Community Conversation => Significant Others talk => Topic started by: hizmom on March 28, 2009, 10:55:37 AM Return to Full Version
Title: we went to washington, dc
Post by: hizmom on March 28, 2009, 10:55:37 AM
Post by: hizmom on March 28, 2009, 10:55:37 AM
back in december, adrien asked me to fill out
an application to attend GLSEN's annual
Safe Schools Advocacy Summit (SSAS) in DC..
march 21-24, 2009
wonder of wonders, out of 600 apps for 18 adult/18 student
slots, we both were selected to come to DC to be trained
over the 4 days to lobby our respective states' elected federal
legislators.....
on tuesday march 24, 82 offices on capitol hill
were visitied by GLSEN summiteers, lobbying for support of
a bill (HR 3132) "Safe Schools Improvement Act", to add language
to the "Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act" that includes
bullying and harrassment, enumerating not only race, national origin, religion,
but including sexual orientation and gender identification/expression.....
the exec director for GLSEN said it was an historic event for the organization...
the largest single day lobby effort, reaching reps/sens from 25 states...
hollah!
additionally, adrien was further selected to participate with a small group
to attend a 45 minute meeting with arne duncan, the secretary of education...
reports indicate secretary duncan was visibly affected by the students' stories and was able
to bridge what he was hearing to detrimental impacts on education when gender
and orientation issues are part of the equation
speaking for myself... it has been emotionally exhausting
profoundly moving and exhilarating to participate in such
a process....
my closing comment at the debrief :
it is my hope and belief that the children
reared by the children who participated
in this summit will live in a transformed world
reflective of what took place here these last
few days....
btw: if you are a US citizen, please communicate
with your legislators regarding HR 3132, urging
co-sponsorship (house of reps) and support for
full funding of education programs....
thanks, mateys :icon_clap:
an application to attend GLSEN's annual
Safe Schools Advocacy Summit (SSAS) in DC..
march 21-24, 2009
wonder of wonders, out of 600 apps for 18 adult/18 student
slots, we both were selected to come to DC to be trained
over the 4 days to lobby our respective states' elected federal
legislators.....
on tuesday march 24, 82 offices on capitol hill
were visitied by GLSEN summiteers, lobbying for support of
a bill (HR 3132) "Safe Schools Improvement Act", to add language
to the "Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act" that includes
bullying and harrassment, enumerating not only race, national origin, religion,
but including sexual orientation and gender identification/expression.....
the exec director for GLSEN said it was an historic event for the organization...
the largest single day lobby effort, reaching reps/sens from 25 states...
hollah!
additionally, adrien was further selected to participate with a small group
to attend a 45 minute meeting with arne duncan, the secretary of education...
reports indicate secretary duncan was visibly affected by the students' stories and was able
to bridge what he was hearing to detrimental impacts on education when gender
and orientation issues are part of the equation
speaking for myself... it has been emotionally exhausting
profoundly moving and exhilarating to participate in such
a process....
my closing comment at the debrief :
it is my hope and belief that the children
reared by the children who participated
in this summit will live in a transformed world
reflective of what took place here these last
few days....
btw: if you are a US citizen, please communicate
with your legislators regarding HR 3132, urging
co-sponsorship (house of reps) and support for
full funding of education programs....
thanks, mateys :icon_clap:
Title: Re: we went to washington, dc
Post by: Darlene on March 28, 2009, 06:24:27 PM
Post by: Darlene on March 28, 2009, 06:24:27 PM
You sound like an awesome mother.
Title: Re: we went to washington, dc
Post by: TamTam on March 28, 2009, 06:39:09 PM
Post by: TamTam on March 28, 2009, 06:39:09 PM
Awesome! That's a really great thing you two did. :)
Title: Re: we went to washington, dc
Post by: Janet_Girl on March 29, 2009, 01:19:25 AM
Post by: Janet_Girl on March 29, 2009, 01:19:25 AM
That is so cool. If only more parents were like you, there wouldn't so many kids on the streets.
Janet
Janet
Title: Re: we went to washington, dc
Post by: Alyssa M. on March 29, 2009, 02:08:30 AM
Post by: Alyssa M. on March 29, 2009, 02:08:30 AM
Wow! That sounds like an amazing experience. Thank you so much for sharing, and even more for being such a wonderful mother. Congratulations and thanks to both of you.
:eusa_clap:
:eusa_clap:
Title: Re: we went to washington, dc
Post by: hizmom on March 29, 2009, 09:21:00 AM
Post by: hizmom on March 29, 2009, 09:21:00 AM
there is a direct link to this work
being done, to bring information
and education into the schools,
teaching diversity and tolerance,
from the tiniest lil kindergarteners
to the smarter-now-than-they-
will-ever-be-again seniors ;)
to reducing the number of yet to
be born children who would end up
rejected by family and put out on
the curb like so much refuse...
the cure for ignorance is education...
being done, to bring information
and education into the schools,
teaching diversity and tolerance,
from the tiniest lil kindergarteners
to the smarter-now-than-they-
will-ever-be-again seniors ;)
to reducing the number of yet to
be born children who would end up
rejected by family and put out on
the curb like so much refuse...
the cure for ignorance is education...
Title: Re: we went to washington, dc
Post by: kisschittybangbang on March 29, 2009, 06:35:51 PM
Post by: kisschittybangbang on March 29, 2009, 06:35:51 PM
This is great!!! Good work! ^^
Title: Re: we went to washington, dc
Post by: HelenW on March 30, 2009, 08:47:46 PM
Post by: HelenW on March 30, 2009, 08:47:46 PM
Good for you! Thank you for being willing to put yourself out there for us!
(big) hugs & smiles
Emelye
(big) hugs & smiles
Emelye