Issue 1, 2015
The Source for Knowledge on Gender and Orientation
re (ri) n. 1. anew, again
vision (vizh‘ n) n. 1. the manner in which one sees or conceives of something
Dynamic Collaboration Expands Reach
A Family’s Love
A partnership between YES Institute
leads to safe and supportive
Long time supporter and investor
and the Youth Gang Resource
environments where family bonds
Joseph W. Blount expands his
Center allows for the expansion
are strengthened, self acceptance
commitment to the growth of
of work and exploration into
begins, and new futures are
the source of why youth turn to
created.
violence. See page 5
Open and honest communication
See page 2
Vision Increases Opportunity for All Youth
YES Institute. See page 6
D
ear Friends,
The completion of 2014 marked the culmination of another inspiring year at YES Institute. We thank you for your support and want you to know the difference it has made. Our history of producing bold and lasting results has garnered a reputation of accountability that is opening new doors for systemic, community wide change.
Rachel Sottile Logvin, Executive Director
Our expertise in communication and education on gender and orientation brings requests for our work from every segment of the community that is involved in keeping youth safe. YES Institute served over 6,000 people in 2014, a 96% increase since 2009. Some of the 2014 accomplishments include: • Became a national consultant with the federal government through the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration’s Technical Assistance Network, providing training to system of care communities in New Mexico, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico. • Formed a training and family medical referral partnership with Miami Children’s Hospital and Care Resource. • Invited by Miami-Dade and Broward County Public Schools to conduct workshops for prevention liaisons, school counselors and teachers and conducted trainings for their GayStraight Alliance school clubs.
• Engaged with the justice system by providing ongoing trainings and consultation with the Pre-Trial Justice Institute in Washington, DC and training Florida Family Court Judges and family mediators. • Staffed the Youth Gang Resource Center program in collaboration with the Institute for Child & Family Health, providing youth gang and community violence prevention across Miami, reaching more than 1,200 people, and co-hosted the 11th Annual Gang Summit Conference, “Toward Restorative Justice,” drawing over 300 attendees. 92% percent of our budget goes directly to education that will help keep all youth safe. It is your support which makes these results possible and has allowed us to grow and thrive. If you are pleased with the results of our work, we invite you to continue to invest in making the world safer for our youth. On behalf of the staff and Board of YES Institute, thank you for your gifts which keep us going strong. I hope to hear from you soon,
Rachel Sottile Logvin, M.S. Executive Director
A Family’s Love The Source For Knowledge On Gender & Orientation
Mission To prevent suicide and ensure the healthy development of all youth through powerful communication and education on gender and orientation. Phone 305-663-7195 Website yesinstitute.org Address 5275 Sunset Drive Miami, FL 33143
2 - ReVision, Issue 1, 2015
H
earing your teenage child reveal they just attempted suicide turns the most unimaginable fear of any parent into a harsh reality. Trey had attempted suicide three times, and while sitting in his hospital bed, was actively planning another. “What could possibly be so bad that you want to take your own life?” his mom implored. He replied, “I’m gay and I hate myself for it.” He had hoped to offset any suspicions by pursuing hyper-masculine activities and a pretense of interest in girls. None of that helped when he heard slurs on a daily basis. Suicide seemed the only option. Trey’s parents’ complete acceptance and support were not enough. He could not silence or ease his ultimate struggle of hating himself for being gay in a culture he felt would not accept him. A social worker at Joe DiMaggio Children’s
Hospital recognized that orientation was part of Trey’s despair. Remembering the YES Institute dialogue from the ER Medical conference she attended, she referred the Hedigan’s to call YES Institute, knowing of the work with many families in similar situations. When YES Institute got the call, Rachel Logvin and Umut Dursun immediately went to visit Trey and his family in the psychiatry unit. Umut shared his story of the seemingly insurmountable struggle to be true to himself. Born female, Umut transitioned to male just four years ago. It was Umut’s cousin’s suicide that pushed him to follow through on his lifelong dream to declare himself male. Trey recalled later, “Knowing I’m not the only one who struggles to be myself made a huge difference. Before meeting YES Institute, I thought I was all alone, and the only one.” Within a hour of that
A Family’s Love
(cont’d from pg. 2)
visit, Trey’s spirit started coming back and he no longer wanted to die. The Hedigan’s were referred to a family therapist in Broward county who was trained by YES Institute on the topics of gender and sexual orientation. Trey and his family also participated in Communication Solutions™ and other educational courses at YES Institute. Soon the Hedigan family was making a difference and sharing their story in our Speakers Bureau program. Trey and his sister Kaitlyn, along with their parents, addressed college
social work and educational psychology classes, and Kaitlyn and Trey spoke at the Holiday Kiaora Society event. Kaitlyn’s perspective was poignant, the worry of losing her brother, wondering why he was Baker Acted, and feeling alone as her parents focused solely on Trey during his hospitalization. In 2014 YES Institute staff met one-on-one in nearly 50 different family consultation and referral meetings, and fielded over 50 urgent referral calls from as far away as California, Texas, and Georgia.
