Safe Schools Project

Resources for Queer Youth and Educators in Santa Cruz County

Parent/Guardian Summit — Fall 2019

Understanding Gender

A free conference for parents, guardians, and other adult allies who want a deeper understanding of gender and youth

Saturday, October 5, 2019
9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Watsonville High School — Watsonville

Haga clic aquí para información en español

Light breakfast, snacks and lunch provided

Simultaneous Spanish Translation provided

Dr. Jen Hastings

Understandings of gender are changing rapidly and it can be challenging to keep up! Parents might believe that they only have to pay attention to their child’s gender if it falls outside of traditional gender norms. While it is true that transgender, non-binary, and otherwise gender-expansive children are particularly at risk, every child is limited by traditional gender roles and stereotypes. Parents and ally adults play a crucial role in creating a safe and supportive environment for all young people around their gender.

We hope you’ll join us for a day of learning, conversation, and reflection about youth and gender, including such topics as:

  • A framework to help you understand the dimensions of gender

  • Some common terms and the ways in which understandings of gender are changing

  • How children and youth see gender communicated in our society

  • Affirmative parenting practices around gender

  • How your own experiences with gender may affect your parenting

  • Some suggestions for talking with children and teens about gender

  • How to work with schools to make them more gender inclusive and safe for gender expansive youth
  • Strategies for navigating the school system with transgender or gender nonconforming students
  • An informational workshop on the medical aspects of gender transition in youth presented by Dr. Jen Hastings

Schedule for Parent/Guardian/Adult Ally Summit

  • 9:00 am – 9:30 am: Early Registration and Light Breakfast
  • 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Welcome & Overview of Gender presentation
  • 10:30 am – 12:00 pm: Presentation by Dr. Jen Hastings
  • 12:00 pm – 12:10 pm: Snack break
  • 12:10 pm – 1:05 pm: Presentation by local professionals on supporting trans and gender diverse kids and youth in K-12 schools
  • 1:05 pm – 1:15pm: Closing
  • 1:15 pm – 2:00 pm: Lunch and Resource Fair

Presented by TransFamilies of Santa Cruz County, Gender Spectrum, and the Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County

Registration

Registration Open — Sign up today!

Registration Closing Soon!

             

Call for Volunteers — Day of the Event

Please help us make the Parent/Guardian Summit run smoothly. We are looking for volunteers to help with a few aspects of the event and if you have an hour or two to spare during the day of the event between 8:00 am – 3:00 pm on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at Watsonville High School in Watsonville, please contact Oliver Cantrell, Fall 2019 Summit Volunteer Coordinator, at email or (831) 427-4004.

If you need credit for Community Service Hours, please share your address and any other details needed. We will mail out letters shortly after the event.

There are two Summits — The Queer, Trans & Allied Student Summit & The Parent/Guardian Summit — both on the same day and time. Volunteers are needed for both.

To learn more about the many volunteer opportunities, visit the Fall 2019 Parent/Guardian Summit Volunteer Page.

Thank you!

Welcome from the Parent/Guardian Summit Co-chairs

We are thrilled to welcome all parents and adult allies to our second Understanding Gender summit!
Our first summit, in March 2019 at Lakeview Middle School, was attended by a wonderful group of parents, family members, educators and other allies who all care about supporting trans, queer and gender nonconforming youth.
As parents of our own gender diverse kids, we are both personally invested in helping to educate other adults in our communities and making our schools and communities safer for all youth.
We hope you will join us on October 5th to learn and engage in dialogue about gender, how to be allies to gender diverse youth, and making our schools safer and more gender inclusive.
Warmly,
Jen Salinas-Holz (she/her)
Educator and GSA/QSA Advisor
Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Michelle Brandt (she/her)
Trans Families of Santa Cruz

Parent/Guardian Summit Flyer Download

Please help distribute flyers widely in the community. Thank you!

Por favor ayude a distribuir volantes ampliamente en la comunidad. ¡Gracias!

Download Parent/Guardian Summit — English Color Flyer

Download Parent/Guardian Summit — Spanish Color Flyer