Along with the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition Queer and Ally Youth Summit came a good bit of media attention. Here are a few of the stories that were produced from around the state.
Archive for the ‘Events’ Category
Media Coverage of Queer & Ally Summit
Monday, November 8th, 2010Students Take Home Valuable Insights from Queer & Ally Summit
Monday, November 8th, 2010
This weekend, the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition held its third annual Queer and Ally Youth Conference in conjunction with the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation. The event has drawn larger crowds each year and reached a record 140 attendees. This year’s attendance featured a large mix of diversity, people came from all over the state.
Speakers from across the country were featured, including Alison Gill of GLSEN, Danielle Askini of the GSA Network, Gerald Gibson of My Brother’s Keeper, Bear Atwood of the Mississippi ACLU, Sir Jesse of the Georgia Safe Schools Coalition, Melody Frierson of the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation and S.A.I.N.T.S. Topics of discussion included starting GSAs, Anti-Bullying, Gender, and Sex Education.
John Moore, an Architecture major of Northwest Mississippi Community College felt he had been re-educated on some matters.
“I’m really glad I came, I learned a whole lot of stuff that I thought I was educated on but really wasn’t.”
Kristopher Lilly, a Psychology major also of Northwest Mississippi Community College is looking forward to sharing what he learned.
“I’m really excited to take back [what I learned] and just kinda implement not only in our school but in other schools.”
The purpose of the Summit is to afford high school and college students, as well as adults the opportunity to learn about the challenges that continually face LGBT youth. Throughout the year MSSC seeks to create new opportunities such as this to educate the community about how bullying affects youth.
MSSC Q&A Summit Flyer
Friday, October 29th, 2010Want to have a copy of the flyer for the Third Annual Queer & Ally Youth Summit? Here it is! Feel free to put them up all around your community.
Information about Queer & Ally Summit for Minors
Monday, October 25th, 2010We are so excited that the Third Annual Queer & Ally Youth Summit is arround the corner. Just a week and a half away! The Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition is committed to the safety of all youth who attend this conference. In occordance with these values we are asking that students who attend the conference and are under the age of 18 sign a parental consent form. This ensures that your parents know where you are. You can download the parental consent form and email a scanned copy, or bring it with you to the conference.
Click Here to Download the Disclaimer
If you will be in the company of your parents or guardian, they can sign it there.
Information About Transportation
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010Hello Everyone!
The Mississippi Safe School’s Coalition’s second annual Second Chance Prom is this Saturday, May 8, 2010! If you need transportation, please read this email for information about the drop off and pick up locations.
There will be four pickup locations: Jackson, Hattiesburg, Southaven, and Oxford. (Please refer to the itineraries below for specific departure times and pickup locations.) All buses will arrive at the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo at approximately 4:00 P.M. and leave the arena at 11:30 P.M. to return to their cities of origin.
Transportation back to your individual homes will not be provided, so please prepare to have transportation present at the drop off locations when the buses return.
If you are under 18, you must present a signed parental consent form or you will not be allowed to board the bus. (You can download the form here: http://mssafeschools.org/files/transportation.pdf) Additionally, if you leave on the bus, you must also return to your original pickup location on the bus. Consumption of alcohol or illicit drugs will not be allowed on the buses or at the arena.
Bus Itineraries:
Jackson Bus
12:30 P.M.: Leave Jackson from the parking lot of:
Drury Inn Hotel (610 East County Line Road / Ridgeland, MS 39157).
4:00 P.M.: Arrive in Tupelo at the BancorpSouth Arena.
11:30 P.M.: Leave Tupelo to return to Jackson.
2:30 A.M.: Arrive in Jackson in the parking lot of:
Drury Inn Hotel (610 East County Line Road / Ridgeland, MS 39157).
Hattiesburg Bus
11:00 A.M.: Leave Hattiesburg from the parking lot of:
Roses’s (3720 Hardy Street / Hattiesburg, MS 39402).
4:00 P.M.: Arrive in Tupelo at the BancorpSouth Arena.
11:30 P.M.: Leave Tupelo to return to Hattiesburg.
4:00 A.M.: Return to Hattiesburg.
Roses’s (3720 Hardy Street / Hattiesburg, MS 39402).
Southaven via Oxford Bus
1:15 P.M.: Leave from Southaven from the parking lot of:
Desoto Civic Center (4560 Venture Drive / Southaven, MS 38671).
2:45 P.M.: Leave Oxford from the parking lot of:
Kroger (2013 University Avenue / Oxford, MS 38655)
4:00 P.M.: Arrive in Tupelo at the BancorpSouth Arena.
11:30 P.M.: Leave Tupelo to return to Jackson.
12:30 A.M.: Arrive in Oxford:
Kroger (2013 University Avenue / Oxford, MS 38655)
1:30 A.M.: Arrive in Southaven in the parking lot of:
Desoto Civic Center (4560 Venture Drive / Southaven, MS 38671).
If you will be leaving your cars at the pickup locations, please park in the back of the parking lot.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding transportation to prom, please contact John Yu at john@mssafeschools.org.
Thanks again and see you Saturday!
-MSSC.
Second Chance Prom Waiver/Parental Consent
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010Hey Friends,
We are so excited about this weekend, and honored that you will be joining us at Second Chance Prom.