Kaitlyn, Robert, Trey and Deanna Hedigan.
Freedom of the Unknown By Trey Hedigan
4
am and I still can’t sleep. I plan each breath as I begin to weep. I know who I will talk to, I know what I will say, I even know how I will sit in the classroom on the following day. 4am tank on the floor I can’t take the pain anymore. Begin to turn, begin my flight. Good bye world it is my time tonight. 4am I begin to cry. For last night I failed to die. I begin to feel who I am. I begin to accept who I am. I begin to love who I am. 4am and I am sound asleep. The storm has passed I am free at last. Tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow is free. Tomorrow is unknown for you and me.
YES Institute - 3
Pioneering the Medical Frontier
Executive Director Rachel Logvin and participants during Communication Solutions™.
D
r. Steven Santiago, Medical Director for Care Resource, recently participated in Communication Solutions™ at YES Institute, along with two physicians and a registered nurse who are part of his medical team. Their commitment to excellent patient-centered care brought them to YES Institute as the source for education on gender. The need for this education was made apparent by an incident that occurred with one of their health care providers who was not knowledgable on transgender care. Bree, a psychology major at Broward College and volunteer speaker with YES Institute, was seeking medical care when she encountered quizzical looks and confusing questions. Also, as a student with no insurance, the $400 cost of blood work for a single visit seemed impossible. She eventually left the clinic in defeat. Within the week, Dr. Santiago invited his staff to participate in courses at YES Institute. His entire medical team at the Miami headquarters, with the Broward team participating via videoconference, attended trainings on gender and orientation. During Communication Solutions™, the Care Resource team listened intently to story after story about the barriers transitioning clients face in seeking medical care. Hearing these real life 4 - ReVision, Issue 1, 2015
experiences from transgender individuals inspired them to create solutions at Care Resource. Training the staff was just the start of their efforts. Dr. Santiago created a bold new Medical Voucher Program for uninsured transitioning adults and adolescents. New transgender clients at Care Resource can receive free initial physical exams and required blood work to begin their medical transition, nearly $500 in complimentary medical care. These vouchers are available by referral from YES Institute. We are inspired by Dr. Santiago and his dedicated medical team. His leadership has bridged gaps and removed barriers to quality patient care at Care Resource, and now can serve as a model for other medical institutions across South Florida. The Pediatric Endocrinology Department at Miami Children’s Hospital (MCH) also contacted YES Institute for an inservice training for those serving transitioning adolescents. Utilizing our new partnership we invited medical providers at Care Resource, to provide the clinical lecture for the MCH physicians.
Youth, Yearning to Belong
T
his year YES Institute engaged in an innovative partnership with the Youth Gang Resource Center (YGRC), a program within the Institute for Child & Family Health. Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties have Florida’s highest rates of youth criminal gang membership. In six months YGRC reached over 1,200 community participants with educational sessions on gangs and youth violence. How do we make a difference on youth gangs and student violence? Policing and incarceration do not seem to be the solution. Why do youth turn to violence, guns, and gangs? The answers are multiple and some are surprising. “I grew up in Liberty City, was shy, skinny and liked art and drawing. Other kids would always bully and pick on me. This was constant – day in and day out. I felt so bad one day, I started to take a razor blade and cut into my chest near my heart the word “ANGER”, because somehow I thought the pain of the cutting on the outside might lessen the hurt I felt on the inside.” - Bacari, peer mentor in the Gate program for youth weapon offenders. For Bacari, constantly having to “prove” his masculinity and seek protection from bullying, he turned to weapons and violence. Following the lead of his two older brothers, Henry was on a path to join Mara Salvatrucha, more commonly known as MS-13, one of the most violent criminal gangs across the Americas.
