2025 ACSA Lead With Pride Summit

Dive into the transformative power of identity work in educational settings. This interactive session explores how educators and staff can leverage their own identities to create safe, authentic spaces that empower both themselves and their students. Through a guided "Identity Walk" exercise, participants will gain profound insights into their own multifaceted identities and learn strategies to build bridges across diverse communities, even when they may not personally identify with the groups they serve.

Moving beyond self-reflection, we'll engage in collaborative table talks to unpack our learnings and discuss practical approaches to fostering meaningful connections and building inclusive communities within our schools. The session culminates with a vital resource-sharing component, focusing on the specific needs of queer staff and students. Participants will leave equipped with actionable strategies to thoughtfully curate and promote resources that demonstrate genuine consideration for vulnerable students, as well as ideas for incorporating these inclusive practices into broader school initiatives and policies. Join us for an enlightening exploration of how embracing our full selves can create a more supportive and thriving educational environment for all.

3 Audience Takeaways:
* Explore intersectional identity and how to leverage elements of self for building supportive community
* Engage in conversation about current practices and perceived hurdles
* Receive resources they can put in place as individuals to do inclusion work with or without a structured school initiative or policy