Educational Workshops

Mission Statement:

The Educational Workshop and Resource program works to create a safe and nurturing campus environment for all members of our community regardless of sexual orientation. The interactive workshops educate and train participants to become allies and advocates who take a proactive role bringing an end to the heterosexist culture that is dominant in today's society.

Goals:

* To educate and increase awareness about queer issues.

* By providing workshops that focus on building a common language, gender and sexuality, and heterosexism and homophobia.

* By supporting workshop participants through non-judgment and willingness to answer questions.

* By facilitating discussions about discrimination and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation.

* By encouraging workshop requests from residential life employees, residents, University administrators, academic departments, and student groups.

* By providing workshops for anyone who is interested in thinking through and becoming more knowledgeable about the diverse nature of sexual orientation.

* By tailoring workshops to meet the specific needs of the group to which it is presented.

To create an ally base:

* By identifying and mobilizing a group of people empathic and informed about queer issues who are willing to provide support, information, and a safe haven.

* By providing those allies willing and committed to providing an atmosphere of acceptance and assistance information on how to be a more effective ally.

* By educating allies on a social, political, historical, and cultural experience from a queer perspective.

* By offering interactive workshops tailored to developing a visible ally membership.

To increase visibility for the queer community.

* By encouraging workshop participants not to use heterosexist language.

* By discussing the significance of visibility in terms of action and symbols.

* By providing stickers and pins so that participants may choose to be visible.

To constantly seek methods to improve workshop effectiveness.

* By distributing evaluations after each workshop.

* By using feedback to adjust programs to meet the changing needs of the campus and surrounding community.

Last Updated: August 2007