Nine out of 10 LGBT students are harassed at school. LGBT students are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide, and LGBTQ students have a dropout rate three times the national average.
To make a difference in these students’ lives, The Center for Excellence in School Counseling and Leadership (CESCaL), a San Diego-based non-profit, offers the only annual national educator conference focused on LGBTQ youth entitled, Supporting Students ~ Saving Lives. CESCaL will present the 4th annual conference at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Diego’s Mission Valley on February 15-17, 2013.
CESCaL brings in the best national LGBTQ advocacy organizations and educator associations to train, provide resources, and empower educators to create needed change in schools. Some of those organizations include: GLSEN, Trevor Project, PFLAG, True Colors Fund, American Psychological Association, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and many more.
Last year’s conference brought 500 educators from 29 states and three countries. After being mentioned in national magazines and receiving coverage from CNN, the conference was recognized by President Obama.
With all that acknowledgement, one might think educators are flocking to San Diego to attend CESCaL’s conference. Unfortunately, that is not the case. According to Vinnie Pompei, CESCaL’s Project Director and Conference Chair, “The problem is that due to harsh budget cuts in education, districts are no longer sending educators to conferences, and they are not providing needed district training on effectively working with LGBTQ students.”
Enter Catherine Mattice, an author planning a book release party. Her book, flaunting the spirited title BACK OFF! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying at Work, and recognized by Ken Blanchard as “the most comprehensive and valuable handbook on the topic” of workplace bullying, will hit online bookstores in September of this year. Mattice is the President of Civility Partners, LLC, a local training and consulting firm focused on ending adult bullying in the workplace.
“I combined forces with CESCaL to hold a fundraiser because I really believe in what they are doing — they are arming educators with the information they need to proactively end bullying in schools. Joining forces is a great way to help them bring educators to their conference, and to create awareness that bullying happens among adults at work too,” says Mattice.
The combined fundraiser and book release party will be held on October 4, 2012 from 6-9 pm at AT-HOM furniture store in Little Italy, at 2310 Kettner Blvd. Complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Members of the community can send educators to CESCaL’s conference by becoming a sponsor, donating to the silent auction, or bidding on items in the silent auction at the October 4 event. AT-HOM has also agreed to donate 10% of any furniture purchases made that night to CESCaL.
Several local VIP’s are expected to attend, including Kevin Beiser, the San Diego School Board member best known for pushing anti-bullying policies in schools. Another local author, Walter G. Meyer, will also be there to read an excerpt from his book, Rounding Third, a fictional story about the friendship of two high school boys.
Get more information about the event and register at http://tinyurl.com/c2z4wgt. The event is complimentary but registration is required.
Event Details
The Center for Excellence in School Counseling and Leadership (CESCaL) and local author Catherine Mattice are teaming up to raise funds to bring educators to the only national educator conference focused on educating educators on LGBTQ youth issues. The night will include a silent auction, book release party, complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres, and the opportunity to hob nob with local VIP’s.
What: Fundraiser and book release party
Who: CESCaL and Civility Partners, LLC
Why: To send educators to the CESCaL conference, so they can be educated in effectively helping LGBT youth, and to celebrate the release of the book BACK OFF! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying at Work. BACK OFF! offers 105 tools targets of workplace bullying need to understand, report, and effectively end workplace bullying.
Information: http://tinyurl.com/c2z4wgt
Cost: Complimentary, but please register to attend
When: Thursday, October 4, 2012 from 6-9 pm
Where: AT-HOM furniture store in Little Italy, 2310 Kettner Blvd, San Diego