“When I saw my 3-year old brother in the courtroom during my sentencing try to run up and give me a hug, I realized if I didn’t change my ways he would follow in my footsteps.” That moment was his impetus to leave the gang lifestyle. He now mentors others still stuck in violent reactions. Barbara Byrne, LCSW, one of the staff members with YGRC and a clinical consultant with YES Institute states, “These are not bad kids. These are good kids caught up in bad environments resulting from deeply rooted systemic societal problems.” YES Institute co-hosted the 11th Annual Youth Gang Summit, themed “Towards Restorative Justice” in September, bringing in more than 300 attendees. Dr. Mara Schiff, Florida Atlantic University professor of Criminology and one of the leading South Florida scholars on restorative justice, began her keynote address highlighting the racial disparities in the criminal justice system. “There are complex relationships between race, rights, and restorative justice. Justice and education are experienced differently by people of color. Critical race theory shows how an ‘us and them’ is created through our policies and systems. Since 2008, one in three AfricanAmerican males is at the risk of being under correctional supervision.” Today, Bacari and Henry have successfully graduated from the GATE program, and volunteer their time with YGRC and GATE speaking to youth who are targeted with the lure of joining a gang.
“I realized that I am
somebody, and now
want to give that back to others.
”
- Gate Program youth speaker
Director of Education Joseph Zolobczuk and youth speaker address participants during the YGRC Annual Gang Summit.
YES Institute - 5
Joseph W. Blount Educational Fund
J
oseph Blount wants to assure that today’s youth can express themselves authentically. To realize this he established the Joseph W. Blount Educational Fund at YES Institute. This fund will provide scholarships, so that everyone can participate in the courses at YES Institute, regardless of their ability to pay. The Joseph W. Blount Educational Fund is a testament to his incredible generosity, but even more, to his vision for a safer world for all youth. Each year the fund will grow. Joseph and YES Institute welcome and encourage others to contribute to this vision. We are grateful for Joseph’s partnership, and thank him for this wonderful gift that will keep education on gender and orientation available to all.
Joseph W. Blount
A Gift That Endure’s
2
014 was an extraordinary year at YES Institute. We went more places, trained more people, and reached more families than ever before. None of this would have been possible without the support and commitment of all our donors. From contributions of $5 to pledges for $500,000 you have shown that together “we can change the world.” Inspired by the work of YES Institute, Dr. Santiago 2015 is one of great challenges and opportunities. I invite (center) demonstrates his commitment and shares you to learn more about our work, I encourage you to his expertise by joining YES Institute Board of participate in our courses and learn firsthand the power of Directors and increasing his level of giving. our education, and I welcome you to consider becoming a member of our Kiaora Society of Donors by contributing $1,000 or more in one year. Your donation can be structured in monthly or quarterly payments, you can charge it to your credit card, or you can mail us a check. You can also transfer appreciated stock to YES Institute or name us in your will. If you want to know more about how to support the work of YES Institute, please call me at 786-301-3940, or email me at eva@yesinstitute.org
Best wishes for a wonderful year! ~ Eva Leivas-Andino
Kiaora Society Membership
W
e thank the very generous Joseph W. Blount, for his continued support of YES Institute at the Trustee level. We are inspired by Joseph M. Kraus for renewing and increasing his contribution to the Trustee level.
We are grateful for the dedication of Jan & Daniel Lewis and the TOBY fund who have renewed and increased their contributions to the Luminary level. We thank our dear friend Jonathan Lewis for his renewal and continued support at the Luminary level. Longtime supporters Lewis Aaron & Nigel Stirk, and Charles Urstadt have generously increased their contribution to the Visionary level. June Raben, in memory of Murray Raben, and F. Lynn Leverett, have renewed their contributions as Visionaries. We thank each of them for their generous gifts. We welcome our newest Champion’s, Osiason Educational Fund and Wells Fargo Foundation, and acknowledge their support of youth and families. We thank the Miami Foundation for renewing and increasing as a Champion, and are deeply grateful for the longtime friendship and continued support of The Ruth Anderson Foundation. Kiaora Society members and friends at our Winter Kiaora event.
