conference at a glance

Dear Colleague,
Can you believe that it has been 20 years? True Colors produces the
world’s largest and most comprehensive lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender youth issues conference.
The regular two days of the conference
will feature more than 200 workshop
choices, engaging new talent at the
opening and closing sessions, a drag
show and a youth dance.
The Professional Best Practices Institute will add a new level of depth and
breadth to your cultural competency
with this population of youth and their families. In keeping with our theme of celebrating our heroes, Thursday
will start with a morning keynote address by one of our
heroes, internationally known researcher and clinician,
Caitlyn Ryan, LCSW, Ph.D.
Dr. Ryan’s research makes it clear that a family’s response
to a youth’s coming out has a significant impact on his/her well-being. Dr. Ryan’s presentation will explore the current focus of her work: the first evidence based family
model of wellness, prevention and care for LGBT youth with an emphasis on supporting ethnically and religiously diverse families.
The brochure offers additional information about all three days of the conference. It
is going to be an extraordinary event. You won’t want to miss it.
Robin P. McHaelen, MSW
Executive Director
*Funding for this activity was made possible in part by the HHS, Office on Women’s Health. The views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators at HHS-sponsored conferences, do not necessarily reflect
the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does the mention of trade names, commercial
practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
True Colors is STILL green.
No printing or mailing of brochures - all registrations are online only!
Aaron Pitre is an actor and playwright from Seattle, WA. He is a graduate of Suffolk University where he acted in over 20 plays including ‘Othello’ for which he
won an award from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Pitre
originated the role of Laurence/Lionel in the Elliot Norton Award winning ‘The
Blowin of Baile Gall’ by Ronan Noone. Played Hamlet in the New England premiere of ‘The Secret Love Life of Ophelia,’ by Steven Berkoff. Other theatrical
credits include: ‘Black Nativity’, ‘The Tempest’ and ‘The Relapse.’
Andrea Paquin knew at a very young age that music touched
her soul. She taught herself how to play the guitar, bass, harmonica, and how to sing. She has recorded 3 albums, with
the 4th album “Can You Hear Me?” due for release in early
2013. Her music embodies the term “Folk Rock”. Her songs
tell vivid stories using clever, memorable melodies and harmonies along with captivating lyrics. Her sound has been
compared to that of The Indigo Girls, Melissa Ethridge, and
Joni Mitchell.
KIN4LIFE is a triple threat. A new day is upon us and hip hop’s answer to
the question “what happened to the female rap game” is here. Blessed
with the lyrical prowess to compete with the hottest emcees in the business, as well as singing every R&B hook on their album and being touted
as the female version of The Neptunes. KIN4LIFE is comprised of American born, half Brit/Nigerian (IQ) and Half Black/Half Puerto Rican (Nor),
together the two incorporate fun + struggle to tell their story.
Kelli Dunham, Fresh Fruit Award winning comedian, is frequently
mistaken for a member of a boy band even though she is an adult female; Is a skateboarding ex-nun who has never been able to successfully get drunk and lied about her age to get her first library card; Has
an undiagnosed medical condition that makes her crave nutritional
yeast on bacon and diet soda with equal (and scary) zeal. Really, how
could she be anything BUT a stand up comic? You can get info out
her upcoming show here, some audio and video clips here and check
out her credits here). Her fifth book, a long-awaited collection of essays, stories and performance pieces, called Freak of Nurture will be
published in April 2012 by the ground-breaking and award-winning
Topside Press.
Daniel Trust, now 23, is an American motivational speaker and survivor of the
1994 Rwandan Genocide that killed between 800k & 1 million Hutus and Tutsis.
Born and raised in Rwanda, Africa, at the age of 5 years old, Daniel Trust witnessed the killing of his lovely mother Thamari during the civil war in Gisenyi,
Rwanda. Mr. Trust came to the United States as a refugee in 2005 at the age of 15
years old. He graduated from Bassick High School in 2008 and is currently a senior at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. Daniel Trust has over
5 years of speaking experience. He has lectured at middle & high schools, college
campuses, churches and community organizations across the United States.
CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE:
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Best Practices Institute
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Registration, Student Union Theater
9:00 – 9:15 AM
Opening Remarks and Welcome
9:15 – 12:00 Noon
Opening Plenary, Dr. Caitlin Ryan: An Evidenced Based Model of Wellness, Prevention
and Care for LGBT Children and Adolescents
In 2002, Dr. Ryan started the Family Acceptance Project (FAP) at San Francisco State
University to study the impact of family acceptance and rejection on the health, mental
health and well-being of LGBT youth, including depression, suicide, HIV, substance use,
self-esteem and well-being.
This research includes the first comprehensive study of how families adjust and adapt
when adolescents identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender during adolescence.
This research shows that family rejection has a dramatic affect on the health and mental
health of LGBT young people and that family rejection is significantly related to illegal drug
use, depression, suicide and risk for HIV infection.
Dr. Ryan’s research also indicates that family acceptance and support can help protect
against health risks and promote the self-esteem and well-being of LGBT young people.
12:00 – 12:45 PM
Lunch
1:00 – 4:00 PM
Break-Out Sessions
• Authentic from the Inside Out: Working with Transgender Youth and Their Parents
• Coming Out and Self-Acceptance in Co-Occurring Mental Illness: A Treatment Model
• Look for the Trauma Underneath the LGBTQI
• Sexual Taboos: Discussing Difficult Topics
• “What are you doing in this bathroom?”, an interactive and experiential workshop
based on the book, “A Sexuality and Gender Diversity Training Program.”
