Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/322788
June 2014 isea.org • ISEA Communiqué 6 fEATURE iowa Safe Schools calls a small rented upstairs office at the iSeA headquarters in des Moines, home. it's a cramped space full of debris from meetings and past events, but from the detritus of this small space, big ideas spring. iowa Safe Schools works to create safe and supportive learning environments and communities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (lGbtQ) youth through outreach, education, and advocacy. the group's mantra is that all students deserve a safe and supportive place in which to learn including those who identify as lGbtQ. for many lGbtQ youth, school can be a terrifying place due to bullying, harassment, and discrimination. in order to eliminate bullying in iowa's schools and create leadership opportunities for lGbtQ youth, iowa Safe Schools founded the Annual iowa Governor's conference on lGbtQ Youth. the mission of the iowa Governor's conference, held annually in early spring, is to engage and educate students, educators, parents, community leaders, youth-serving professionals, policy makers, and others concerned about issues relevant to the lGbtQ community; and to encourage networking and activism to inspire communities to promote diversity, equality, and social justice. Since taking over as executive director of the organization in 2007, Monson has grown the Governor's conference into the largest lGbtQ conference in the country. Attracting celebrity speakers and lGbtQ leaders, the Governor's conference now attracts over 1,000 participants annually. Monson is already planning ahead for the 10th Annual Governor's conference on lGbtQ Youth. Spring 2015 will mark a decade of growth for the conference and Monson would like to celebrate the event by highlighting lGbtQ pioneers. people who have been the "first" to come out, or the "first" to establish themselves as leaders in the lGbtQ community. "what about a conference of firsts for next year's event," asks Monson. " i really want kids to feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves, something they can walk into and feel like they shared in making history," he adds. the Annual Governor's conference's have been so successful, Monson has outgrown successive venues. April's conference was held at Veteran's Auditorium in des Moines where iowa Safe Schools rented the Grand ballroom, several hallways, and dozens of break-out rooms, all of which were buzzing with students and adults who swarmed the Auditorium for the one- day event. over 30 iowa organizations displayed products and information, and the red carpet photo-op line for celebrity selfies and quick pics with featured speakers was the longest wait of the day. "it's truly amazing to see so many students come together, even if it's just for a day", said Monson. "i've learned that while we may disagree on some issues, we do agree that we simply must do what's best for kids in the classroom. And, if we can use humor and entertainment to teach a tough subject matter to keep students entertained and engaged, then it's all the better." Monson is a well known voice in iowa on issues related to lGbtQ youth and school bullying. he regularly speaks at colleges, universities, schools, corporations, and community organizations and serves his community with involvement in various organizations including as a member of the lGbt health initiative, as a lifeworks des Moines board member, and a member of the iowa department of education's learning Supports Advisory team. in 2010, Monson teamed up with iSeA professional teaching and learning Specialist, cindy Swanson, to offer a brand new assortment of online, for- credit, professional development courses for iSeA members. the courses are a mix of regular professional development, and new, cutting edge programs that help educators with the complexities of a 21st century classroom. courses such as Supporting homeless Students in Schools, Suicide prevention for educators, and it takes a family: using children's books to Advance Social Awareness, are samples of iowa Safe Schools wide variety of classes. And, this summer, Monson has teamed up with trendy social commentator, Sam Killermann, who will offer a course Iowa Safe Schools offers fresh courses Nate Monson Blake Skjellerup Photo courtesy of Blayne Mapp, University of Northern Iowa Continued on page 12