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Mar 10, 2021

Education Policy: March Newsletter

A Note From Rebby

March 31 is Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV), an international event celebrating the resilience of transgender and gender-nonconforming people and raising awareness for transgender rights. This month, Equality NC is honoring trans and nonbinary folks through a Women’s History Month Panel on March 18, an Art and Expression Night on March 31.

In 2020, transgender and nonbinary youth alongside their LGBTQ peers experienced big shifts in virtual learning which, unfortunately, included the loss of major social supports and supportive environments. It is up to us to work together to create spaces for LGBTQ youth to thrive and engage in their learning and social development.

We are here for you. We’ve got your back.

Be well,

Rebby


Policy Update

PowerSchool -- Chosen Name

This week PowerSchool announced that it will now include a field for students to add their chosen name. This update will help support the efforts of creating an equitable space for transgender and gender-nonconforming students to learn.

If you are a student or educator interested in learning more about changing your name in PowerSchool or supporting transgender students on campus, we’d like to hear from you.

Sign up here>>


Events and Programs

TDOV: Art & Expressions Night

March 31 at 5:00 PM

ENC’s TDOV Art & Expression Night is an event for transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people and their allies to honor trans lives and celebrate gender diversity and expression. During the event participants will engage in art expression while hearing the stories of gender journeys, navigating mental health, and building community. This virtual event is free to the public and open to all. We encourage you to have art supplies available during the event or open your favorite creation app online.

Register here>>


Friendly LGBTQ Caller Program

Are you an LGBTQ person who is interested in forging intergenerational connections and community?

Join the next cohort of callers for the Friendly LGBTQ Caller Program, a program of The WISE Project and Equality NC which brings intergenerational communities together to offer social support through weekly calls. Folks who sign up will be matched with an older or younger LGBTQ person for weekly calls through an app called Mon Ami. Privacy is important to us - your information will not be shared with anyone and kept confidential.

Learn more>>


North Carolina Collegiate Week of Action 2021

April 12-16, 2021

Equality NC is joined by 2021 NC Campus Voter Coalition members to encourage on-campus student civic engagement and advocacy. This year the Collegiate Week of Action will take place April 12-16 and campuses are encouraged to sign up to participate with Equality NC. Our activities will include reaching out to local and state legislators and policymakers to advocate for LGBTQ youth.

Sign up>>


Early Access to 2022 Rural Youth Empowerment Fellowship Applications

Are you a person aged 28 or younger who is interested in directing resources to rural communities? Do you know a change-maker in rural NC making a difference for LGBTQ youth?

The Rural Youth Empowerment Fellowship is designed for you. The Rural Youth Empowerment (RYE) Fellowship is a year-long mentorship and training program for LGBTQ young people in rural areas of North Carolina. The program supports RYE Fellows to successfully execute a social justice project serving rural communities while developing leadership skills.

RYE Interest Form>>


Local News

Organization Highlight

Take a moment to support our friends at Transcend Charlotte, a nonprofit in Charlotte, NC pursuing equity and social justice for transgender and gender-expansive communities through education, advocacy, mental health and social support services.

Facebook>>

Instagram>>

Learn more>>

Chapel Hill Nonprofit Working Towards LGBTQ-Inclusive Sex Ed

The Compass Center for Women and Families provides career and financial education, domestic violence crisis and prevention programs, assistance with legal resources and youth health programs. The center currently provides two school-based youth empowerment programs in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools – one of which is Teens Climb High.

Read more>>

LGBTQ Archive grows out of Western North Carolina

Western Carolina University, UNC Asheville and Blue Ridge Pride Center are working together to document the stories and lives of the rural LGBTQ community 2020 RYE Fellow Asher Warg engaged in an LGBTQ archive as part of his fellowship, Queer Life Appalachia.

If you are interested in growing LGBTQ support for rural communities please email fellowship@equa​litync.org

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