6 - ReVision, Issue 1, 2015
Kiaora Society (cont’d from pg. 6) We thank Patricia Dowd-Davis & Gary Davis, for their renewed and increased contribution at the Leader level. We are thankful for the generosity of Thomas Gellman & Carlos Yudica, Mel Heifetz, Kevin Miller, Lane W. Park, Carol & Ed Williamson, and Trae Williamson for renewing their support at the Leader level. We welcome and thank our new Mentors Jorge Alonso & Scott Helms, Peter E. Blacker, Cynthia & Max Dacharry, Klara Gershman, Robert J. Hedigan, Adam Jacobowitz, Goldstein Schecter Koch, Fernando & Cheryl Lopez, Maria and Herve Ludovic, Maria Menendez & Floriano Alencar, National Healthcare Institute, Inc., Dr. David Newman and Adriana & Thierry Songeur. We are deeply grateful for our renewing Mentors Jose Alonso, Greg Baldwin & Jose Castro, Connie Barden, Sam Blum, Bruce A. Christensen, Elizabeth & Seth Gadinsky, Marisa di Giovanni, Randall R. Gluss, Barbara T. Gray, Douglas Kinsley & Gabriel Pou, Eva Leivas-Andino, Larry Luing & Dario Espinosa, Marsh & McLennan LLC Company, William Neubauer, Damian Pardo, Bill Ross, Lee Schrager, Richard Shannon, Roxy-Cary Sora, Gary B. Stross, Mike Syers, Olga & Ignacio del Valle, Tim Wagoner, Patricia & Milton Wallace, and Laura White. We are grateful for and guided by the vision and leadership of our Board of Directors. YES Institute welcomes our newest board member Dr. Steven Santiago who has renewed and increased to the Leader level. We thank Visionaries Karen Raben & Andrea Pernick for their ongoing support. We appreciate their generosity for supporting our annual staff celebration, and hosting the YES Institute holiday luncheon.We thank renewing Mentors Jorge de la Cruz-Muñoz and Jahn & Christie Kirchoff.
YES Institute Young Professionals Society Yuppies $500.00 Kristin Boxleitner Umut Dursun Jennie Lopez SpectrUM Joseph Zolobczuk
Yipsters $250.00 Brandon Behr Allison Goodman Athena Hadjixenofontos Caro Hernandez Brittney & Kara McCabe Darkis Merida Christine Montero Deanna Saunders Stephanie Yahn
Kiaora Society Kiaora Society members donate $1,000 or more to YES Institute annually. Marta Weeks Exemplary $150,000
Victoria Gabriel Elizabeth & Seth Gadinsky Theresa Gallivan Klara Gershman Trustee $50,000 Marisa di Giovanni Joseph Blount Randall R. Gluss Joseph M. Kraus Goldstein Schecter Koch Barbara T. Gray Luminary $25,000 Misae Graziano Ed McAmis & Gerson Gonzalez James Gross Jan & Daniel Lewis Sherri Hankal Jonathan Lewis Marty Harris & Nikki Korval The TOBY Fund Robert J. Hedigan Lynn Herald Visionary $10,000 Robert Hidalgo Lewis Aaron & Nigel Stirk Aaron Hill Jorge L. Basto & Robert Zimmerman Lawrence R. Hyer at The Miami Foundation Patricia Caicedo & Eduardo Salazar Adam Jacobowitz Jonathan & Tina Kislak Robert Johnson & Layne Tidwell F. Lynn Leverett Bill Jones & Reinaldo Hernandez Paula Morabito & María M. Yip Douglas Kinsley & Gabriel Pou June Raben, in memory of Murray Raben Jahn & Christie Kirchoff Karen Raben & Andrea Pernick Ellen L. Leesfield & Pamela Perry Wayne A. Schrebe and Roy J. Stegman Charitable Fund at Our Fund, Inc. Leesfield Family Foundation Charles Urstadt Eva Leivas-Andino Alfredo & Cristy Leon Champion $5,000 Ivy Beth Lewis - The IV Fund Kevin Miller & Allan Hunter Fernando and Cheryl Lopez Osiason Educational Fund Maria and Herve Ludovic Micheal Rucker Larry Luing & Dario Espinosa The Miami Foundation Jeffry Marcus The Ruth Anderson Foundation Linda Marraccini Wells Fargo Foundation Marsh & McLennan LLC Company Anonymous Donor Maria Menendez & Floriano Alencar Ed Miller in memory of Marty Schildhouse Leader $2,500 Richard Milstein & Eric Hankin Thomas Blount National Healthcare Institute, Inc. Patricia Dowd-Davis and Gary Davis William Neubauer Thomas Gellman & Carlos Yudica Dr. David