter Bios

Andrea Velasquez is a health educator with the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Program.

Alan Pineda is a California substance abuse counselor with Sunrise Community Counseling Center. He currently works with youth and young adults between the ages of 10-28 years old.

projectbelievela.com

chla.org/substance-use-prevention-and-treatment-program

Workshop Summary

This workshop will discuss ways of reaching, engaging and retaining LGBTQ+ youth through social media sources.  Although the workshop will offer examples primarily from engaging youth in research studies, tips and tricks provided can be applicable to other types of engagement strategies as well.

Presenter Bios

Jeremy T. Goldbach (he/him) and Harmony Rhoades (she/her) are faculty at the USC Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work.  They, alongside a dozen other faculty, post-doctoral scholars, students and staff work in the Center for LGBTQ+ Health Equity to conduct research and education toward improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people, with an emphasis on children and adolescents.

https://dworakpeck.usc.edu/research/centers-affiliations/center-for-lgbtq-health-equity-clhe

Workshop Summary

For many youth, it can be hard to find service providers and spaces that line up with their narratives and values. Utilizing intersectional and anti oppressive approaches to begin supporting youth as a whole, this workshop hopes to begin the steps in moving away from traditional and often harmful approaches to youth services and begin engagement in creative and holistic healing practices while promoting youth’s autonomy and personal narrative around their want and need for change.

Presenter Bio

Jeffrey Park is the Clinical Supervisor at the LA LGBT Youth Center

Erica E. Rodriguez is a Clinician II at the Los Angeles LGBT Center Transitional Living Program

www.lalgbtcenter.org

Workshop Summary

Are you looking for practical tools to support LGBTQ+ students on campus and virtually? In this workshop, you can learn more about the Out for Safe Schools® campaign, a district-wide program that transforms school campuses into communities of support and safety for LGBTQ+ students. Participants will also learn effective techniques to increase the wellbeing and inclusivity of LGBTQ+ students by creating safe spaces on school campuses and in remote and virtual school settings.

Presenter Bio

Valentina D’Alessandro is the OUT for Safe Schools® campaign coordinator at the Los Angeles LGBT Center

https://schools.lalgbtcenter.org/out-for-safe-schools/

Workshop Summary

Creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth that are substance-free.

Presenter Bio

Carlos Sosa is the founder and current Executive Director of The C.I.T.Y. x1 Youth Group, a nonprofit organization dedicating to linking LGBT Youth to social services.

CITYx1.org

Workshop Summary

Harm Reduction is both a set of tools we can use and a philosophy that can help us understand why people use drugs and how to respect and support them in their decisions. In this workshop, we will delve into some of the principles and foundations of harm reduction. We will explore some of the historical approaches to substance use, and unpack how the war on drugs has influenced our perceptions of people who use drugs. We will also review some of the common harm reduction models, like the continuum of drug use and the risk set setting model.

Presenter Bio

Nathalia Gibbs (They/Them) currently works as the LGBTQ and Harm Reduction coordinator at NHRC, where they are currently working to build relationships between LGBTQ service providers, substance use service providers, and community members to transform systems of care for queer people who use drugs.

https://harmreduction.org/about-us/team/

Workshop Summary

This workshop will be co-presented by youth and adults who have hosted multiple, successful youth town halls to provide youth in the community a voice– and adults perspective on youth needs. Find out how to recruit youth, ideas for activities, and ideas for both in-person & on-line town halls.

Presenter:  

Pamela Gould works with the dedicated and innovative Jefferson County Communities That Care community partners and our smart, creative, caring youth as a community mobilizer for the past four years in Colorado.

www.jeffcoctc.com

www.twelvetalks.com