WORKSHOPS & TRAINING
OUR TRAINING PHILOSOPHY
- HMI Center is dedicated to sharing our promising practices and program models through our interactive and thought-provoking trainings. It is our intention that participants will then turnkey and operationalize these practices and models in their respective organizations, enhancing their capacity to serve LGBTQIA+ youth.
- The training team begins by fostering a safer training space for participants to explore their own relationships to human sexuality and gender identity, and information that can help expand their understanding of such frameworks. We then share tools and models that support expansive understandings of human sexuality, especially for LGBTQIA+ youth.
- Our trainings are research-informed and evidenced based, interactive and engaging, and strengthen understanding of youth development theory as well as sharpen participants’ youth work skillsets.
OUR TRAINING OFFERINGS
To register for any of these sessions, please email us at training@hmi.org.
Now more than ever before, young people are identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or something other than cisgender and/or heterosexual.1 In order to best serve LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults and ameliorate their unique challenges, it is imperative that human service providers, educators, and supportive adults begin to understand how gender and sexuality are evolving, and how they too experience acculturation and socialization around these concepts. It is equally as important that they understand the connection between adopting an evolving framework of gender and sexuality and the improvement of educational and social outcomes for LGBTQIA+ youth in their classrooms and programs.
Training Objectives:
In Any Which Way You Go: Exploring Our Relationships to Gender Identity and Human Sexuality, trainees will:
- Recall the importance of establishing co-created, intentional, and mutually agreeable rules of engagement we call community invitations
- Learn and practice asking for names and Personal Gender Pronouns (PGPs)
- Rehearse a strategy for reducing harm when the wrong gender pronoun is used for a student and/or program participant
- Review terms and definitions related to gender identity and human sexuality
- Compare and contrast a traditional gender model and an expansive gender model
- Examine and discuss our own personal gender associations
- Review the HMI Human Sexuality Model
In his 2016 op-ed for The Guardian, journalist and activist Tiq Milan purported that the increased visibility of transgender celebrities did not and will not necessitate safety for all trans people. He further posited that a ‘trans backlash’, or spike in violence towards transgender people, would ensue if the focus of movement work didn’t shift from celebrity to justice and liberation.
Unfortunately, Tiq’s forecasting proved to be true for both transgender folks as well as other members of the LGBTQIA+ community. There has been a pronounced increase of verbal and physical assaults on LGBTQIA+ people, including youth and young adults, in communities across the nation—even in seemingly progressive metropolitan areas like New York City.
As such, it is imperative youth service providers recognize their responsibility in cultivating safer spaces, or environments that are intentional in healing the harm experienced by LGBTQIA+ youth through education and empowerment.
Training Objectives:
In Creating Safer and More Inclusive Environments for LGBTQIA+ Youth, participants will:
- Recall the importance of establishing co-created, intentional, and mutually agreeable rules of engagement we call community invitations
- Reorient with the gender pronoun recognition tool, ‘Name + Personal Gender Pronouns (PGPs)
- Rehearse a strategy for reducing harm when the wrong gender pronoun is used for a student and/or program participant
- Compare and contrast participants notions of safety and safer spaces
- Review up-to-date data on LGBTQIA+ youth mental health and educational outcomes
- Complete and discuss individual and organizational LGBTQIA+ youth support readiness assessments
- Review HMI Best Practices for supporting LGBTQIA+ youth
- Practice using tools and strategies for creating safer spaces with other participants
- Questions & Answers
Explore the frameworks of compassionate advocacy and effective support with our workshop, “Using a Strengths-Based Approach for Allies Working with LGBTQ Youth.” This workshop is more than just a learning opportunity; it’s a call to action. We believe that every LGBTQ youth deserves a network of allies who understand, uplift, and empower them, and this workshop will equip you with the tools and mindset to be that crucial ally.
In this workshop, we will delve into the transformative power of a strengths-based approach, a philosophy that recognizes and amplifies the unique strengths and potential of LGBTQ youth. Through engaging activities and in-depth discussions, you will:
- Explore the fundamentals of a strengths-based approach and how it can positively impact the experiences of LGBTQ youth.
- Learn effective communication techniques and active listening skills to better understand and address the unique needs of LGBTQ youth.
- Acquire practical strategies for creating safe spaces, promoting mental health, and fostering resilience within the LGBTQ youth community.
- Gain insights into the specific challenges LGBTQ youth may face, such as discrimination, mental health concerns, and the coming-out process.
Discover the unique and transformative role of youth workers in our workshop titled “Youth Workers as Bridges.” This workshop is a catalyst for change, a platform to explore the vital role of youth workers as connectors between LGBTQIA+ youth and their families. We believe in the power of forging bridges that strengthen families, nurture young identities, and foster understanding.
In this workshop, we will explore the pivotal role that youth workers can play in building bridges of understanding and acceptance within families and the broader community. Join us in this transformative journey towards creating a world where LGBTQIA+ youth and their families can thrive together, harmoniously embracing diversity and love.
In this workshop, trainees will:
- Explore the concept of youth workers as bridges and understand their influence in connecting young people to resources and opportunities.
- Explore the challenges and experiences of LGBTQIA+ youth
- Learn effective strategies for building trusting relationships with youth and their caregivers, creating a safe space for open communication and support.
- Acquire practical tools for facilitating skill development, emotional well-being, and resilience among young individuals.