Newman Mel Heifetz Robert Oldakowski & Luis Mendoza Howard Kurzweil Tanya D. Pages The Logan Family Damian Pardo Dr. John J. Martin, Jr. & Forrest McSurdy Lane W. Park Steven Santiago José Luis Pére Jorge Vazquez & Robert Armada Cathy Pick Kevin Veilleux Jim Post & Sergio Landa Wells Fargo Foundation Scott Prosan Carol & Ed Williamson Dr. Alan K. Roberts & Allan Barger Trae Williamson Silvia Rojas Bill Ross Mentor $1,000 Howard Perry Rothberg II & Paul A. Scolieri-Rothberg Jorge Alonso and Scott Helms John Ruark & Sergio Papa Jose Alonso John Saavedra & Fabio Azevedo Greg Baldwin & Jose Castro Don Sadler Connie Barden Lee Schrager Alan Behmoiras Richard Shannon Peter E. Blacker Adriana and Thierry Songeur Sam Blum Roxana & Efrain Sora Thel G. Boyette, Jr. & David A. Page Roxy-Cary Sora Jerry Chasen & Mark Kirby Rachel Sottile Logvin Bruce A. Christensen Gary B. Stross John M. Cooney & Julio Fernandez Mike Syers Joe Cross & Victor Vianello Joseph H. Treyz & Tony Dewell Jorge de la Cruz-Muñoz Tony Ulloa Cynthia and Max Dacharry Cynthia & Emilio Vazquez Patricia Davis Vega & Oprandi Olga & Ignacio del Valle Marlene Velasquez-Sedito William Dewald Tim Wagoner John D. & Leonardo M. Patricia & Milton Wallace Dave & Madelaine Doyle Laura White Dennis Edwards & Mark Steinberg Foundation Patricia Woodson Jody Fletcher & Marie Anne Konig-Jimenez Dr. Terilee Wunderman Martha Fugate Bradley York & Enrique Patino Rev. Marta S. Weeks
YES Institute - 7
Education Dissolves Fear New Mexico At the invitation of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Technical Assistance (TA) network, YES Institute collaborated with communities in New Mexico, Mississippi and Puerto Rico, to begin dialogue and bring education on gender and orientation. Umut Dursun, Community Liaison and Rachel Logvin, Executive Director, with leaders from New Mexico System of Care.
In New Mexico there is a desperate request for education on these topics. Two youth from the foster care system shared about their tortuous struggles after being placed with foster parents whose religious beliefs did not include an understanding of sexual orientation. After hearing their stories, administrators from the foster care system set out to train all foster parents on gender and orientation.
“This presentation gave me a whole
“I learned how education and
communication can change the culture in my community. - Adrian, social worker
“Until today I didn’t know what
transgender meant, this dialogue explained transgender in a way I can understand.
”
new understanding about the impact of labels and gender expectations. I
Puerto Rico
the community and communicating with both children and adults about this issue.
”
- Caseworker
Meridian Mississippi Shame, fear and opposition infest conversations regarding gender and orientation in Mississippi. Mississippi System of Care officials shared their trepidations on advertising YES Institute courses, anticipating protests at even mentioning these topics. As is often the case, the hosts are afraid and wish to invite only groups where agreement is anticipated. YES Institute encouraged them to invite everyone, especially those who don’t agree and are most resistant. Over 50 participants traveled from across the state to the town of Meridian to participate. The morning started with many individuals sharing that they felt ill-equipped to have these conversations. The fears they brought into the room began to dissipate as together they
”
Participants sat mesmerized as Tommy Murrell, a courageous YES Institute speaker, shared his story. His sharing of what it was like to grow up as the transgender son of a southern preacher left them in awe. He finished to a standing ovation from every person in the room, many wiping tears from their eyes.
