We will begin with a foundational understanding of intersectionality. We will also discuss the terms oppression, privilege, microaggressions and unconscious bias. We will talk about how those play out in our everyday lives. We will discuss how not using an intersectional approach harms the folx we are trying to serve and contributes negatively to the movement to end oppression.  We will discuss historical and contemporary influences that impact people of color, LGBTQ+ folx, non-binary folx and other marginalized populations. We will also talk about allyship as a first step—what it is and what it isn’t. We will honor a mix of learning styles by doing silent write and think activities, small group discussion, large group sharing, video and role-playing. Participants will be able to take all these tools with them to implement in their communities.

Description: In our efforts to provide service while keeping issues of equity and inclusivity in mind, it is important to consider how power and privilege come into play. How do the “isms” (forms of oppression) intersect with risk and protective factors? How can we enhance our advocacy work? How do we move forward in ways that honor all identities and don’t inadvertently create walls with the people who we most want to connect to and serve?

Program Outcomes:

• To equip you to better advocate with your campus and community for a client-centered, trauma-informed approach that takes into account the intersections between substance abuse and oppression.
• Explore historical and cultural influences on clients who are part of marginalized identity groups and the communities in which they live
• Provide specific recommendations for your work

We are in extraordinary times with the perfect storm of a COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrations for racial justice all around the world. These events expose the many racial disparities in our society, particularly as it relates to black people. In what ways do advocates working to end gender-based violence need to pivot in their work or enhance measures they have already implemented in order to better serve the black community? We will look at how stress, isolation, economic anxiety, joblessness and lack of access to resources impact black survivors of gender-based violence and the communities in which they live.

We will end the session by starting to complete an action plan that participants can use with constituents on their campuses and in their communities. Participants will be able to take all these tools with them to implement in their communities.

Program Outcomes:

In this workshop, advocates will have the opportunity to discuss:

• Ways that COVID-19 has unique impact on black people and their communities
• Historical and contemporary influences on the experiences of gender-based violence against black people in the US
• How to show up for members of the community who identify as black
• Specific recommendations to forge a new way forward and create community with black people in our work to end gender-based violence

In our efforts to provide service while keeping issues of equity and inclusivity in mind, it is important to consider how power and privilege come into play. How do the “isms” (forms of oppression) intersect with risk and protective factors? How can we enhance our advocacy work? How do we move forward in ways that honor all identities and don’t inadvertently create walls with the people who we most want to connect to and serve?

Program Outcomes:

• Focus on understanding terms and language;
• Take into account the intersections between gender-based violence and oppression;
• Explore historical and cultural influences on survivors who are part of historically marginalized identity groups and the communities in which they live;
• Provide specific recommendations for your work.

(Helpers and Advocates for Violence Ending Now)

Intended audience: faculty, staff, administrators, student staff, alumni, community members

Description: This is a great introductory training for campus and community members who need foundational understandings of gender-based violence and how to be an effective advocate.

Essential components of this training:

• Pre-test
• SA/IPV/Stalking 101
• Rape Trauma Syndrome
• Appropriate and Effective Response, campus protocol
• Post-test
• Q&A

What does it feel like when someone really loves you? What does a good relationship look like? Do you know the signs when it goes wrong?  We will have a fun, interactive session to take a look at how a relationship looks when it’s going great and when things are going wrong.  We will also learn how to help a friend or loved one who may be involved in a not-so-good situation.

Program Outcomes:

1. Identify the elements of a healthy relationship and how to evaluate your own
2. Determine what healthy boundaries look like in relationships
3. Define consent in relationships
4. Identify ways to intervene safely if relationship abuse is present

This gender-based violence prevention workshop is for parents and family members of students as is designed to examine their role in creating active bystander behaviors in their students.

Intended audience: parents and family of students

Essential components of this training:

• Defining Key Terms: victim/survivor, sexual assault, interpersonal violence, stalking, consent, active bystander
• Understanding the Scope of the Problem (Stats)
• The Bystander Effect
• Barriers for Involvement (culturally specific)
• Solutions
• Case-studies w/Role Play (includes small and large group work)
• Q&A

The term “cultural humility” was introduced in 1998 as a dynamic and lifelong process focusing on self-reflection and personal critique, acknowledging one’s own biases. It recognizes the shifting nature of intersecting identities and encourages ongoing curiosity rather than an endpoint. Cultural humility involves understanding the complexity of identities. It requires self-evaluation and critique and redresses power imbalances.  In our session, we will be taking a deeper dive into topics related to anti-oppression approaches, with a particular focus on action steps and making meaningful change on the individual, relational, community and societal levels.

Workshop Outcomes

Participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate and explore answers to the following ideas:

• Which parts of my identity am I aware of? Which are most salient? Which parts of my identity are privileged and/or marginalized? How does my sense of identity shift based on context and settings?
• How do I recognize and react to oppressive messages that are being communicated?
• What impact might microaggressions have on the recipients?
• How are these ‘isms operational within the systems in which I provide services? How do ‘isms trickle down to national levels, state levels, institutions, and systems as well as how policies and procedures are established?
• How would I interrupt microaggressions and what gets in the way of interrupting the oppression?
• How do I begin the process of strategizing to create collaborative community change in a way that honors identities and advances power sharing?

Participants will gain insight into their individual strengths as leaders to help them build confidence in their leadership abilities. We will also look at what could be holding them back from embracing their extraordinary skills. At points in their lives, they may have received messages that they are “less than” or that their particular skills set doesn’t matter.  We will uncover what some of these “records” are and how they may be holding them back.  They will have the opportunity to pinpoint their values and to discuss what it means as a leader when others share their values and when they do not.  Ultimately, they will develop an action plan to lead change on their campus and in their community.  We will uncover what “winning” truly means and dispel the traditional notion of what it means to win at all costs.

Program Outcomes:

• Gain confidence in one’s leadership skills,
• Build awareness of one’s values as they relate to leadership,
• Build collaborative relationships,
• Recognize one’s responsibility to lead change on campus and in the community
• Develop a greater understanding of women’s roles as equal contributors to society.

Intended audience: High School and College Students who identify as girls/women

Description: SHElect is a fast-paced, dynamic and interactive program for girls and young women who wish to make a positive change in the world!

www.shelect.org

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this educational activity, the participant will:

1. Explore intersections of identity
2. Identify the barriers that exist for women of color in political leadership and solutions for overcoming those barriers
3. Create and deliver an elevator speech that explains their platform
4. Learn how to build their message within their community and how to take the message to others outside their community.
5. Learn how to build a network of allies
6. Identify techniques to create funding for their campaign
7. Identify next steps to continue this work.
8. Leave with resources on best practices, models and references to continue their work.