Seventh Annual Social Justice Symposium

NCCD staff presented at UC Berkeley’s Social Justice Symposium again this year:

The Intersection of Race, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression in the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems

Presenters: Natalie Lorraine Ortega, Bernadette Brown, Amy Cipolla-Stickles, and Aisha Canfield

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

NCCD staff presented at UC Berkeley’s Social Justice Symposium again this year:

The Intersection of Race, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression in the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems

Presenters: Natalie Lorraine Ortega, Bernadette Brown, Amy Cipolla-Stickles, and Aisha Canfield

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

A 2008 research study found that 15% of youth involved with the juvenile justice system identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning and/or gender non-conforming. Youth of color are disproportionately represented in the juvenile justice and/or child welfare systems. Consequently, it is important to support the exploration of how race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression intersect. Social workers within a myriad of professional settings should be trained on the needs of LGBT youth as well as the impact of intersecting identities. Services and programs should have the required competencies to serve all youth.

Students of Color in Social Work Programs

Presenters: Natalie Lorraine Ortega and Tamara Bransburg

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

This workshop was a response to a lack of support for our individual and collective experiences as students of color in Social Work programs including isolation, bearing the responsibility of teachers of race, bearing witness to the process of race consciousness for others and curriculum being written for Social Workers who are white working with Clients of color. This workshop aimed to create a safe space for students of color in Social Work programs to discuss race and to build community amongst students of color. Faculty of color were also invited to participate. 

Please visit the Symposium’s website for more information and a complete schedule of the speakers and workshops.

This was a free event, but pre-registration was suggested.