WJCS Center Lane LGBTQ+ Community Education for Youth and Adults

WJCS Center Lane supports LGBTQ+ youth by offering education for youth and adults on how to create a safe, welcoming and affirming community for all youth. We educate peers, parents, teachers, administrators, physicians, therapists – anyone who knows or works with teens in Westchester! We facilitate engaging and interactive presentations and workshops by creating a safe environment where participants can ask tough questions, learn without judgement, and  enhance their skills to treat LGBTQ+ youth with respect and dignity.

Presentation topics, include:

• Advancing Affirming Environments – This introductory presentation reviews current language about identities within the LGBTQ+ community, some common misconceptions, noted people representing different parts of the community, the differences between and among gender, sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, and gender identity and the ways they are and are not related.  We conclude with some tips on preferred language, including the importance of pronouns.  We have individualized it for elementary and secondary schools, as well as parent groups, community groups, and other organizations to reflect their specific needs.
• Using the ORIENT Process to Support LGBTQ+ Students   – This presentation is usually done as a follow-up to Advancing Affirming Environments.  Short scenarios taken from actual situations in Westchester schools are presented with a six-step process to assess, analyze, plan, implement and evaluate courses of action for a range of situations.
• Conversations about LGBTQ Conversations – This presentation helps people identify the ways that they can show LGBTQ+ individuals that they consider themselves ‘safe’ and open to conversations about LGBTQ+ issues.  Topics include setting your reputation, non-verbal cues, ways to drop clues in your everyday language, the role of pronouns, and the use of inclusive language and practices that are not tied to gender or gender roles.
• Coming Out – The ‘coming out’ process is lifelong, and different for everyone.  There are also at least two participants!  Coming Out gives both perspectives – the person ‘coming out’ and the person they are ‘coming out’ to.  When everyone understands the dynamics of the process and the perspectives of those involved, everyone is better prepared for this important step in any relationship.
• Conversations about LGBTQ Conversations – This presentation helps people identify the ways that they can show LGBTQ+ individuals that they consider themselves ‘safe’ and open to conversations about LGBTQ+ issues.  Topics include setting your reputation, non-verbal cues, ways to drop clues in your everyday language, the role of pronouns, and the use of inclusive language and practices that are not tied to gender or gender roles.
• When GENDA Met DASA – The roles schools and school staff play in the lives of LGBTQ+ students are critical.  Understanding the legal underpinnings of four key documents, GENDA (the Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination Act), FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), DASA (the Dignity for All Students Act), and the SED Guidance Document for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students is important for members of the school community to understand so they can best support all students, and help schools fulfill their legal and educational obligations to the students they serve.  This session includes practical information, such as inclusive language, situations to watch out for, and approaches to keep everyone safe and informed.
• LGBTQ+ History! – Using an interactive, but easy-to-use technology, participants will learn about the people and events that have shaped the LGBTQ+ community, our country, and the world!  We have a range of questions for all audiences, and can make the session a competitive contest, or a non-competitive learning experience.
• This Is Me:  A Gender Journey – We partner with the parent of a gender-creative elementary school student and information about the transgender community (current language, transitioning, ways to affirm) are interspersed with anecdotes from the parent as she relates her journey.
• What Is Center Lane? – We are frequently called upon to introduce ourselves and our services.  This is typically paired with a Q&A, or some other presentation or topic.
• Meeting the Needs of LGBTQ+ Clients – When we work with organizations providing medical or clinical services, their consideration of everything from the website people use to find them, to the language on their forms, to how they are greeted in your building and waiting room is critical to their ability to serve LGBTQ+ clients/patients.  There is also considerable discussion on how support staff and providers treat birth/dead names, names, pronouns with the individual, and with their paperwork.
• LGBTQ+ and Health Education – This workshop designed for Health Educators discusses how to expand the conversations around healthy relationships, sexting/texting, safer sex practices, abuse and abusive relationships to (a) include representation of the LGBTQ+ community, (b) ensure that the language does not exclude anyone (not all boys have penises, not everyone experiences sexual attraction), (c) uses langage that is accurate, but is not inherently tied to gender (sperm-producing systems and egg-producing systems), and (d) stresses ‘Assigned Male/Female at Birth, not ‘Born a Boy/Girl).
• Professional Development for Support Staff – This is a specially designed workshop that incorporates much of the material in LGBTQ+ 101, but adds the role and the responsibilities of support staff such as teacher aides, teaching assistants, clerical staff, food services staff, custodial staff, and transportation staff related to confidentiality, and when it is important to involve the classroom teacher, school clinician, nurses, and administrators.
• Raising the Next Generation – This presentation focuses families and other concerned adults and the needs LGBTQ+ youth may experience in society.  Issues related to coming out and how families respond, risk factors such as substance abuse, depression, suicidality, homelessness, are presented, as well as ways communities and community-based organizations can respond.
• Supporting a GSA – We help schools with new, established, or transitioning GSAs (Gay-Straight Alliance or Gender/Sexuality Alliance) organize, energize, or examine their practices.  We discuss ways that successful GSAs run successful meetings, establish leadership roles, fundraise, sponsor Days of Action (Ally Week, World AIDS Day, Day of Silence) and ways their club can be integrated in school-wide events such as Club Fairs, Community Days, etc.
• Need something you don’t see?  Give us a call at (914) 423-0610 or email us at [email protected]!

WJCS Center Lane staff have given presentations to numerous audiences, including:

• Elementary, Middle, and High School students, administrators, teachers, psychologists, social workers, counselors, staff, teacher aides/assistants, nurses, safety personnel, support staff and volunteers
• Parents, including PTAs, service organizations, and social groups
• Child care agencies, including direct care staff, clinical staff, support personnel, and families
• Community-based organizations
• Counseling and social service agencies, including substance abuse counselors, social workers, psychologists, and therapists
• Human Resources departments
• Faith communities
• Government agencies and offices
• Health fairs, career fairs, and Pride conferences
• Law enforcement professionals
• Physicians and other medical professionals
• Residential Treatment Centers

To learn more and schedule a training, please contact [email protected].

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