To see a list of the Student Leadership Team by STATE, click here.
It is 2008. Students still hear anti-LGBT harassment in schools all across America. It is 2008. We still hear of LGBT young people being beaten up and even murdered because of their identities. It is 2008. There is a network of student organizers from across the country who have been trained to live out the mission of GLSEN; who strive to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
How can this network of students help you in your work for safer schools?
- Do you have a question about starting or maintaining a student club, commonly known as a gay-straight alliance (GSA)?
- Are you interested in planning a teacher training or implementing the local school climate survey in your school?
- Do you want to find out about safe school summits happening in your area?
- Are you planning to organize a Day of Action (Ally Action Week, Transgender Day of Remembrance, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Organizing Weekend, Day of Silence) or other Days of Action?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should contact a Jump-Start student organizer from your region using their email address, which is provided below.
What's the Jump-Start leadership team?
In order to meet the needs of students and allies in communities and schools across the country, GLSEN selected the first leadership team, a group of high school student leaders from different regions of the country to be "peer educators," connecting and giving advice to students and allies, for the Day of Silence in January 2002. Since then, GLSEN has expanded the role of the Jump-Start Leadership team to train a core group of student organizers for various projects, including Starting and Networking Student Clubs, Campaigns, Days of Action and Summits and Teacher Trainings.
Who are the student organizers?
In the spring of 2008, student organizers were selected for the Jump-Start 2008-2009 National Student Leadership Team. The group reflects a diverse group of middle and high school student leaders from all over the country.
Student organizers can answer most of your questions about safer schools organizing, including starting Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs); organizing days of action; planning summits or teacher trainings, and starting campaigns to change your school or district�s policies.
Get to know the students from all over the country that are doing safer schools organizing in your community and/or get help with your student club by emailing a student leader using the appropriate email address below:
CALIFORNIA
NINI (Valencia), Western Regional Student Organizer
Ninia@studentorganizing.org
NIK (San Bernardino), Western Regional Student Organizer
Nickc@studentorganizing.org
ASHLEY (Chula Vista), Western Regional Student Organizer
Ashleyd@studentorganizing.org
AUSTIN (Lakeside), Western Regional Student Organizer
Austink@studentorganizing.org
TRINA (Lakeside), Western Regional Student Organizer
Trinap@studentorganizing.org
COLORADO
JASMINE (Littleton), Western Regional Student Organizer
Jasminel@studentorganizing.org
LYNETTE (Highlands Ranch), Western Regional Student Coordinator
Lynettes@studentorganizing.org
CONNECTICUT
LAYNE (North Haven), Northeast Regional Student Coordinator
Layneg@studentorganizing.org
ABI (Stratford), Northeast Regional Student Coordinator
Abip@studentorganizing.org
FLORIDA
SHATAVIA (Jacksonville), Southern Regional Student Organizer
Shataviae@studentorganizing.org
GEORGIA
AYANNA (Alpharetta), Southern Regional Student Organizer
Ayannab@studentorganizing.org
CORY (Marietta), Southern Regional Student Organizer
Coryp@studentorganizing.org
KANSAS
MICHAEL (Manhattan), Southern Regional Student Organizer
Michaelt@studentorganizing.org
MARYLAND
JENNY (Thurmont), Northeast Regional Student Coordinator
Jennyv@studentorganizing.org
MASSACHUSETTS
ABIGAIL (Cambridge), Northeast Regional Student Organizer
Abigailc@studentorganizing.org
HANNAH (Worchester), Northeast Regional Student Coordinator
Hannahb@studentorganizing.org
MICHIGAN
KAITLYN (Midland), Midwest Regional Student Organizer
Kaitlyns@studentorganizing.org
MINNESOTA
LEAH (Saint Peter), Midwest Regional Student Organizer
Leahm@studentorganizing.org
MISSOURI
JOSH (Florrisant), South Regional Student Organizer
Joshz@studentorganizing.org
NEVADA
MICHAEL (Sparks), Western Region Student Organizer
Michaela@studentorganizing.org
NATE (Las Vegas), Western Region Student Organizer
Natep@studentorganizing.org
NEW YORK
ALEX (Tully), Northeast Regional Student Coordinator
Alexb@studentorganizing.org
SAM (Albany), Northeast Regional Student Organizer
Samc@studentorganizing.org
NORTH CAROLINA
KATE (Pfafftown), Northeast Regional Student Coordinator
Katem@studentorganizing.org
TYLER (Mill Spring), Northeast Regional Student Coordinator
Tylert@studentorganizing.org
OHIO
CHRIS (Midland), Midwest Regional Student Organizer
Chrisc@studentorganizing.org
JUSTIN (Toronto), Midwest Regional Student Organizer
Justinp@studentorganizing.org
OREGON
SHAY (Springfield), Western Regional Student Organizer
Shaym@studentorganizing.org
TENNESSEE
CONRAD (Knoxville), Southern Regional Student Organizer
Conradh@studentorganizing.org
TEXAS
JESUS (Dallas), Southern Regional Student Coordinator
Jesusm@studentorganizing.org
VIRGINIA
DAVID (Manassas Drive), Southern Regional Student Organizer
Davida@studentorganizing.org
KATTY (Arlington), Southern Regional Student Organizer
Kattyn@studentorganizing.org
WASHINGTON
CULLYN (Sequim), Western Regional Student Organizer
Cullynf@studentorganizing.org
WISCONSIN
ADRIEN (Washburn), Midwest Regional Student Organizer
Adriena@studentorganizing.org
