TransActive Update: 2019 In Review

In this time of growing social and political divisiveness, TGP is working with community partners in raising awareness and holistically addressing the myriad challenges facing gender diverse, transgender, nonbinary, and queer children, youth, adults, and their families, and empowering them to live healthy lives free of discrimination.

Professional Development Training and Policy Consultation

As part of the CCE and the graduate school’s strategic expansion of its social justice mission, TGP has provided training and policy consultation on trans and gender diverse inclusion in employee relations, public transportation, foster youth and family support, early childhood development, K-12 schools and more. Recent training partners include:

• Urban and rural school districts in Oregon and Idaho

• Corporate Partners (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Mentor Graphics)

• Institutional and governmental partners (TriMet, Oregon Department of Child Welfare, United Way of Columbia-Willamette)

Direct Services

Our direct services to families of children and youth have seen significant growth since coming to Lewis & Clark.

• Consistent engagement with more than 40 families through our twice-monthly peer support group meetings

• Assisted more than 275 families through combined support group, social justice advocacy, and provider referral services. 

From Policy to Practice Toolkit

This fall we began work on the development of a toolkit of best practices for transgender and gender diverse affirming school communities. The initial phase of work involves stakeholder engagement and data collection to inform the toolkit. The end product will be a practical and comprehensive policy-to-practice resource that will assist school districts in establishing inclusive and equitable learning and working environments for gender diverse, nonconforming, and transgender students, school personnel and other school community members.

On Campus

As part of the Lewis & Clark family, TGP is working closely with colleagues and students on issues of visibility and inclusion through engagement the College’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Student Life, and the undergraduate Queer Student Union. Personally, I have been inspired by the support provided to this work at every level here at Lewis & Clark. There is much work still to be done, but there is no better place to make that happen than right here at the Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling. We are deeply grateful for the kindness and generosity of the entire Lewis & Clark community - including you! To support TransActive’s continued efforts to serve gender diverse, transgender, nonbinary, and queer children, youth, adults, and their families, please visit our giving page.

Sincerely,

Jenn Burleton
Program Director, TransActive Gender Project