PFLAG Executive Director Jody Huckaby and Safe Schools Coordinator Mekina Lucas to Participate in 2012 CESCaL Conference

The Center for Excellence in School Counseling and Leadership (CESCaL) is hosting their third annual “National Educator Conference Focused on LGBTQIA Youth” in San Diego, California. The weekend-long event begins on February 17^th and concludes on the 19^th.

This year the theme is “From Surviving to Thriving,” a phrase which builds upon the conference’s over-all title, “Solutions to a Crisis: Supporting Students—Saving Lives.” Sponsored by many advocacy and ally organizations, including PFLAG National, the conference aims to empower educators with knowledge of laws, rights, and resources pertaining to LGBTQIA students and families; help educators become advocates and allies for LGBTQIA youth; and teach skills for creating safe, welcoming, inclusive school environments for all students. The conference will contain several sessions each day for attendees, two plenary assemblies, nightly events, and numerous speakers and presenters.

PFLAG National’s Executive Director Jody Huckaby will be the first speaker during the Sunday Plenary in the main ballroom. “PFLAG National is honored to be a sponsor of this year’s conference,” said Mr. Huckaby. “Through our Cultivating Respect program, our hundreds of chapters across the country work to provide educators with the resources they need to provide safer learning environments for all students. So much can be accomplished when national organizations combine their efforts with regional affiliates and local groups, and we are proud to be a part of this work.”

Mekina Lucas, PFLAG National’s Safe Schools Coordinator and Diversity Outreach Coordinator, will be presenting “Building Safer Schools for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Elementary School Students” on Saturday, and “Powerful Partnerships: Community Engagement Strategies to Foster Safe School Climates for LGBTQ Students” on Sunday. The PFLAG National Safe School table will be assisted by members of PFLAG San Diego.

For more information about the conference, follow the event at @CESCaLSDSU or like the Facebook page titled “Center for Excellence in School Counseling and Leadership.” To register for the conference, please visit CESCaL’s online registration page.