- Mental health counselor
realized the importance of educating
8 - ReVision, Issue 1, 2015
realized many shared similar thoughts. As the day progressed participants began to see how ideals of gender rigidity impact everyone. One person shared that as a woman with short hair she is often targeted with anti-gay slurs, and that her daughter is embarrassed that people might judge her and call her a lesbian.
In Puerto Rico the consequences for being gay or transgender are dire. The three most prevalent are death, isolation and homelessness, and often all three. Over 50 participants logged in from the towns of Fajardo, Culebras, and Vieques to a YES Institute webcast conducted simultaneously in Spanish and English. Community members desperately want to be able to serve the many families who are struggling or losing children, but they had no idea where or how to begin. Mental health professionals are grappling with how to communicate with family members around gender. For children who are safe and secure being themselves within the welcoming walls of school, they often revert to feeling ashamed and guilty in their own homes. By the end of the session community providers’ fears began to fade as they expressed relief from the communication tools gained during the dialogue. The YES Institute webcast was life saving for both those serving and those being served. Thank you to Kathy Lazear and Peter Gamache of the SAMHSA TA network, for this opportunity for community change and healing.
Silent Dilemma The Florida Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (FLAFCC) is an organization of judicial, legal and mental health professionals utilizing education, research and advocacy to improve the lives of children and families through collaborative resolution of family conflict. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Sandy Karlan invited YES Institute to offer a breakout session during the October FLAFCC conference held in Tampa. The session, “Silent Dilemma: Gender and Orientation in Family Court,” explored the challenges inherent in cases where the underlying conflict is rooted in struggles pertaining to gender or orientation. Social taboos often prohibit communicating on these subjects, the pertinent information kept hidden or undiscovered in court. Most participants, including attorneys and family court mediators from Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Orlando, had never attended courses on gender and orientation prior to this conference. Gender and orientation intersect in a variety of ways in family cases, including child custody, alternative sentencing, substance abuse and probation. During the session three examples of cases where families found healing and reconciliation after court mandated participation in the communication and education courses of YES Institute were reviewed. Lois and her son Brandon, two YES Institute speakers, drove from Central Florida for the opportunity to address the family court community and share about the struggles of
obtaining a legal name and gender marker change. Brandon’s heartfelt sharing about his daily struggles with ignorance and discrimination moved many to tears. Lois elaborated, “In a busy, packed court room, people who don’t understand Brandon’s situation may react, casting gawking stares and making joking comments, once again putting my child in a demoralizing situation. What if the judge doesn’t understand transgender?” In one example, a judge was about to order a blood test on an adolescent seeking a gender marker change to determine if the child is transgender – not understanding any distinctions between transgender and intersex. Fortunately, a clinician trained by YES Institute intervened with a consultation. Court assistants offered one suggestion to Brandon, “If you call ahead of time and ask, we can often move your case to the end of the docket, so the courtroom will be empty. Sometimes a judge will honor a request to take your case in chambers, where it’s more private.” More awareness and sensitivity is being requested throughout the judicial system. Providing education at conferences is a critical step in making this difference. We give a special thanks to Judge Sandy Karlan and all the courts professionals who strive to make the system a more equitable and safe place for youth and families.
Rachel Logvin, Executive Director and Joseph Zolobczuk, Director of Education, addressing court professionals.
YES Institute - 9
New Tools For Educators
Joseph Zolobczuk, Director of Education, addressing counselors and teachers.
M
iami-Dade and Broward County Public Schools (MDCPS & BCPS) invited YES Institute to partner with them in providing communication and education to teachers, as well as prevention and intervention coordinators. Beyond academics and standardized tests, the real challenge when you work with students who may be depressed, suicidal, or dealing with constant bullying is “How do we keep kids safe and alive? How do we meet them where they are?” Sexual minority liaisons are counselors and teachers responsible for students who may be struggling with gender or orientation. During the MDCPS annual mini-conference, many liaisons shared their confusion about how to support transitioning youth or gender nonconformity. Bathroom policy and pronoun use for gender transitioning youth was, as always, the first and most reactive topic of discussion.
