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Safe Spaces: Honoring Gender and Sexuality in the Workplace

In this virtual training, learn about creating safe, inclusive spaces at work, school, and in your community. Gain an understanding of key terms surrounding safe spaces and LGBTQIA+ while exploring your own identity and become more self-aware.

Key Program Information
Related Program

Acknowledge and learn what it takes to create Safe, Inclusive Spaces

What are safe spaces? Safe spaces are places where a person or a group of people can feel comfortable that they will not be exposed to discrimination or harassment.

Safe Spaces have become a focus of conversation whether it be in campus climates at educational institutes or organizations looking to foster a sense of inclusion. Amidst the sometimes contentious debate, one fact remains: exploring one’s own identities and how they implicitly and explicitly interact with others is key to self‐awareness, increased productivity, and equitable environments. 

This safe space training focuses on people who are LGBTQIA+ and the diverse, complex communities this acronym represents. Research shows when supported in the classroom/school/workplace, people who are LGBTQIA+ exhibit far less anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Moreover, supportive environments result in overwhelmingly positive outcomes: people who are LGBTQIA+  miss less school or work, are more productive and earn higher grades. 

Safe spaces allow marginalized people to be heard and to contribute more freely. This safe space training caters to varying levels of experience. Whether unpacking the LGBTQIA+ acronym for the first time, further honing your skills as an ally or someone who identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, we will work together to curate sustainable change–one safe space at a time. 

Some terms and topics we will discuss include:

  • Social justice and creating sustainable change
  • LGBTQIA+ 
  • Pronouns
  • Gender identify, gender expression, sexual orientation, and gender roles
  • Erasure
  • Intersectionality, power, and oppression
  • The queer legal landscape
  • Allyship
  • Resources
Safe Space graphic with rainbow outlines of people

Who should attend

Business and organization employees and supervisors, educators, social workers, other human health services employees, health care providers

Instructors

  • Christopher Jorgenson head shot.

    Dr. Christopher Jorgenson (he/him/his) currently serves as the Interim Executive Director of Diversity, Inclusion & Leadership. Under his leadership, UW-Eau Claire has been ranked #3 nationally and is currently ranked #1 statewide for LGBTQIA+ inclusion and student experience (for a third consecutive year). He chairs the Queer & Trans Action Committee (QTAC) and Bias Incident Reporting Team (BIRT), teaches in the Honors and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) programs, and regularly collaborates with campus and community partners. Jorgenson's approach to social justice advocacy prioritizes critical self-reflection, embracing discomfort, and developing cultural humility. He often emphasizes the importance of balance, carving out opportunities to celebrate communities whose identities are too often denigrated and marginalized. Dr. Jorgenson received his Ed.D. in Student Affairs Administration and Leadership, with a focus on underrepresented student populations within higher education, and regularly travels throughout the United States to speak on issues of queerness, power, oppression, privilege, and intersectionality. 

CEU Information

Participants will earn 0.6 Continuing Education Units ( 6 Contact Hours) upon completion of this program.

Disability Accommodations

UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education encourages individuals with disabilities or other special needs to participate in our programs whenever possible. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please notify us at least two weeks in advance of the program so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Contact Continuing Education at 715-836-3636 / toll-free 866-893-2423, or use the Wisconsin Relay System (711). All requests are kept confidential.

An EEO/Affirmative Action employer, University of Wisconsin provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA requirements.

Cancellation Policy

We understand life happens. Should you need to cancel your registration, you may substitute someone to take your place, at any time, at no cost to you. If we cancel a program, we’ll give you your money back.

If your program is 14 or more days away:
You may transfer once to any currently available program – no charge!
If you have to cancel, you will receive a refund, minus a 20% administrative fee.

If your program is less than 14 days away:
You may transfer once to any currently available program, plus a 20% transfer fee.
If you cancel, you will not receive a refund.

If you are registered and do not attend the program, you are responsible for the full fee.

Substitution, refund or transfer requests must be submitted via email or phone call to UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education.

There are currently no upcoming dates for this program. To make sure you are notified when dates are scheduled, please join our mailing list.

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