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Safe Schools South Florida - Back to School News
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From our Executive Director
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Safe Schools South Florida is proud to be celebrating its 20th year of teaching respect for all in schools. SSSF continues its commitment to help ensure that students -- including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) students and those perceived as such -- are not victims of bullying, and that they feel safe & supported in their schools, and that their schools are places where students can learn and thrive.
Last fall the world witnessed the tragedy of at least sixteen students in U.S. schools who were perceived to be gay who were bullied relentlessly -- in person and through the internet -- throughout the first several weeks of school -- with no intervention by adults whose responsibility was protecting these students at school. These students -- one as young as 11 years old -- all committed suicide.
Safe Schools South Florida will continue its programs to see that these tragedies do not occur in South Florida schools. Programs include:
*Training administrators, counselors, teachers, and school support staff to learn about the stressors that LGBTQ youth face and how to create supportive schools for these students and families
*Training students as youth speaker panelists who are the integral, powerful components of school and community trainings
*Hosting annual gay/straight alliance (GSA) youth conferences to empower LGBTQ youth and their allies with education and community resources
*Training successful LGBT adult role models to speak with LGBTQ students and allies so these youth can see "It gets better."
As a South Florida youth stated recently, "Safe Schools South Florida changed my life. Through SSSF I found my voice and who I truly am and have the potential to be."
To learn more about Safe Schools South Florida programs and how you can help volunteer and/or donate to support them, please visit our website www.safeschoolssouthflorida.org. The support you give can make all the difference in the lives of our South Florida youth.
Sincerely,
Robert Loupo
Executive Director
Safe Schools South Florida
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Youth Gathering - 8/13
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 Recently trained Safe Schools South Florida youth speakers met with current SSSF youth speakers and SSSF adult volunteers and staff for a gathering featuring an afternoon of connection, fellowship, fun -- and great food, too! Lisa La Monica, SSSF Youth Speaker Trainer and Coordinator, facilitated the afternoon's activities that helped hone the vision, mission and focus for those involved with the work of Safe Schools South Florida.
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Miami-Dade County Public Schools TRUST Specialists & Social Workers Resource Fair 8/19
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Safe Schools South Florida Assistant Director Enbar Cohen staffs table at the Miami-Dade County Public Schools TRUST Specialist & Social Worker Resource Fair held Friday 8/19 at Braddock Sr. High School.
The fair was held at the beginning of the school year to give TRUST Specialists and Social Workers the opportunity to gain information & resources that could be helpful to themselves and students throughout the coming 2011-2012 school year.
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Summer Events
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SpeakOUT Speakers Bureau Training
Safe Schools South Florida facilitated SpeakOUT Speakers Bureau training in June for LGBT role model adults to speak to LGBTQ youth and allies at group and club meetings in schools.
L to R, Brian Baum, SpeakOUT Coordinator; Steve Adkins, Executive Director, Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; Lisa La Monica, SSSF Youth Speaker Trainer & Coordinator; Hector Zuazo, Retired Teacher, Miami-Dade County Public Schools & SSSF Volunteer
RelationSHIFTS Conference
 SSSF hosted its first RelationSHIFTS Conference on June 25, sponsored by the Aqua Foundation for Women, which featured speakers & workshops to help young women learn more about healthy relationships -- with themselves and others. L to R: Sivan Fraser, Lorinda Lo, Maggie Heinsohn, Haley Cutler
Professional Development Training
Safe Schools South Florida facilitated a presentation on LGBTQ youth issues for Masters and Doctorate-level Clinical Psychology students at the Institute for Child & Family Health in Miami in June. The presentation featured SSSF youth speakers Alfredo and Jasmin with De Palazzo (center) who facilitated.
SSSF Transgender Training with Dr. Volker
Internationally renowned sexologist Dr. Marilyn Volker facilitates SSSF Transgender Training for Teachers, Counselors and Administrators and School Staff at Coral Gables Congregational Church in June.The training featured a panel of transgender persons and their families. A veteran teacher relayed, "This was an incredible, eye-opening experience. I now have a whole new understanding of transgender people and transgender issues."
Hialeah Gardens Training
SSSF trainer De Palazzo and youth speakers pose with teachers who received SSSF gifted endorsement training at Hialieah Gardens Sr. High School in June. One teacher stated, "This was the most dynamic presentation of our gifted endorsement classes. I am now eager to learn more!"
Coconut Grove Rotary Club
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In August SSS F presented an overview of its anti-bully programs to the Coconut Grove Rotary Club at their weekly luncheon at the Grove Sailing Club. SSSF works in collaboration with Thelma Gibson Health Initiative, a long-time and very well-respected community agency that the Grove Rotary Club works in support of.
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Upcoming Events
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Masquerade - Pridelines
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Florida Together Conference
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FLORIDA TOGETHER STATEWIDE CONFERENCE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
Join Florida Together and our more than 80 local LGBT member organizations for the 2011 Conference with some of the most energetic, dynamic, nationally known speakers. Learn how they all take different roads, and find your own road, to our shared destination - full equality for all Americans.
Click here for Conference Flyer
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