Bringing new tools back to the classroom, teachers and counselors have invited YES Institute to continue the conversation with youth in their schools. After spending the day with students at Carol City Middle School one youth shared,
“People who are transgender have
an experience I never thought of
before. I learned that I can have a huge impact in their life. -Student, age 11
“I now have more clarity around
transgender and the difference
between orientation and gender. I learned how important pronouns are in acknowledging the students the way they see themselves. - MDCPS teacher
”
Sam sharing his personal story.
10 - ReVision, Issue 1, 2015
”
A Communication Called “Bullying” By Christie Cohn
P
ulling away from the school after dropping my seven year old off in the morning, I smile and wave setting off to begin my day. As quickly as he runs towards his friends, my mind is plotting all the things I need to accomplish before he gets home from school. What his friends and teachers think about him having two moms occurs as an afterthought, something we addressed in the past that bears no relevance on his schoolwork. However, when a 16 year old participant shared “I’m afraid to be myself in school,” during YES Institute’s newest course, A Communication Called “Bullying”, I became nauseous. My mind raced as I wondered if my son shares this same fear. Is he tormented because of his family? Does he get bullied when no one is looking? Thoughts swirled through my mind as I began to picture my own son sitting in the classroom harboring angst. As the course participants explored what is currently being done to stop bullying, I became more exasperated. Bullying happens everyday and is often seen as a “rite of passage”, such that we’re immune to its severity, as well as what is at the source. Gathering my thoughts it occurred to me that hidden in the title of the course was something we had yet to discuss, communication. I never thought about the acts of bullying as a form of communication. This took my breath
away. Is it possible that someone labeled a “bully” is in fact concealing a fear of their own? My heart softened a little as a new awareness crept in. The old saying “actions speak louder than words” flashed in my mind. If we listen rather than react to behavior, what might the “bully” be communicating? Continuing the course with this new theory a lump remained in my throat. Delving into the behaviors of a “bully” I sunk into my chair. I too have embodied those behaviors. Thinking of my son I questioned not only if he is bullied, but also if he bullies others. My mind spinning in circles I felt uneasy with this reality. As we neared the end of the course a teacher spoke up,
“It is hard to come from a place of
compassion when I witness bullying in the classroom. I now realize that if I simply react to the behavior I may never get to the source of the actions.
”
Is it possible to cause a shift in the way we see the “bully” and “victim”? With all of the effort behind campaigns to “just stop bullying”, taking a moment to consider bullying as a communication could be the genesis of a new look at “bullying”.
Rachel Logvin, Executive Director, and participants during A Communication Called “Bullying”.
YES Institute - 11
Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID West Palm Beach, FL Permit # 373
Issue 1, 2015 5275 Sunset Drive Miami, FL 33143 www.yesinstitute.org
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou
Gender & Orientation Series™
A
YES Institute Education
n internet search on the topics
Continuing education credits
of gender and orientation
available for Florida therapists
will immediately return scores
and nurses, and professional
of scholarly research and news
development for Miami-Dade
articles. With gender at the core of
County Public School employees.
our being, how often do we stop to think about its impact on who we are, who we know ourselves to be, and who we and others think we should
Being and Belonging March 14, 2015, 9am - 5pm
be? Gender Continuum, our 8 hour
Communication Solutions™
course, deconstructs these notions by
April 11 & 12, 2015, Noon - 6pm,
exploring the concept of gender as
Two-day Course
binary. Gender Continuum
Curious still how masculinity plays into this topic? Masculinity Distinguished dives into this, looking beyond what is assumed and examining the constraints of the
May 16, 2015, 9am - 5pm Masculinity Distinguished
illusive “ideal male”.
May 17, 2015, 9am - 5pm
Register today for YES Institute courses and join us as we explore these topics and
Register Today!
many more! Dates, times, and registration information are available at yesinstitute.org
305-663-7195
or by calling the office at 305-663-7195.
yesinstitute.org/education
12 - ReVision, Issue 1, 2015