Jump Start Guide
DownloadsGLSEN’s student organizing team has created this resource to support new and established Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) and similar groups that are working to make schools safer and more inclusive for all students. We’ve been hearing from many organizers that they need concrete ideas for building, shaping and activating their groups, and that’s what this guide is all about. It takes you through the process of establishing your student club, identifying your mission and goals, assessing your school’s climate, and engaging in projects and activities throughout the year. It also offers resources for further exploration. This guide consists of eight self-contained sections; all are designed to help you jump-start—or bring fresh and creative energy to—your student club.
Topics include:
Please note that we have chosen to use gender-neutral language in this resource. We recognize that replacing “he” and “she” with the gender-neutral “they” is grammatically questionable, but we hope you will overlook this in support of students who do not use "he" or "she" to identify themselves.
- Building and Activating Your GSA
- Tips and Tools for Organizing an Action Campaign
- Strategies for Training Teachers
- Understanding Direct-Action Organizing
- Examining Power, Privilege and Oppression
- Creating Youth-Adult Partnerships
- Making Your Student Club Trans-Inclusive
- Evaluation, Continuation, Celebration!
If you would like to receive more information about GLSEN, or to get involved in the safer schools movement, please register online at www.studentorganizing.org! We welcome your feedback on the activities in this guide—and we salute you for the important work you are doing to create safer schools for all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
