Workshop Session #1 - 10:30 to 11:30 AM

Challenging Transphobia with C.A.R.E.: Trans Allyship across a Divide 

Schuyler Bailar

Having conversations with those who disagree with us - or who disagree with the fundamental rights of those we love - can be immensely challenging. Many of us get flustered, angry, or confused. But these conversations are critical to social change. Using Schuyler's C.A.R.E. framework, this workshop provides tangible tools to equip participants for difficult conversations across disagreement, particularly when involving trans rights and social justice. This workshop encourages active participation and includes breakout groups in which participants (groups of 2-4) can practice using the framework together through role play.

From Airwaves to Hallways: Using Storytelling to Create Safer Schools for LGBTQ+ Youth

Vicki Kenyon, WORT FM

The Social Change Map tells us that Storytellers craft and share community stories, cultures, experiences, histories, and possibilities, through art, music, media, and movement. As the host of an LGBTQ+-themed community radio show, I've seen firsthand how powerful storytelling and representation are in shaping safe communities. This workshop explores the role every person plays in amplifying inclusive narratives. Using tools from broadcasting-such as active listening, interview techniques, and framing stories with care-participants will learn how to elevate LGBTQ+ voices in schools, counter harmful narratives, and create environments where students feel seen and valued. Whether they're educators, students, family members, or community partners, attendees will leave with practical strategies for using their own 'broadcast power' to contribute to safer schools. Because we all have a role-this workshop helps them discover theirs.

Framing Conversations about Trans and LGBTQ+ Student Wellbeing with Wisconsin Data

Dr. Mollie McQuillan, Will French, and Benjamin Lebovitz, UW Madison School of Education 

This session will first introduce recent reports that provide statewide estimates of trans and LGBTQ+ high school student identity, safety, health, and access to affirming adults and school policy. Second, the presenters will share takeaways from recent conversations with parents of trans and gender-diverse youth that can inform resource and policy work. Third, the participants will be provided accessible and high-quality graphs and charts reflecting relevant data to include in learning sessions, letters or emails to policymakers, and other communication including social media. Finally, this session will emphasize strategies for how data, together with student and parent voices, can be used to inform conversations with policymakers, administrators, and audiences to enhance understanding, support policy development, and advocate for safe and inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ youth.

Remembering Wenah: Reclaiming Two Spirit

Kamewanukiw Paula Rabideaux and Joseph Torres

This session explores Two-Spirit identities within Indigenous cultures and societies. Participants will examine historical contexts as well as contemporary issues, including the impacts of colonization, ongoing challenges Two-Spirit individuals face today, and the efforts to revitalize and affirm these identities within modern Indigenous communities.

Freedom Movement Therapy

Lacouir Yancy, Y-Massage

Freedom Movement Therapy (FMT) is a somatic mindful movement system designed for both community-based programming and university-level dance education, supporting dancers and movers in developing greater body awareness, emotional regulation, and expressive range through embodied practice. Rooted in Hip Hop movement culture and grounded in martial arts foundations, FMT blends breath work, sensation-based awareness, rhythmic training, and guided improvisation to help participants release habitual tension patterns, improve movement efficiency, and deepen the mind-body connection for performance, healing, and personal growth. Informed by somatic education and holistic movement science, FMT also integrates a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Six Elements framework of Fire, Earth, Water, Wood, Metal, and Air using elemental movement themes to explore dynamics, intention, rhythm, and energetic organization in the body. Students will engage in contrasting movement qualities through a yin-yang lens (dynamic vs. stillness, expansion vs. contraction, effort vs. ease), offering a structured yet creative pathway for technique development, artistry, recovery, and self-regulation bridging cultural practice, embodied research, and wellness-centered training in both academic and community dance settings.

Workshop Session #2 - 12:45 to 1:45 PM

Trans Athletes & Systemic Discrimination: How to Respond When Legal Systems Fail  

Maggie L. Paino, J.D., Ph.D. Candidate, University of Wisconsin-Madison

This workshop will review recent actions taken by government to oppress and discriminate against trans youth by limiting access to school athletic opportunities. Participants will consider the differences between legal and moral authority and brainstorm ways to fight back against system discrimination.

Space for Us: creating a high school club for trans youth to improve mental and physical health

Aristole Freitag & Amy Kranz, Escuela Verde (Milwaukee)

Lots of clubs and sports are divided by sex, so that leaves trans people in an awkward space of being forced with people they don't relate to or being forced to conform to something they aren't. And it leaves people who don't fit into the gender binary to pick a side. We know that activities like sports and clubs increase a sense of belonging and well-being resulting in better socialization and academic success. We know that some barriers to trans folks' involvement in sports and clubs are: misconceptions about biology, trans students are expected to be trans first and can't just "play soccer," supporters (staff, students) give up because they would rather dis-include than mess up at inclusion. We want you to help us use hivemind to find solutions!

