The County of Union supports the creation & continued sustainability of Gender and Sexuality Alliances, or GSAs, in middle schools throughout Union County. For the second year in a row, the Union County Board of County Commissioners are offering this grant opportunity to assist County middle schools with establishing and maintaining a GSA.
2022 – 2023 grant awardees include:
Walter O. Krumbiegel Middle School in Hillside
New Providence Middle School
Edison Intermediate School in Westfield
Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield
Research indicates that Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) programs improve school climate as well as individual well-being and educational outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth.
Participation in GSAs is related to stronger school connectedness and improved academic achievement for LGBTQ+ youth, regardless of whether they participate in their school’s GSA. Just having a GSA in a school creates a more positive school climate for the entire school community.
To assist with the continued creation of GSAs, the County of Union Board of County Commissioners will once again provide grants to four (4) additional middle schools in school districts within Union County. The County will also create a Middle School GSA Network to support the work already being done in middle schools across Union County.
The grant will provide each newly created GSA with:
- Monthly oversight, training and guidance for each school approved and sponsored GSA faculty advisor
- Inclusive materials and resources such as LGBTQ+ themed books for school media centers, safe space kits from GLSEN, LGBTQ+ accessories and web resources, etc.
- Guidance to assist in meeting compliance with legislative mandate A4454 and incorporation of Social, Emotional, Learning core competencies.
- Supplemental virtual meetings with students and advisors
- LGBTQ+ Movie Screening with discussion
- Two virtual rainbow career awareness nights in order to promote visibility with guest speakers who identify as LGBTQ+
- A Parental Education workshop or event at each participating school and Support Nights open to families
- Professional Development programming for faculty and staff
- Inclusion of best practices supported by various advocacy and educational organizations such as Garden State Equality, GLSEN and others.
- Creation of an LGBTQ+ Inclusive Wall Mural by a local artist.
- Assistance with school-wide LGBTQ+ awareness programming such as pride activities and the national “Day of Silence”.
The following services will be provided to both newly and previously established GSAs
- Inclusive materials and resources such as LGBTQ+ themed books for school media centers, safe space kits from GLSEN, LGBTQ+ accessories and web resources, etc.
- Two virtual rainbow career awareness nights in order to promote visibility with guest speakers who identify as LGBTQ+
- Assistance with school-wide LGBTQ+ awareness programming such as pride activities and the national “Day of Silence”.
- Inclusion of best practices supported by various advocacy and educational organizations such as Garden State Equality, GLSEN and others.
- Inclusion in the Union County Middle School GSA Network
The grant awardee will be required to fulfill the following requirements with the GSA Advisor:
- Conduct GSA meetings, at least one monthly.
- Meet with the County of Union designated grant coordinator, in-person or virtual periodically.
- Attend a movie event, parent workshop and a virtual rainbow career awareness night.
- Promote the GSA club through outreach to the greater school community.
Photo Album
Testimonials
“This was our first year running a GSA club in our intermediate school and receiving the grant from Union County was not only an honor, but it was an incredible resource. It allowed us to help foster an amazing culture and community within our club and allowed our students to feel supported both in and out of school. The materials and guidance received were invaluable. Laura helped us create an agenda for our club along with providing out-of-club opportunities for our students to enjoy. Her guidance and expertise allowed us to not only be better club advisors, but allies. We’re so grateful for this opportunity. Words truly cannot say just how wonderful this experience was. This club allowed our students to have a safe space in school and to feel seen and supported. We had a wonderful year and We look forward to taking all we learned this year and to continue developing our club next year.”
Marisa Corrigan, co-advisor, Roosevelt Intermediate School, Westfield. 5/19/23
“Working with Lighthouse Collaborative this year has been a blessing to us at our middle school. Not only did it allow us to create a safe space for our students, but our faculty and staff was also trained on LGBTQ+ topics including student rights and how it fits into NJ’s anti discrimination laws. Laura Pellettiere has been a phenomenal mentor throughout this entire experience. The resources we also were able to receive through LC were useful and plentiful. We hope to continue this collaboration in the future and are thankful we were able to have this opportunity.” 5/19/23
Krista Awad, co-advisor, W.O.K. Middle School, Hillside
“This club has honestly become my new home (3rd home then). I haven’t had this much fun since I moved schools, so I can always rely on this place as my safe space.”
Student testimonial from an intermediate school in Westfield
“Career night was a very entertaining and enjoyable experience. It was interesting to learn about other experiences of life and compare them to my own. I recommend it to others in the future to attend.”
Student Rainbow Career Night testimonial from an intermediate school in Westfield
“That was a great in-service! Much appreciated”
Advisor & Counselor, Kim Lisnock from Edison Intermediate Westfield Regarding the Faculty and Staff PD
“We had a successful Day of Silence. Over 150 students participated and many teachers showed their support as well. I think the day made our Pride GSA kids very happy.”
Day of Silence Westfield Edison Intermediate testimonial