With the Fall well underwayand school back in
session, GLSEN Boston would like to welcome you to
our 2006-2007 calendar of events. In keeping with
the GLSEN vision, "a world in which every child
learns to accept and respect all people, regardless
of sexual orientation and gender
identity/expression", the GLSEN Boston chapter
has recommitted itself to solidifying its existing
training and expanding its reach. This year the
GLSEN Board will focus on new areas of growth,
namely, actively reaching out to schools and
organizations beyond the greater Boston area in
order to create safe environments throughout the
Commonwealth. We would like to highlight a few of
our programs and events and then direct you, our
loyal supporters, to our 2006-2007 calendar on the
homepage of our website (www.glsenboston.org),
where
you will find more information about
our year and ways in which you can support us as
well as get involved.
Thus far GLSEN Boston has successfully completed
trainings at the Boston University School of
Education as well as the Rafael Hernandez Middle
School in Boston. We are anticipating and in the
planning stages of trainings with the Cambridge
Juvenile Courts, at a social justice conference at a
middle school in Needham, a system wide series of
trainings in the New Bedford Public Schools, as well
as a series of trainings with the “Squashbusters”, a
Boston-based youth organization. These most recent
safe-schools
training projects are an exciting
continuation of the work we have been doing in our
community for more than 15 years - in the past
three years alone, we have trained 1,100 youth, 1,200
teachers, and 45 schools whose classrooms include
more than 13,000 students.
The Boston chapter worked diligently during the last
fiscal year to create a K-5 elementary school
curriculum which we are looking to pilot in schools
in the upcoming year. Along with the impact of the
wonderful programming that GLSEN and GLSEN Boston
have become know for over the past 16 years, this
year we will be focusing on our annual Provincetown
Educators Retreat and Annual GLSEN Boston
Conference. This year’s Educator Retreat will be a
weekend of networking designed to create an
environment that will allow an even greater exchange
of ideas that promote GLBTQ safety. For the first
time, we will be opening this retreat up to our
straight allies as well at to GLBTQ educators.
Both the retreat and the Annual Conference are GLSEN
Boston’s means of creating opportunities that
increase the dialogue surrounding safe schools,
anti-LGBT bullying, and harassment. Through these
two vehicles these vital GLBTQ health and safety
issues remain at the forefront in the minds of
educators and policy makers as they frame their
curriculum and policies for the year.
Most recently, on November 12, 2006 we celebrated
our 5th Annual Jazz & Chocolate fundraiser. This
mouthwatering event, hosted in the relaxed
environment of 28 Degrees in Boston’s South End,
allowed GLSEN Boston the opportunity to share with
both loyal and new supporters our chapter’s goals,
experience, and calendar of events. Not to mention
it was also a chance to have fun on a Sunday
afternoon with people who share a similar
interest.
On behalf of the entire GLSEN Boston Board,
trainers, and GSA schools, we would like to thank
you for your ongoing support and look forward to
hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Frank Pantano & Wendell K. Chestnut
Co-Chairs
GLSEN Boston
_________________________________
Please Note:
We have recently relocated
our office to Jamaica Plain! Our new contact
information is:
31 Heath Street
Jamaica Plain,
MA 02130
Fax: 617-238-2467
Our phone number and
email address
remain the same:
Voice: 617-536-9669
Email: glsenboston@glsenboston.org