Faithful Inclusiveness: Finding a Faith that Affirms Your Family

Rev. Miranda Hassett

Loud voices in the public sphere insist that being anti-LGBTQ+ is the only faithful position, but many religious groups and traditions are genuinely inclusive and affirming. In this workshop, intended for folks who are looking to stay grounded or renew their grounding in faith, we will explore the Scriptural and theological foundations for LGBTQ+ Christianity, help you work towards being clearer and bolder in your own beliefs, and offer tips for seeking out a truly affirming faith community. The Rev. Miranda Hassett is an Episcopal priest; she's most familiar with Christianity but will gesture towards other faiths as well.

Social Justice Ecosystem Roles 101

Yante Turner, GSAFE

An exploratory and activity-based workshop for beginning and advanced change leaders. This workshop will leave participants with a clear understanding of their organizing role, responsibilities, and lane towards creating change. Learn how to work with other people, using skills you are ALREADY good at, and maximizing connection through intentional community building using the Social Change Ecosystem roles! This intergenerational, communal workshop asks us to define what change we are looking to shape, and to shape ecosystem around the change we are dreaming of. 

Sharing Our Stories: Mini Zine Making Workshop

Ashley Hartman Annis

Learn to make your own mini zine! For decades, zines (pronounced "zeens") have been a simple & effective way for artists, poets, creative people, and educators to share their art & life experience. Zines often include information & stories that are hard to find in mainstream media-but deserve to be shared! Participants will learn how to format, cut, and fold a one page mini zine to share their story with their community!

Workshop Session #3 - 2:00 to 3:00 PM

School Board News Giving You the Blues? This Workshop is for You!

Heather DuBois-Bourenane, Wisconsin Public Education Network; Will French, UW-Madison School of Education; Melissa Tempel, Rainbowland Action Initiative

School Boards across the country are being co-opted by a vocal (and often vitriolic) minority. Now, more than ever before, we must counter their negativity with strategies that unite the community and uplift the caring, compassionate voices that need to be heard. Our goal is to prepare the public (YOU!) to be involved in local school boards! We will guide you through how to access school board information (agendas, resources) and provide tools you can use to maximize your impact! From strategies that empower you to share your story (and not <totally> lose your sh*t) to tackling the conservative board issues and navigating conservative school boards, this workshop is for you!

Mutual Aid: Building Stronger Communities Through Support

Lucifer Ronczka and Miles Braatz

In this workshop we will be diving into everything you need to know about mutual aid, how we use it to build community power outside of our current systems, and how you can create your own successful mutual aid projects and ecosystems for youth!

TransParent Panel: Building Community and Taking Action

Join a panel discussion with parents of trans youth, school district liaisons, and community voices. We all have a role and share the common goal of loving and supporting trans and nonbinary youth and the pursuit of equity, liberation, inclusion, and justice. This panel will discuss how to build community, support initiatives, respond to concerns in real time and conduct advocacy work to support our transgender and nonbinary youth through collaboration and a grassroots approach. We will discuss the evolution of the TransParent group in the Madison area, how it has impacted other communities, all with the hope that attendees can create something similar to make an impact in their own areas.

Imagining Desirable Trans Futures: An Interactive Art Exhibition

SJ Hemmerich

Not everyone has the time or energy to imagine possibilities for desirable trans futures; but I did as part of my dissertation project, along with 44 participants from across Wisconsin. This interactive workshop engages conference attendees in collective reflection and artmaking activities based on artwork from trans and nonbinary K-12 students and their parents. The art component of my study and preceding 44 interviews focused on the students' gender journeys and ideal future imaginings. Similar to the 6 focus groups that rounded out my study, attendees will reflect on participants' artwork with curiosity and leave the workshop inspired to move toward futures that expect, support, and celebrate trans and nonbinary people.

ActivismS: You Don't Have to Do Everything to Create Change

Vince Tripi, Expanding Horizons

This youth-forward, interactive workshop invites participants to rethink activism as a shared ecosystem rather than a single path or personality type. Using the Social Change Ecosystem framework, attendees will explore different roles people play in social change and reflect on how to take action without burnout or self-sacrifice. Through guided reflection and discussion, participants will leave with tools to identify their role, take manageable next steps, and support LGBTQ+ youth in showing up safely and sustainably. The session is designed for both youth and adults who work alongside them.