Safe Zone Training
About Safe Zone Ally Training
Safe Zone or Safe Space training is a common name for LGBTQ+ ally and advocate trainings performed at colleges and universities across the country and world. The Safe Zone Project is one of the most commonly known resources for these types of trainings (they were one of the first to use the name!), as well as others like Campus Pride. At W&L, we use "Safe Zone" to mean two things: the training itself, and the offices and spaces who have participated in the training. Here, you can find information on how to sign up for our scheduled trainings, request a training session for your group, and see a listing of those on campus who have taken the training (coming soon!)
We recommend taking Ally Training about every 3-4 years, just to remain current on topics and terminology in the community. The LGBTQ Resource center is currently working on more trainings beyond the introductory level, in order to prevent repetition of content. Future topics include: Transgender-specific terminology and allyship, LGBTQ representation in media, Bi-/Pan- identities, and more!
Ally Network
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The Safe Zone network is made up of University faculty, staff, and students who are committed to being allies of the LGBTQ+ community. Its purpose is to provide everyone in the LGBTQ+ community with safe spaces where each individual can be their whole selves; where community members can express themselves freely and live out, in an integrated manner, all the unique and wonderful qualities of themselves. All members of the network have completed a Safe Zone training that covers in specific and concrete ways how to be an ally, and committed to being an ally.
After completing the training, participants will receive a nameplate with their name, pronouns, and date of training to hang in their office space. This allows individuals who come in their office to see their ally status, and serve as a reminder to the participant to continually educate themselves on LGBTQ+ content!
Training Information
Interested in learning more about LGBTQ+ identities and being recognized as a university-sponsored ally to the LGBTQ+ community? Look no further! The LGBTQ Resource Center offers training sessions to give you education and experience with the LGBTQ+ community to provide you with the skills and resources to be an effective ally. These are two day training sessions, and attendance at BOTH sessions is required to complete the course and receive your ally certificate.
The goals of our training sessions include:
- Provide an overview of what it means to be an "ally" for any W&L faculty, staff or student.
- Educate the community on issues/trends/concerns with LGBTQ students, faculty and staff.
- Provide additional resources (websites, theories, contacts, etc.) that might be of use to an ally.
*As a note to all Faculty/Staff: the Safe Zone Ally Training can count towards the Intellectual Well-Being LiveWell Program Goal!*
Fall 2023 Training Dates
Session 1: W Nov 15 - 12:30pm - 4:30pm CANCELLED
Session 2: R Dec 07 - 12:30pm - 4:30pm
Elrod Commons 216 - Inclusion and Engagement Event Space
Winter Academy Session: R Dec 14 - 9am - 2pm (Break from 12-1pm for lunch provided with session), REGISTER ON THE WINTER ACADEMY WEBSITE and on the link above.
Elrod Commons 216 - Inclusion and Engagement Event Space
Group Trainings
Do the dates above not work for your team? Do you want to have group dialogue about how your specific area can serve queer students, faculty, and staff? We also offer the option of scheduling a training with your unit! Please click the link below to head to our Interest Form!
If you have any specific questions about training, please contact Jake Reeves (jreeves@wlu.edu).