We are wanting to make sure this event if both fun AND safe, and to this end we are requiring that all participants (volunteers and attendees) sign a consent form. It is important that we look out for everyone’s safety, and know who wants to be filmed and who doesn’t.
The link below contains a PDF, which will need to be signed by all attendees. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 18, YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE THIS FORM SIGNED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN IN ORDER TO ATTEND THE EVENT. If you are above the age of 18 you can sign this at the door. You are also welcome to print it out and bring it
with you.
http://mssafeschools.org/files/waiver.pdf
See y’all this weekend! If you have any questions please contact info@mssafeschools.org.
MSSC
MSSC Now Accepting Registrations for Second Chance Prom
Monday, April 26th, 2010Update: Registration is now closed.
The Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition is excited to announce that the registration form for Second Chance Prom is now available online. Any Mississippi youth or student between the ages of 15 and 23 are welcome to register. Youth and Students can access the registration form at:
Second Chance Prom will be held May 8th at the Bancorp South Arena in Tupelo, MS. The event will last from 5pm until 11pm. There is no cost to attendees.
Space is limited so Register NOW! We will send a confirmation email to let you know that your space has been reserved. (NOTE: You will not receive the confirmation email immediately.)
Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition Announces Details of Second Chance Prom
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010Jackson, MS April 20, 2010 — The Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition (MSSC) announced more details today about the second annual Second Chance Prom that will take place May 8 in Tupelo, MS. The evening will include dinner, a formal program, music and dancing. Celebrity appearances and support are expected.
The purpose of the Second Chance Prom is to create a safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and allies to have a safe and fun night where everyone feels comfortable being themselves. The event is primarily for students of Mississippi who are ages 15-23. This event aims to include all students regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, gender, or disability status.
In light of the events surrounding Constance McMillen at Itawamba Agricultural High School, the MSSC is also extending a special invitation to the students at that school to join in at the prom. “It was important to us that the students at IAHS receive an invitation to our prom. All students are welcomed,” says Matthew Sheffield, Communications Director of the MSSC.
This event is made possible through the generous support of funders, both in and out of Mississippi. These sponsors include MS native Lance Bass, who is both a vocal supporter of Constance and a sponsor of the event. Other major sponsors include Green Day, the American Humanist Association, and Cat Cora. With A-list celebrity event planner Michael Russo of Roses-n-Lollipops at the helm, the prom will be open to Mississippi students ages 15-23, and is sure to be an unforgettable evening for all those in attendance.
The Second Chance Prom is just one of the ways the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition and students from all over the state are ensuring that diversity has its place among southern values. More information about the MSSC can be found at our website, http://www.mssafeschools.org.
Any requests for further information regarding media, donations, and/or celebrity attendance should be directed to Michael Russo at mrusso@rosesnlollipops.com
To donate, individuals can do so online through our fiscal agent, the ACLU of MS https://co.clickandpledge.com/sp/d1/default.aspx?wid=26771
Please Note: Make sure to put “MSSC” in the “Why are you donating today” field. This ensures that your donations are directed to the MSSC.
Individuals can also donate via check to or P.O. Box:
MS Safe Schools Coalition
P.O. Box 3442
Jackson, MS 39207
Please make checks payable to our fiscal agent, ACLU of MS. In memo note, please put MSSC.
Contact:
Michael Russo
Event Planner
mrusso(at)rosesnlollipops(dot)com
Matthew Sheffield
Communications Director, MSSC
601-460-0506
matthew(at)mssafeschools(dot)org
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Fundraising for Second Chance Prom
Monday, April 19th, 2010We need YOUR help!
The Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition, along with our generous donors and partners thus far, are asking for your financial assistance to help throw the best inclusive prom Mississippi has ever seen!
Our donors have helped us get this far….
But we need your help to reach our goal of raising an additional $25,000 to ensure that the prom is safe, fun and fabulous. We will use the thermometer as a way of showing our progress.
Your donation may be used in a number of ways, including:
- Security
- Entertainment
- Catering
- Transportation assistance
- Sound and Lighting
- Decorations
To make a donation please visit our Join/Donate page.
Day of Silence Participation Growing in MS
Friday, April 16th, 2010
Today is Day of Silence, an event organized by GLSEN nationwide. According to GLSEN, “On the National Day of Silence hundreds of thousands of students nationwide take a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in their schools.”
More information about Day of Silence can be found here: http://www.dayofsilence.org
This year, the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition purchased 150 t-shirts to distribute to gay-straight alliances, student groups, and community groups across the state. We are proud to report that the t-shirts went fast! Every year, participation in Day of Silence is growing in Mississippi. If we are missing your group or school, email us at info@mssafeschools.org.
Next year, let’s make Day of Silence an even bigger success for Mississippi! Thank you to the following schools/organizations that have representatives participating in Day of Silence in 2010:
- USM GSA
- Spectrum (MSU)
- MUW
- Ole Miss GSA
- Millsaps
- Alcorn
- JCJC
- Wesson HS
- Oxford HS
- MSMS GSA
- Batesville HS
- Hattiesburg HS GSA
- Jim Hill HS
- Eta Episilon Gamma Sorority Inc.