According to the Trevor Project, the majority of LGBTQIA+ youth (52%) who were enrolled in middle or high school reported being bullied either in person or electronically in the past year. In addition, LGBTQIA+ students who reported being bullied in the past year had three times greater odds of attempting suicide in the past year. These are the reasons why it is important, as youth workers, to review and understand the best practices for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, ensuring that we are doing our part to lower the previous statistics. In this training, we will review HMI’s recommendations for talking about LGBTQIA+ inclusion with youth and how to handle anti-LGBTQIA+ bullying and microaggressions toward LGBTQIA+ youth. We’ll even review what to say to comments, such as “that’s so gay,” and other related comments.
In this workshop, trainees will:
- Have opportunities to debunk common misconceptions when it comes to LGBTQIA+ inclusion in youth programming
- Moments to reflect on professional identity as informed by our own acculturation
- An opening to assess your organization’s ability to serve and support LGBTQIA+ youth
- An opening to assess our own ability to serve and support LGBTQIA+ youth
- Opportunities to practice responding to anti-LGBTQIA+ comments and micro aggressions
- A chance to review best practices for creating a safer environment for LGBTQIA+ youth
In the Summer of 2020, through Black Lives Matter and Pride month, more of us learned that the intersections of gender, sexuality, and race truly affect our experiences with the systems of oppression around us. LGBTQIA+ youth of color and transgender teenagers experience unique challenges and elevated stress, and according to the Human Rights Campaign, only 11% of youth of color believe their racial/ ethnic group is regarded positively in the U.S. Research from True Colors United shows that when considering that Black youth have an 83% higher risk of experiencing homelessness than youth of other races, it’s clear that youth homelessness is one of the many issues that are compounded by race, sexuality and gender identity. In Kimberlé Crenshaw’s words, let’s work together to ensure that no one “falls through the cracks of our movements.” Through reflecting on our own intersectional identities, privileges, and marginalizations, we can better serve LGBTQIA+ youth with multiple intersecting identities.
In this workshop, trainees will:
- Define intersectionality and explain why it is important to consider
- Listen to people’s lived experiences with reflections afterwards
- Review methods of how to talk to youth about intersectionality, including lesson plans
- Understanding structural inequity/ systems of interlocking oppressions
- Identify barriers that people of many identities may face in participating in your service
Understanding and empathizing with trans identities and experiences is crucial for creating a world where everyone can live authentically and without fear of discrimination. Our workshop, “Transparency Talk: Demystifying Trans Identities and Experiences” offers enlightening discussions and open conversations to debunk myths and broaden perspectives on transgender identities, emphasizing empathy, understanding, and inclusion. We believe that knowledge is a powerful tool for breaking down barriers and fostering empathy, and that’s precisely what we aim to achieve through this enlightening conversation.
By the end of this workshop, you will not only have a clearer understanding of trans identities but also the tools and empathy to contribute to more accepting and inclusive spaces. Join us in this transformative conversation and be a part of the change towards demystifying and empowering trans identities and experiences.
This workshop includes:
- Candid conversations that dismantle stereotypes and misconceptions.
- Foundational knowledge about what it means to be transgender, including terminology, identities, and the spectrum of gender.
- Exploration of the diverse spectrum of transgender identities.
- Insightful global narratives shared by transgender individuals.
- Practical strategies for creating inclusive environments for transgender individuals.
GOALS
- Enhance the cultural competency of youth workers, enabling them to work effectively with diverse family structures and kinship networks within the LGBTQ+ community.
- Equip youth workers with the knowledge and tools to better support and advocate for queer youth and their families.
- Increase the awareness and understanding of youth workers regarding the challenges and strengths of queer families and kinship networks.
- Foster a more inclusive and accepting environment within youth work programs, where all youth feel respected and supported, regardless of their family structure or background.
This workshop includes:
- Define and explain the concept of queer families and kinship networks, e.g. how they come to be and emphasize validity of relationships as family.
- Highlight the diversity of family structures within the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Identify and understand the unique challenges that queer families and kinship networks may face and highlight the strengths and resilience within these families.
- Encourage personal growth and reflection on one’s own beliefs and attitudes towards LGBTQIA+ issues.
- Provide strategies and best practices for creating inclusive environments in youth programs.
- Discuss how to avoid assumptions and stereotypes when working with LGBTQIA+ youth and their families.
- Share resources and tools that can help youth workers provide better support to LGBTQIA+ youth.
Recent observations highlight the imperative for youth workers to engage LGBTQIA+ youth with a sex-positive mindset, recognizing that holistic sexual health education is crucial for their overall well-being. Embracing a sex-positive approach not only empowers youth workers but also contributes to the creation of inclusive and supportive spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals. In our workshop, “Empowering Futures: Navigating Sex Positivity with LGBTQIA+ Youth”, we go beyond the basic understanding of sex positivity by incorporating best practices for fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.
This workshop includes opportunities to:
- Explore the principles of sex positivity and understand its importance in fostering a healthy and affirming environment for LGBTQIA+ youth.
- Reflect on current sexual health education practices and our own experiences with such.
- Acquire tools for open and non-judgmental communication about sex and relationships, fostering trust and understanding with LGBTQIA+ youth.
- Learn strategies to integrate sex-positive practices within youth programs, ensuring that all LGBTQIA+ youth feel valued, respected, and supported.