{"430441":{"#nid":"430441","#data":{"type":"news","title":"LGBTQIA Resource Center Presents New Safe Space Curriculum","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EAs resources and benefits continue to grow and expand for LGBTQIA students and employees, so too does the demand for training on how best to support colleagues and students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EWhen Aby Parsons became director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and Ally (LGBTQIA) Resource Center in 2014, she made it a goal to update the curriculum of the Safe Space training program to meet growing interest from the campus community.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EParsons presented the new curriculum at a training last month, and in the fall and spring semesters, the LGBTQIA Resource Center will offer monthly trainings to faculty and staff.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003ELaunched in 2001 by Stephanie Ray, associate dean of students and director of Student Diversity Programs, Safe Space is Georgia Tech\u2019s LGBTQIA ally training program for faculty, staff, and supporters. Featuring the new curriculum, each four-hour Safe Space training will be an interactive opportunity for participants to explore, discuss, and practice how to be an ally to their LGBTQIA colleagues and students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cWhile many Safe Space programs focus on offering one-on-one support, our program looks at allyship as a whole,\u201d said Parsons. \u201cWe want participants to leave this training program thinking about updating workplace policies, using more inclusive language, and educating themselves and others, so they can truly make a difference at Georgia Tech and beyond.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EThe updated Safe Space curriculum addresses seven key learning goals relating to language, privilege and oppression, identity development, \u201callyship,\u201d advocacy, policies, and resources. The training program also examines how gender and sexuality intersect with race, disability, education level, socioeconomic status, and age to impact the lives of LGBTQIA faculty and staff.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cSafe Space is engaging and effective at increasing the knowledge, self-awareness, and skills necessary to support the LGBTQIA community,\u201d said Erin English, staff therapist and collegiate recovery program coordinator in the Counseling Center who participated in a recent training. \u201cIt is an invaluable resource; I cannot recommend it highly enough.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003ETo offer more training programs, Parsons recruited seven new facilitators from the Offices of Admissions, Health Promotion, Housing, and Student Life who will lead each session.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003ESafe Space will be offered on September 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., October 22 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., and November 23 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Additional trainings can also be set up for groups or departments. To register or learn how to request a training, visit \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/safespace.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ewww.safespace.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EParsons\u2019 office and the LGBTQIA Resource Center, part of the Office of Student Life and Institute Diversity, are located in Room 138, Smithgall Student Services (Flag) Building.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p7\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u2014 Sara Warner, Office of Student Life, contributed to this story.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EThe LGBTQIA Resource Center will offer monthly trainings to faculty and staff throughout the fall and spring semesters.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The LGBTQIA Resource Center will offer monthly trainings to faculty and staff throughout the fall and spring semesters."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2015-08-03 11:03:18","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:19:19","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2015-08-03T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2015-08-03T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"430451":{"id":"430451","type":"image","title":"Safe Space","body":null,"created":"1449254381","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 18:39:41","changed":"1475895169","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:52:49"}},"media_ids":["430451"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/safespace.gatech.edu\/","title":"Safe Space Training"},{"url":"http:\/\/studentaffairs.gatech.edu\/","title":"Division of Student Affairs"},{"url":"http:\/\/diversity.gatech.edu\/","title":"Office of Institute Diversity"},{"url":"http:\/\/lgbtqia.gatech.edu\/","title":"LGBTQIA Resource Center"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"736","name":"diversity"},{"id":"137111","name":"lgbtqia resource center"},{"id":"167983","name":"safe space"},{"id":"167141","name":"Student Life"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:annette.filliat@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAnnette Filliat\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}