Gay-Straight Alliances Resources & Support

Aug 10, 2006

More detailed information about these resources is available on the chapter’s local web site, www.glsenrichmond.org

“10 Steps Towards Starting a Gay-Straight Alliance” (Public School Edition) – this brochure provides the basic information about starting a GSA club in your school. Published by GLSEN National, printed by GLSEN Richmond.

“Ally Week Organizing Manual” & cards – this manual provides all the information you need to plan and sponsor Ally Week activities at your school. Also available are pre-printed “Ally Pledge cards” for use by those who wish to pledge they will be supportive allies of glbt people. Published by GLSEN National, printed by GLSEN Richmond.

CEEVA – Commonwealth Education Equality Virginia – CEEVA is a new state-wide organization designed to advocate for Virginia’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. CEEVA also supports the formation of Gay-Straight Alliances at schools throughout Virginia, and asks that all active GSA groups register with them on their web site. For more information about CEEVA, go to www.ceeva.org

“Day of Silence Organizing Manual” & cards – this manual provides all the information you need to plan and sponsor the Day of Silence at your school. Also available are pre-printed “speaking cards” for use by those participating in the Day of Silence. Published by GLSEN National, printed by GLSEN Richmond.

GSA Liaison – GLSEN Richmond Board member who has the responsibility of providing support, information, and assistance with GLSEN resources to the students and faculty sponsors of established GSA clubs. The Liaison also assists youth who wish to form a new GSA club at their school.

GSA List-serve – an email list serve maintained by GLSEN Richmond for GSA youth, youth leaders, and GSA faculty sponsors. The list serve is used to provide information about news, resources, activities, and other items of interest to local GSA groups. To sign up for the list serve, send an email to glsenrichmond@yahoo.com with your name, your GSA group (name & school), whether you’re a student or faculty sponsor, and the email address that you want signed onto the list serve.

GSA Summit – once or twice a year, GLSEN Richmond sponsors a half-day training meeting for GSA youth and faculty sponsors. Individual session topics are designed to help you improve your GSA and its activities. Attendance is free to all youth & faculty sponsors involved in an existing GSA, or who wish to form a GSA at their school. There is no limit on how many from each GSA can attend, but we ask that you RSVP by email and let us know how many will attend so we can plan properly. The dates and locations of GSA Summits are communicated by printed flyers and by emails to our list serves.

GSA Small Programs Grants – GLSEN Richmond’s Small Programs Grants provides financial support to new and established GSA clubs who register with us. Proposals should indicate the purpose for which the funds will be used – this can be for printing, supplies, materials, refreshments, rental costs, or any cost associated with an educational or social activity or program sponsored by the GSA club. Proposals may be sent by email to glsenrichmond@yahoo.com. Available funds are allocated on a first-come basis, and approved expenses are paid when bills, invoices, or receipts for reimbursement are presented to GLSEN Richmond.

“Gay-Straight Alliance Resource Handbook” - provides information about starting a GSA club, and a collection of articles, handouts, and other materials for GSA leaders to help them with club activities throughout the school year. Published by GLSEN Richmond from materials developed by GLSEN National and others.

GSA Youth Scholarship – the purpose of this scholarship is to help defray the costs of the application process for youth who have been involved in their school’s GSA group or in the GLSEN Richmond chapter. The scholarship may be used for application fees of post-high school institutions, or to expand the range of institutions to which the youth is able to apply. It may also be used for travel costs of an on-site interview or audition is required as part of the application process.

School Library Book Donation Project – GLSEN Richmond will provide your GSA with a set of 10 library books for you to donate to your school’s library at no cost to your GSA or school. The book titles vary, and will include resource and reference books and young adult fiction.

Youth Leadership Development – Travel – GLSEN Richmond helps pay travel costs to attend GLSEN National meetings or other GSA-related conferences for youth involved in GSA clubs or with the GLSEN Richmond chapter.

Youth Leadership Development – Youth Representative, Chapter Board – the structure of our chapter’s Board of Directors provides for up to three youth to serve as Youth Board Representatives each year as appointed positions. Main responsibilities include: attending monthly chapter board meetings and providing input; helping out with GLSEN Richmond projects; and taking on responsibility for a project or program initiated by the youth member.