Addressing Microaggressions and Building Allyship Tools as Providers for Queer and Trans System Involved Youth

Ursula Elsa and Molly James

Training Description

Examining and dismantling our own implicit gender bias is essential to being providers that can serve youth, and specifically support system involved youth who are queer, trans, and questioning. In this training, you will learn about microaggressions and how to interrupt bullying and discrimination for LGBTQI+ youth and how to engage in this learning with all system involved youth and families that you work with. You will learn mindfulness-based practices to engage LGBTQI+ youth in processing unaccepting attitudes, developing self-awareness, cultivating self-worth and a self-love. You will gain tools to deepen your allyship and co-liberatory practices to support system involved youth exploring their gender and sexuality.

Learning Objectives

● Explore and understand how mindfulness can be supportive and culturally relevant for system involved LGBTQI+ youth

● Engage in at least 1 activity to support youth in their self-awareness and acceptance

● Explore at least 1 activity for supporting youth in cultivating self-worth and self-love

● Learn how to cultivate your allyship and collaboration practices and advocacy as support providers for youth

● Learn and practice how to utilize at least 1 mindfulness-based non-judgmental practice for system involved youth

● Learn at least 2 tools for supporting youth in exploring their gender and sexuality

● Practice and learn at least 1 breathing technique for system involved youth to cope with stress and anxiety

Agenda 

11:00-11:30am  Welcome, Housekeeping, and Introductions

11:30am-12:00pm  Self Reflection + Embodied Mindfulness Practice

12:10-12:15pm  Introduction to Mindfulness

12:15-1:00pm  Activity 1: The Gender Wheel: Exploring gender identity and expression

1:00-1:45pm  Activities 2 + 3: Self Acceptance and Self Love Practices for LGBTQI+ Youth

1:45-2:30pm  Lunch Break + Individual Questions / Consultation (CEUs will not be offered during this time)

2:30-3:00pm  Activity 4: Exploring Implicit Gender Bias and Microaggressions

3:00-3:45pm  Activity 5: Cultivating Allyship + Co-liberatory Practices for LGBTQI+ Youth

3:45-4:00pm  Closing and Feedback

Meet Our Trainers

Ursula Elsa (they/she) was born and raised in the beautiful land of the Bay Area, Ohlone Territory. She has been teaching mindfulness and nature connection to youth in the Bay Area for 8 years and is currently leading rites of passage and nature connection programming for Gaia Passages. Ursula is passionate about creating programming for LGBTQI+ and neurodiverse communities. She is also a trained doula and an advocate of parent’s rights in the birth community. 

Molly James is an educator, facilitator and experience designer based on Ohlone land in Oakland, CA. Molly has been crafting experiential education opportunities for youth and adults for the past ten years. She is passionate about creating educational spaces that foster creativity, equity and transformative learning. She is currently working as a substance use prevention specialist for Oakland Unified School District and pursuing a masters in counseling at Sonoma State University.

This course meets the qualifications for (4.25) BBS CEUs for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.