By Joan Boiko, Communications & Community Outreach Manager, Palm Springs Unified School District
It was a morning full of education, exploration and exchange for a group of about 400 educators, students, parents and community members who attended Palm Springs Unified School District’s (PSUSD) third annual Diversity and Racial Equity Conference.
Themed “Allyship and Beyond,” The September 7 event kicked off with breakfast, followed by a two-student moderated panel of seven students representing each of PSUSD’s high schools discussing various topics including equity among all races and cultures on campuses and how it can be improved.
Following the panel discussion, keynote speaker Dominic Smith, Ph.D. led an empowering session on creating school cultures that honor students and build their confidence and competence. Attendees left Smith’s session feeling inspired, motivated, and moved to elevate what all of us are doing to help our students thrive.
The first breakout sessions were led by PSUSD Conscious Education Trainers and Site Equity Leads and focused on defining and discussing allyship and challenging attendees to go beyond allyship by not only supporting marginalized peers and colleagues who are suffering the effects from discrimination, bullying and or exclusion but also taking proactive approaches to do something positive to make things better.
The final morning breakout sessions gave participants a choice of dynamic presentations on topics including Creating Comunidad between School and Latino Students, Interrupting Implicit Bias, Equitable Practices in the Classroom, Elevating African American Students. White Allyship, and Supporting LGBTQ Students and Families.
Between sessions, attendees had the opportunity to visit resource tables hosted by many community partners focused on improving the lives of children and building positive bridges. All were also invited to add their thumbprints to the Tree of Diversity now hanging in PSUSD’s Educational Services Department.
For more information about palm springs unified school district visit their website at www.psusd.us
Silvercrest Advertising, an LGBTQ-owned and certified enterprise, is proud to announce its new partnership with Safe Schools Desert Cities. Through this partnership, Silvercrest will act as the official marketing and advertising agency for Safe Schools, providing essential services such as graphic design, printing, and marketing.
The partnership aims to broaden the reach of Safe Schools Desert Cities, ensuring that LGBTQ students across the Coachella Valley and beyond are aware of the support and protection the organization offers. By leveraging its expertise, Silvercrest Advertising seeks to enhance the visibility of Safe Schools and amplify its impact within the community.
“We’re excited to contribute to an organization that played such a pivotal role in my life,” said Matthew Hocutt, director of operations at Silvercrest Advertising. Hocutt, who was once a student participant in Safe Schools, was honored at the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast for his student advocacy work in 2014. “I am very grateful for Safe Schools for being a mentor for me during my high school years. I feel it is necessary to give back to this organization ten-fold and ensure that other students receive the life-changing services that Safe Schools provides.”
The partnership will benefit students throughout the valley, providing them with resources, mentorship, and a sense of community during their formative years. Silvercrest Advertising’s commitment to giving back to the community reflects its values as an inclusive and socially responsible business, and it is honored to support Safe Schools Desert Cities in its mission to uplift LGBTQ youth.
SSDC was featured in a Desert Sun article after receiving a general support grant from the Inland Empire Community Foundation. The article highlighted our mission, events, and the success story of Carly Jacobs, who said, “[Safe Schools Desert Cities] gave me hope in a future where I would be supported.”
The Unitarian Universalist Church of the Desert hosted a special online screening of Mama Gloria, a documentary film about Gloria Allen, a Black transgender activist who started a charm school for transgender youth. Afterwards, the Reverend Barbara Fast, was joined by Allen, the filmmaker Luchina Fisher, Palm Springs Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Middleton, and SSDC President Eric Ornelas for a panel discussion. The church donated the proceeds to Safe Schools Desert Cities.
All-volunteer organization, Safe Schools Desert Cities has been empowering local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex youth (LGBTQI+), their allies and GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) advisors since 2012. The organization works to create opportunities that foster individual growth as well as create community. These goals are achieved by providing education, guidance, advocacy, resources, recreational activities and opportunities for self-expression.
Safe Schools Desert Cities creates environments where youth can be themselves
by: Rebecca O’Conner | Inland Empire Community Foundation
Originally Published 04/24/2020 – www.desertsun.com
A Coachella Valley organization that works to create an inclusive environment for youth in schools and in their communities needs support to help its growing program. Read Article on Desert Sun Official Website.
PO Box 1662 Palm Springs, CA 92263
Safe Schools Desert Cities Corp is a registered non‐profit 501(c)(3) public charity organization and contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.
A Coachella Valley organization that works to create an inclusive environment for youth in schools and in their communities needs support to help its growing program.
For more than a decade, Safe Schools Desert Cities has offered LGBTQ+ students and their allies opportunities that create community and encourage individual growth through education, guidance, advocacy, resources and recreational and self-expression activities.
