In 2022, A Queer Endeavor...
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Play #1: Hosting professional learning opportunities for schools and districts
In 2022, we continued providing professional development opportunities for educators, working alongside schools and districts in Colorado and beyond. And, here’s what we continue to learn: this work is still challenging to do. Here in Colorado, we have laws and policies that not only support teachers to cultivate equitable and just learning communities, but that mandate, as Teacher Effectiveness Standard II states, that “teachers establish a safe, inclusive and respectful learning environment for a diverse population of students.” Part of creating that environment involves including in curriculum communities and identities that have been historically absent. These include the Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian American, LGBTQ+, and disability communities.
Play #2: Statewide coalition work pushed the State Board of Education to incorporate HB19-1192 into Social Studies Standards
The Colorado State Board of Education voted 4-3 to include the histories and social contributions of LGBTQ+, Indigenous, Latinx, African American, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian communities in state Social Studies Standards. This was made possible by a vast intersectional coalition of organizations, parents, youth, and educators across the state who came together across our differences, to win for all students! A Queer Endeavor is proud to continue our work of supporting districts and teachers to implement this policy and provide training and resources around this historic change.
Play #3: The film project: A collaboration with Denver Public Schools
In the Spring of 2022, we began a new film project with Denver Public Schools (DPS), funded by RootEd and the Twisted Foundation. The goal of this project was to invite a diverse group of LGBTQ+ students to come together in community, share their experiences in schools, and dream together of what’s possible when it comes to creating school spaces where students can thrive. In all, we had the privilege of sharing space with 16 young people on 2 glorious Saturday afternoons, as well as on an evening in April as part of a community event with educators.
Play #4: Doing Intersectional Research Together (D.I.R.T.)
Out of our film project, grew a beautiful opportunity to continue the work with a cross-district group of students from DPS in a youth participatory action research (YPAR) project. We present to you D.I.R.T.: Doing Intersectional Research Together. Our hope over the next few years is to develop this youth programming arm of AQE. As former educators, the film project reminded us how much we miss working with young people in the classroom and community and we're so honored to continue meeting with students this fall.
Play #5: LGBTQ+ Educator Collective
This year, we received a small grant from The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County. The grant was to support the organizing of an LGBTQ+ Educator’s Collective and to bring together queer and trans educators around community and joy. Being in schools and classrooms can take a toll on our mental and emotional wellness. Often, queer and trans educators are one of the only LGTBQ+ staff members in their building which can create added stress and a lack of community.
Play #6: 1st Year Educator Collective
Inspired by the commitments to learning to teach for equity and justice that these new teachers (and our former students!) cultivated during their time in CU’s graduate-level Secondary Humanities teacher licensure program, we invited them to join a new teacher collective for equity and justice. Our collective is grounded in the idea that, to continue growing their commitments to anti-oppressive education, beginning teachers need access to nourishing spaces, community, and ongoing professional learning experiences that are designed specifically for new teachers and with aims of equity and justice in mind. Teachers often lack that support, and we wanted to fill that void.
We’ve met twice so far and will continue meeting monthly for the rest of the 2022-23 school year. During our collective meetings, we gather around a home-cooked meal; share in the joy and challenges that teaching brings; and puzzle around in the space of curriculum design. In the spring, we’ll engage in some collaborative, equity-focused lesson planning and practitioner inquiry.
Play #7: Developing and Deepening Partnerships
AQE in Seattle! Eton Montessori K-8
AQE took on Seattle this Spring in partnership with an amazing Montessori School, Eton School! We are so honored to have had the opportunity to work with Eton at their beautiful Montessori school in Seattle! We worked with over 50 educators & school community members to support their community in their journey towards safe and affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth through curriculum, school culture, and a queer mindset. We look forward to continuing our work in the 2023-2024 school year.
Adams 12 GSA Collective
We met regularly with Adams 12 Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Collective sponsors in the spring to explore their puzzles of practice, build community, and think together about supporting their students. Together, we navigated the toxic discourses and attacks on LGBTQ+ youth in schools. Adams 12 is an example of a district where educators spoke up and united around their shared commitment to safe & affirming schools for all LGBTQ+ youth. As some districts and school communities have become paralyzed by the pushback or have abandoned the work, we commend their courage and leadership in these trying times.
Bilingual Sessions - Montessori Del Mundo
This year, we created our first bilingual session for teachers and parents! Thank you to Montessori Del Mundo for the ongoing partnership, trust, and collaboration. Thank you to PhD student Maria Ruiz-Martinez and staff Brittni Laura Hernandez who took the lead to not only translate our session into Spanish but to continue to refine our intersectional content. We first worked with a group of about 40 teachers, then with over 20 parents, and in early 2023 we will be working with a group of upper elementary and middle school students.
Play #8: Supporting and learning alongside of Doctoral Students
There are not enough words to describe beautiful, brilliant humans who are so fiercely committed to their communities, their scholarship, and who intertwine them in such important ways. Learn more about each graduate students by clicking their names above.
Play #9: Contributing to the conversation: Media & Publications
Photo by Kevin J. Beaty/CPR News
Play #10: Gifts and Grants
We received $134,781 through gifts and grants from organizations and individual donors. We are so grateful for your investment in our work! Thank you to the Rose Foundation, Community Foundation of Boulder County, Women Investing in the School of Education, CU Boulder’s Outreach and Engagement, the Twisted Foundation, RootEd, Odell Brewing, and Colorado Health Foundation for their grant support! And as always, thank you to the individual donors who sustain our work through monthly and one time donations. We could not do this work without you.
Play #11: A Queer Endeavor Kelley Therese Wylder Anderson Scholarship
This fall, Nydia Strohm-Salazar was the recipient of our AQE scholarship! Congratulations Nydia! Last year, we received the $25K needed to endow A Queer Endeavor’s Kelley Therese Wylder Anderson Scholarship fund. We are honored to carry on Kelley’s legacy and commitment to creating a more just world. Read more about our scholarship recipients here!
A Queer Endeavor did something for me that hadn’t happened in years… it brought my burnt-out educator heart back to life. Before the AQE training I knew that I cared for students, but I did not know HOW to care for them. AQE gave me language, tools, and ideas to serve all learners. Even more, AQE gave me a community of empowerment and accountability. Thanks to AQE I have a network of teachers around the state to bounce ideas off, ask questions to, and lean on."
—Kelly Langley-Cook (she/her/hers)
Lecturer in History and Secondary Education Program Advisor, University of Northern Colorado
Our staff
Thank you!
Again, we just want to sit in gratitude and say from a deep place of love and appreciation.
YOU make an impact! We are so grateful.
As always, reach out for support, community, or resources.