Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a “safe space.” As practitioners of youth work, we cannot with absolute certainty guarantee safety, but we can commit to an on-going process of re-evaluating with the young people we serve what makes us all feel safer.

In "Creating Safer & More Inclusive Environments for LGBTQIA+ Youth," we examine both the organizational and individual practices that either promote safety, resiliency, and growth, or conversely— impede it.

In this training, participants will:

• Learn how to codify accountability measures within program spaces that promote respectful interactions and community engagement

• Practice using Personal Gender Pronouns (PGPs) in group and individual introductions as a trope for promoting safety

• Assess personal beliefs and values concerning gender and sexuality and discuss the programmatic implications

• Review national and local data that highlights the unique needs and challenges that LGBTQIA+ youth face

• Examine organizational policies, practices, and programmatic frameworks to ascertain the ability of each participant’s organization to support LGBTQIA+ youth

• Discuss HMI’s best practices and recommendations for supporting LGBTQIA+ youth

• Practice implementing HMI’s best practices and recommendations for supporting LGBTQIA+ youth through case studies from DYCD

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the TA provider, Jane Meek (jmeek@hmi.org).

Advanced registration for this workshop is required. An insufficient number of registrants will result in cancellation or postponement of this workshop. Registration is for the approved candidate only. Substitutions are not allowed without the approval of the TA Provider.

In many cases, space is limited and a waitlist has been established. The registrant is asked to cancel their registration in Eventbrite or contact the TA provider if they are not able to attend a workshop, so that the space can be awarded to another individual. We thank you for that courtesy.

This training is made possible by funding from the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development.