Annual Volusia County High School GSA Equality Leadership Conference

Get EXCITED! 2nd Annual Volusia County High School GSA Equality Leadership Conference is a full day of workshops for students and educators from Volusia county, Florida. This is a great opportunity to fellowship and connect with new friends as you build your advocacy "tool kit" with resources that include: information on how to start and energize your Gay Straight Alliance; college admission information; and tips on how to be an effective ally. Participants will have several breakout sessions to choose from from a youth lead Q&A panel, gender and orientation awareness, and more!

Conference date: Saturday, March 9, 2013

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. at Stetson University's Rinker Field House, Hollis Center located at 602 N. Bert Fish Drive DeLand, FL 32724 *Optional campus tour at 4:00 p.m.

Parking is available at the Rinker Parking lot located on the corner of East Pennsylvania Ave and N.Bert Fish Drive

Click here for Conference Registration Form.

Please return your registraion form (mail, fax, or email) to:

Dr. Meghan Walter

Counselor Education Department

Stetson University

421 N. Woodland Blvd., Unit #8389

DeLand, FL 32723

Fax: 386.740.3664

Break out Sessions

Mingling with the Minions: Learn about terminology and get your (anonymous) questions answered in this interactive session with Kaleidoscope members.

Coming out with Confidence: Coming out is a process that involves recognizing and accepting one's sexual identity. This very personal process can be a very long and mind-boggling journey but can ultimately result in self acceptance and the reconciliation of feelings about one's sexuality, all of which is important for personal growth.

Sprituality and LGBTQ: Intersections of identies explored with an emphasis on supporting a common vision of helping to create a shift in gay and queer culture towards greater self-love, wisdom, social justice, and healthy and sacred ways of living.

Transgender youth and family panel: This workshop is designed to help participants develop an effective approach to creating safety in schools for gender-nonconforming students.

Ally Training for educators and counselors: Training focuses on the role of the ally during the coming-out process, resources in the community, terminology and best practices. Participants will be able to place a Safe Zone placard on their door that identifies them as someone that is willing to listen and to help identify resources.

History of GSA Conference

The first Volusia County High School GSA Equality Leadership Conference was held April 2012, spearheaded by Dr. Meghan Walters, Professional School Counselor and Assistant Professor at Stetson University's Counselor Education department in partnership with Dr. Amy Hall, District Counseling Specialist for Volusia County. The conference was a result of the advocacy efforts that a Volusia County family engaged in and continues to engage in on behalf of their own child and all children in Volusia County Schools. This family's engagement has also led to teacher, staff and administrator training on identity and orientation issues as well as equality and strategies for safe schools.

2nd Annual Volusia County High School GSA Equality Leadership Conference is hosted in Community partnership by: Stetson University's Department of Counselor Education; Volusia County Schools, Chi Sigma Iota, International Honors Society for Counselors and Counseling Students and Kaleidoscope, Stetson University's Gay Straight Alliance.

For more information please contact Meghan Walter at (914) 263-0059 or mwalter@stetson.edu