Join the 2008-2009 Jump-Start National Student Leadership Team

Join the 2008-2009 Jump-Start National Student Leadership Team

Applications are now closed

You could be one of the 50 students nationwide who will create change by making schools safer for LGBT students. If you are selected to join this national network of student organizers you'll be trained in ways to create a safe schools environment in your region. That means striving to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

In the future when people talk and write about the safe schools movement you could be the person they feature. GLSEN works with students because youth are at the forefront of change. We have seen students transform policy in their districts, lead teacher trainings, organize Days of Action, lead campaigns within their states and organize safer schools summits.

GLSEN offers you the opportunity to be part of the largest movement in America that is working to end anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in K-12 schools. Are you going to apply?

2008-2009 ONLINE APPLICATION

Why was the Jump-Start leadership team created?

GLSEN selected the first leadership team in 2001 to assist LGBT students and allies in communities and schools across the country. These regional student leaders were chosen to be "peer educators," connect and give advice to students and allies, and prepare for our Days of Action. In the last five years, the Jump-Start National Leadership Team has been instrumental in transforming the safe schools movement. Not only have students led the way in creating change; they are also the leaders that will take the movement to the next level.

Who is part of the Jump-Start National Student Leadership Team?

GLSEN works to make sure the Jump-Start leadership team represents all regions in the country, all races, all ethnicities, all genders, all religions and all sexual orientations. We also want the group to represent students from all walks of life to ensure that these leaders are able to work with and support as many different students as possible. This leadership team has twelve (12) student co-chairs and thirty-eight lead student organizers.

What does the Jump-Start National Student Leadership Team do?

The Jump-Start program trains students in ways to create a positive change by developing their leadership skills, coalition building abilities, and how to pass comprehensive anti-harassment policies in their schools and communities. In the past, Jump-Start students have held local safer school summits, trained teachers, lobbied for safe school legislation, supported peers who have started student clubs commonly known as gay-straight alliances (GSA), contributed to GLSEN resources, organized various days of action in their local communities and networked and supported student clubs across their state.

What are some of the outcomes for the GLSEN Jump-Start 2008-2009 National Student Leadership Team?

Supporting students around the country through email and AIM conversations

Educating people all around the country about safer schools issues

Outreaching for various Days of Action

Organizing and supporting the Day of Silence and Breaking the Silence events

Developing and leading teacher trainings

Organizing campaigns on a local, state and national level

Supporting other students starting and maintaining student clubs

Planning and presenting at local summits

Creating and facilitating workshops within their schools/communities

Helping register and network student clubs

Leading workshops on topics like anti-oppression work, teacher trainings, days of action and more...

What are the benefits and advantages of being a Student Organizer?

Work with an organization on a national level to ensure safer schools for all

Become a leader in local, state and national communities

Builds and creates leadership, organizing and communication skills

Collaborate with students nationwide who are working to create safer schools for all

Presents opportunities to participate in other trainings around the country

Receive amazing resources for yourself or your student club

Provides a great reference for jobs or college

Jump-Start students are some of the lead organizers in the safer schools movement in this country. Below you will find the requirements and responsibilities that are necessary to be part of the Jump-Start leadership team. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Benny Vasquez, Director of Student Organizing bvasguez@glsen.org

What are the responsibilities of the Jump-Start leadership team?

Attend our SUMMER-START training (a kick off event for all Jump-Start Students from across the country) event on July 9th � July 14th, 2008; all expenses covered by GLSEN

Commit to participate on the leadership team for an eleven month term (July 2008 � May 2009)

Provide timely guidance and support (mostly through e-mail to student organizers in their respective areas using GLSEN provided, web-based email accounts) to students

Provide guidance and advice to GLSEN Student Organizing and other staff by attending five (5) out of six (6) scheduled team conference calls (toll free number) attending four (4) out of five (5) regional/working group conference calls (toll free number, to be scheduled in alternating months of the leadership team calls)

Work with GLSEN staff to create individualized action plans

Complete monthly reports

Bi-Monthly individual meetings with GLSEN staff over the phone (each meeting is about fifteen (15) minutes)

Attend a leadership team training in the summer and a regional summit in the fall (all costs will be covered by GLSEN)

Some student organizers will be asked to assist and/or present with GLSEN staff at conferences and workshops in their local communities and regions (arrangements and work agreements will be made for each individual training)

Complete an end of the year evaluation and portfolio (due May 2009)

Jump-Start 2007-2008 National Student Leadership Team Requirements

All student organizers will be asked to contribute at least ten hours per month

Because of the majority of outreach, requests and communication are via email and over the phone, leadership team student organizers must have access to email and a phone on a regular basis

To meet and share ideas with others on the leadership team, student organizers must be able to attend regularly scheduled monthly conference calls via a toll-free number

All applicants younger than 18 years of age must have a parent and/or guardian approval in order to participate in the leadership team

All applicants must be currently enrolled in school (grades 6-12) and no younger than 13 years of age

All students must be able to attend our SUMMER-START training on July 9 - July 14, 2008.

What do I need to apply?

Read these definitions of school climate before you begin.

2008-2009 ONLINE APPLICATION

A Two (2) Letters of Recommendation

One from a teacher, or other school faculty

One from a community organization which can support your safer schools organizing.

Fax the letters to: 212-727-0254 or email to mdavis@glsen.org

Applications are now closed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Benny Vasquez, Director of Student Organizing at bvasguez@glsen.org.