• Standards of Care for Improving Supports and Services for LGBT Youth
• A Primer: Skills for Talking with Youth about Sex, Sexuality, and Healthy Relationships
• Gender and Sexual Minority Youth: Clinical Competence and Practice Considerations
4:15 – 5:00 PM
Conference Wrap-up, Next steps, feedback, and Close, Student Union Theater
CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE:
Friday, March 22, 2013
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Registration, Jorgensen Auditorium
Saturday, March 23, 2013
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Registration, Student Union Theater
9:00 – 10:00 AM
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Opening Session, Student Union Theater
Opening Session, Jorgensen Auditorium
Daniel Trust, Ryan Amador, Infamous Squad Aaron Pitre
10:30 – 11:45 AM
Workshop Session I
Choose from more than 50 workshops in a
variety of areas and topics
10:30 – 11:45 AM
Workshop Session I
Choose from more than 25 workshops in a
variety of areas and topics
11:45 – 1:00 PM
LUNCH
11:45 – 1:00 PM
LUNCH
1:00 – 2:45 PM
Workshop Session II
Choose from more than 50 workshops in a
variety of areas and topics
1:00 – 2:45 PM
Workshop Session II
Choose from more than 25 workshops in a
variety of areas and topics
2:45 – 4:00 PM
Workshop Session III
Choose from more than 40 workshops in a
variety of areas and topics
2:45 – 4:00 PM
Workshop Session III
Choose from more than 25 workshops in a
variety of areas and topics
4:15 – 5:00 PM
Conference Close, Jorgensen Auditorium
Kelli Dunham
LGBT/Ally Youth Speak-Out
4:15 – 5:30 PM
Conference Close, Student Union
Kin4Life, Andrea Paquin
6:00 – 7:30 PM
Drag Show, Student Union Theater
8:00 – Midnight
Student Dance, Student Union Ballroom
NOTE: All workshops will be listed in the True Colors XX Conference Guide, which will be
provided in your conference packet during registration on the day of the conference. There is
no need to pre-register for any workshop. Simply select a workshop from the conference guide
and go the room listed. All workshops are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Click Here for:
Directions to UCONN Storrs Campus
Interactive Directions Map
Student Union Directory
REGISTRATION
Registration Deadline is February 21, 2013
Thursday Fees
Thursday Only: $149
Thursday Plus One Day: $125
Thursday Plus Two Days: $225
Fri/Sat Fees (Adult)
Adult Single Day: $80
Adult Two Days: $95
Fri/Sat Fees (Youth)
Youth Single Day: $30
Youth Two Days: $45
Lunch Fee: $5.00 per person per day [Included in Thursday (only) fees].
Group Discount: Groups registering 10 or more participants will receive a 5% discount off of the
total registration cost.
Walk-in registration is available at the conference. Registration will take place between 8:00 and
9:00 am in Jorgensen Theater for the Performing Arts on Friday and the Student Union on
Saturday. Rates are the same but participants are on their own for lunch.
Scholarships and small project grants are available:
• Check out the details here.
• A limited number of volunteer positions are also available.
Click here to register
CEU/CEC request forms will be available on site at the conference registration tables. Up to 16 Continuing Education Credits or Units can be earned in the
following professional fields: NASW, CT-AMFT, CSDE, CCB. To determine
availability of other CEC/CEU's, please call 860-232-0050 x 302.
True Colors XX (2013) Conference
Hotel Information
Mention the True Colors Conference for the special room rates listed below:
1)
Nathan Hale Inn ($129, plus tax)
855 Bolton Road, Storrs, CT 06268
(860) 427-7888
On campus, University of Connecticut
Amenities: Hot Tub/Pool, Fitness Center, Restaurant onsite, High Speed Internet
Parking ($6 per day).
2)
Rodeway Inn ($76 plus tax for double; $89 plus tax for quadruple room)
327 Ruby Road, Willington, CT 06279
(860) 684-1400
6.0 miles from conference site off of Interstate 84
Amenities: Free Continental Breakfast, Free Weekday Newspaper,
Exercise Room, Country Pride Restaurant (next door) open 24-7
3)
Best Western Regent Inn ($111.80 plus tax; with AAA discount $100.63 plus tax)
123 Storrs Road, Mansfield Center, CT 06250
(860) 423-8451, (800) 528-1231 x6375
6 miles from conference site off of Interstate 195
Amenities: Hot Tub/Pool, Free Breakfast, Fitness Center,
Restaurant onsite/nearby, High Speed Internet
CO-SPONSORS:
Workshops tracks target educators, social workers, family
members, clinicians and youth. Here are just a few of the more
than 200 workshops offered among the various workshop tracks:
Activist Institute:
Telling Our Stories
There Ought To Be a Law: An Overview of Legislative Advocacy
General:
Female Studs, Ags, Boi’s, Butch, Dom, Etc
Is the Bible a Word of Death or Voice of Hope for LGBTQI Folk
Healthy and Unhealhty Relationships
Professional:
Connect, Accept, Respond, Empower: How To Support LGBTQ Youth
How to harness untapped resources! The power of youth leadership
Youth Only:
Finding Your Inner Superhero (dibs on Wonder Woman)
Beyond “Bi”: How Well Do Our Labels Really Fit?
SPONSOR A YOUTH!
Make a difference in the life of a LGBTQI youth or youth ally sponsor their attendance at the True Colors XX Conference!
The cost of sponsoring a youth for the two-day conference
is only $75. Your generous gift will be recognized in our
conference guide and is tax-deductible.
Click here to sponsor a youth.
Pics from Previous Conferences
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