Newark Social Justice Groups to Host Safe Spaces Education Conference
Newark Pride Alliance, American Civil Liberties Union, Hetrick-Martin Institute and RUPride are collaborating to host an all day conference on gay and lesbian bullying in schools. Featuring the NJ Commission for Bullying in Schools Chairwoman, the conference aims to empower educators to effectively handle and prevent abuse of gay and lesbian students. The event is free and open to all.
Newark, NJ, May 30, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Newark Pride Alliance (NPA) announced today that it will collaborate with the Hetrick-Martin Institute, American Civil Liberties Union and RUPride, Rutgers-Newark’s gay & lesbian student organization, to host the second annual Creating Safe Spaces Conference held at the University’s Paul Robeson Campus Center.
On June 11, 2009 local and regional educators, gay & lesbian allies, and students will join Mayor Cory Booker and keynote speakers NJ Commission on Bullying in Schools Chairwoman, Margot Saltzman and Rutgers University student Brayan Zambrano for a full day conversation aimed to empower educators to effectively handle gay/lesbian bullying in schools. Creating Safe Spaces begins at 8a.m and is a Newark-Essex Pride Week celebration signature event.
“The Creating Safe Spaces Conference is designed to be a forum for gay, lesbian and heterosexual community members to participate in the difficult conversations surrounding gay/straight alliances”, explained Dean James Credle, Executive Director of NPA. “These conversations lend themselves to the creation of stronger, safer community for all of us.”
Creating Safe Spaces is free and open to all, with a focus on para-professionals, social service professionals as well as school administrators working in all sectors within the Newark educational system. The conference will feature a film viewing, morning and lunch keynote, a youth panel and break-out sessions lead by academic professionals as well as gay and lesbian professionals. To register for the conference visit www.aclu-nj.org/empower.
“This year’s theme of empowering today’s educators to be tomorrow’s heroes is exactly what the HMI strives to do everyday”, explained Thomas Krever, Executive Director of the Hetrick-Martin Institute. “We can’t assume teachers and staff know how to defuse bullying and abusive situations among gay, lesbian and straight students. We have to teach them.”
Newark Pride Alliance (NPA) is an advocacy group founded in 2003 in response to the murder of Sakia Gunn, an LGBT youth. NPA aims to make Newark, NJ a safe city for LGBT residents and visitors. In recent years, the number of LGBT youth victims of violence and murder has increased. Through Creating Safe Spaces NPA provides an opportunity for mutual understanding and growth. Visit NPA online (http://www.geocities.com/newark_pride_alliance/ ) for more information on their programs or to make a donation.
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On June 11, 2009 local and regional educators, gay & lesbian allies, and students will join Mayor Cory Booker and keynote speakers NJ Commission on Bullying in Schools Chairwoman, Margot Saltzman and Rutgers University student Brayan Zambrano for a full day conversation aimed to empower educators to effectively handle gay/lesbian bullying in schools. Creating Safe Spaces begins at 8a.m and is a Newark-Essex Pride Week celebration signature event.
“The Creating Safe Spaces Conference is designed to be a forum for gay, lesbian and heterosexual community members to participate in the difficult conversations surrounding gay/straight alliances”, explained Dean James Credle, Executive Director of NPA. “These conversations lend themselves to the creation of stronger, safer community for all of us.”
Creating Safe Spaces is free and open to all, with a focus on para-professionals, social service professionals as well as school administrators working in all sectors within the Newark educational system. The conference will feature a film viewing, morning and lunch keynote, a youth panel and break-out sessions lead by academic professionals as well as gay and lesbian professionals. To register for the conference visit www.aclu-nj.org/empower.
“This year’s theme of empowering today’s educators to be tomorrow’s heroes is exactly what the HMI strives to do everyday”, explained Thomas Krever, Executive Director of the Hetrick-Martin Institute. “We can’t assume teachers and staff know how to defuse bullying and abusive situations among gay, lesbian and straight students. We have to teach them.”
Newark Pride Alliance (NPA) is an advocacy group founded in 2003 in response to the murder of Sakia Gunn, an LGBT youth. NPA aims to make Newark, NJ a safe city for LGBT residents and visitors. In recent years, the number of LGBT youth victims of violence and murder has increased. Through Creating Safe Spaces NPA provides an opportunity for mutual understanding and growth. Visit NPA online (http://www.geocities.com/newark_pride_alliance/ ) for more information on their programs or to make a donation.
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