Get Ready! It’s “Time to THRIVE”

by HRC Staff

Time to THRIVE provides a “one-stop-shop” opportunity to build awareness and cultural competency, learn current and emerging best practices, and gather resources from leading experts and national organizations in the field.

Post submitted by Kimmie Fink, Welcoming Schools Consultant

The fourth annual Time to THRIVE conference is just around the corner, and you can be a part of it! In partnership with the National Education Association and the American Counseling Association, the HRC Foundation hosts this annual national conference to promote safety, inclusion, and well-being for LGBTQ youth everywhere. Whether you’re new to Welcoming Schools or already using our resources in your classroom or school, there’s much to be gained from attending this year’s conference, April 28-30, in Washington, D.C.

Time to THRIVE provides a “one-stop-shop” opportunity to build awareness and cultural competency, learn current and emerging best practices, and gather resources from leading experts and national organizations in the field. This year’s incredible speakers include The New York Times’s Charles Blow, the first out lesbian Miss America contestant Erin O’Flaherty, and transgender activist Jazz Jennings, not to mention the always inspiring HRC Youth Ambassadors. Receiving the 2017 Upstander Award is journalist and icon Katie Couric, who recently executive produced National Geographic’s Gender Revolution.

The agenda is full of timely, relevant workshops for caring teachers. Make sure you don’t miss the Welcoming Schools-related sessions. Join Director of Welcoming Schools Johanna Eager and Nationally Certified Facilitator Todd Rosendahl for their presentation on “Creating Gender Inclusive Schools for All Students.” Eager will also facilitate a workshop on “The Teachable Moment:  Responding to LGBTQ and Gender Comments and Questions” as well as open and close the conference with a workshop focused on “Intersectionality and Privilege.”  Welcoming Schools Deputy Director Cheryl Greene lends her expertise in bullying to her session, “An Intersectional Approach to Proactive Measures that Prevent Bias-Based Bullying.”

There are limited number of hotel rooms at the discounted rate of $159 per night. This rate expires on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, or sooner if the limited number of rooms at this rate sell out.  To reserve your discounted hotel room today, please click here.

If you still need convincing, check out the highlights of last year’s amazing conference. Ready to register? Click here. Can’t make it? Bring Welcoming Schools to your district. You won’t regret any time you spend making sure your students aren’t just surviving, but thriving.

HRC's Welcoming Schools is the nation's premier program dedicated to creating respectful and supportive elementary schools in embracing family diversity, creating LGBTQ-inclusive schools, preventing bias-based bullying, creating gender-expansive schools, and supporting transgender and non-binary students.