Carien Quiroga Final Project: LGBTQ MCred

Building Artistic Communities that Support LGBTQ+ Students & Families

For my final assignment for the Maryland Centers for Creative Classrooms “Building Artistic Communities that Support LGBTQ+ Students & Families” micro-credential I would like to propose a community-based project/Artist residency that uses the GLSN Safe Spaces Kit as a foundational resource to build an inclusive and welcoming school environment. Using the Creative Process, the project will include Learning Circles, developing an action plan, designing “safe space” posters and stickers & a student created mosaic mural that will be permanently installed in the school.

Project Safe Space for ALL

• GSA Student organizer led

• Develop Success Criteria

• Involves students, staff & admin

• Needs to be long-term to be effective

• Potential for Interdisciplinary collaboration (Theatre, Poetry, Music)

• Document the process!

1. Learning Circles

3. Design “Safe

Space” posters & stickers

4. Mosaic mural Project

2. Action plan Development

School-wide Project Launch: Learning Circles

• Engage knowledgeable facilitators for learning circles

• Includes lived experience case studies

• Evidence-based resources

• Includes activities, surveys & group discussions

KNOW THE ISSUES

Background information about LGBTQ students’ experiences in school and anti-LGBTQ bias.

• What is a safe space? Why?

• Overview & history

• Allyship

• Anti-LGBTQ Bias

• Harassment & Bullying

• Intersectionality

• Dismantling internalized homophobia and transphobia

• Gender Triad

• Terminology & Affirming Language

SUPPORT

Specific actions that can be taken to be an effective advocate for LGBTQ students.

• Support = Action

• “Dos and don'ts” of adult allyship

• Responding to and interrupting anti-LGBTQ language.

• Visibility

• Active support of student lead clubs – how to get involved

EDUCATE

To combat antLGBTQ bias and create a welcoming environment

• Respect at the core

• LGBTQ visibility and representation in the curriculum

• engage and inform other educators and school leaders about institutional supports for LGBTQ students,

• Implement policies for combating anti-LGBTQ bias and behavior.

ADVOCATE

Providing strategies to improve school climate for LGBTQ students

• Assessment of your school’s climate, policies and practices.

• Implementation of comprehensive antibullying/harassment policies.

• Promotion of non-discriminatory policies and practices.

LGBTQ Inclusive: Action Planning

• Develop an action plan using S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, & Time-Bound).

• Instate an accountability

“taskforce”

• Collaborate with Visual Art Students

• Design a series of poster and stickers that will be distributed school wide

• Meaningful & intentional

• Create vinyl stickers & badges

• Potential fundraiser: Sale of stickers, badges & jewelry to support GSA project /Donation to LGBTQ Activism organizations

• Student designed

• Student created: Project facilitated by Mosaic Artist–in-Residence

• Culminating Community

Celebration - Theatre and Music

Dept. Collaboration

• Project evaluation based on

success criteria

3rd

John L. Gildner Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents (RICA)

2012

“Hope Healing & Celebration”

With deep gratitude to fabulous facilitators Lyndsay Smith & Alyssa Fenix and fellow workshop participants!