FROM STAFF REPORTS

Phi Theta Kappa Honors students at Jefferson State’s Shelby-Hoover Campus will host Safe Zone Training for faculty and staff members working at Alabama’s 23 community colleges.

Representatives from the Magic City Acceptance Center will provide an LGBTQ Allyship workshop on Friday, Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Judy M. Merritt Health Sciences Building, at 4718 Valleydale Road.

Topics will include definitions, terminology, best practices for working effectively with the LGBTQ community, allyship and a brief overview of local and national LGBTQ resources.

The training is free of charge, and lunch will be provided.

Afternoon sessions will provide time for small groups to practice what they have learned through responding to real-world scenarios.

According to the Trevor National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health (2019), 71 percent of LGBTQ youth “reported discrimination due to either their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

However, the presence of just one caring educational professional can make all the difference in the lives of these young people. This important training will help to make Alabama’s community college campuses even more welcoming for all students.

For more information, contact Liesl Harris at Jefferson State.