Summer Constellations

July 2024 Newsletter

Author

Nat Duran
July 17, 2024

Summer Constellations!

Hello and happy Cancer and Leo seasons, friends and colleagues! We have so much exciting news to share with you all as we continue to get into a more regular rhythm with our quarterly newsletter.

🎉 Constellation Celebrations 🎉

Last issue we were so thrilled to announce the relaunch of The Third Space podcast - this issue we are even more excited to spotlight an episode from our second season featuring the brilliant Jess Levine (she/her)! Jess joins Lizzy and Nat to share best practices and considerations for working with youth who hold Diverse Social Abilities and we can’t wait to hear what y’all think of the genius shared within!

image description: a young person with short, dark hair walking down a hallway towards the viewer. they are wearing jeans, a white tee shirt, and a dark hoodie. the hallway has a patterned floor a wall with a slight reflection of the young person on it. “The Third Space” is superimposed on the reflection in block white letters.

We are also super stoked to introduce Gina Tarullo (she/her) to y’all after inviting her to join our team! Gina is excited and grateful to be part of Constellation Collective. She loves supporting adults and young people who are navigating life transitions and complex family dynamics, developing into their authentic selves, and/or struggling with anxiety, depression, and grief and loss. She brings more than 15 years of experience in community-based nonprofits to her practice and credits her background in theater with her pursuit of social work. Gina finds joy in being at the beach, playing games with loved ones, making art or crafts, and the WNBA (Go Sky!). She is very into music and has been learning the accordion... very slowly. Gina’s addition means we continue to have openings for private pay, BCBS IL PPO, and Aetna PPO clients, as well as a limited number of sliding scale openings.

image description: Gina, a white woman with dark brown, shoulder-length hair, and dark brown eyes, is wearing a black top and smiling at the viewer. she is framed by windows through which trees can be seen and a hanging plant appears over her left shoulder.

Earlier this year, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC) announced the launch of a new statewide initiative that supports and expands gender-affirming care. The new Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) Wellness and Equity Program expands comprehensive and medically necessary care for transgender, gender-diverse, and LGBTQ+ people throughout Illinois. This program equips organizations that currently serve LGBTQ+ communities to increase their capacity to provide culturally- and medically-competent gender-affirming care - and Constellation Collective is proud of their very own Nat Duran, who is acting as principal facilitator for the program’s collaborative learning spaces.

image description: a transgender pride flag waves in the background with a white banner including logos for the Illinois Department of Human Services and Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago in the top right corner. white block letters announce “IDHS & PHIMC Launch New Transgender Wellness Initiative” over an indigo overlay.

🌅 On the Horizon 🌅

Spread the word of our inaugural Parent Learning Series throughout October for parents and other adult supporters/loved ones of trans young folks! Folks can attend all 4 sessions for $100 - but folks who register by August 31 will save $25 on that fee! This series will feature the following 60-minute workshops:

  • Transition - it means a lot of things!

  • Understanding Nonbinary Identities

  • Navigating *Your* Transition

  • Coping at the Intersections, presented by Ari Groner of Sunny Days Therapy & Consulting

image description: on a navy background there are side by side pictures. in the left picture Ari, a white woman wearing a maroon shirt with curly dark brown hair past her shoulders, is smiling. on the right “Sunny Days Therapy & Consulting” appears in white serif letters with a thin yellow sun outline framing the S.

Additionally, we are currently seeking interested parties for 2 potential new groups in response to recent requests. One is a virtual support group for LGBTQ+ educators who are seeking community for connection, tools, and resources. The other is for an LGBTQ+ youth group. Please share the above interest surveys with folks within your network who might benefit from either of these spaces.

✨Constellation’s Constellations✨

SMYAL’s annual Rise Up! conference this year includes a virtual component occurring on Saturday, July 27 for national attendees. Rise Up! is a free conference that explores what it means to be a young queer organizer today. This year’s theme is Art in Activism: Igniting Change Through Art + Organizing. Their lineup of speakers, workshops, and performances will inspire and empower youth to make a difference through their art and activism. Rise Up! is open to queer and trans (and allied) youth ages 13-24, and prioritizes the voices, organizing, and safety of BIPOC queer & trans youth.

image description: a grey background contains a collage of several images. in the top left hand corner, SMYAL’s logo appears in purple. there is a red-orange mouth from which a tan speech bubble appears and the words “art in activism” appear in ransom note fashion. “Igniting change through art + organizing,” “register today: SMYAL.ORG/RISE” and “Rise Up! A National Conference for Queer & Trans youth organizers, July 27 + 28” appear in matching purple font.

GLSEN’s biannual National School Climate Survey is still live and collecting data from students 13+ who attended middle or high school during the 2023-2024 school year. GLSEN needs your support in distributing the survey to LGBTQIA2S+ youth in your communities and networks and are particularly interested in collecting experiences of LGBTQIA2S+ students of color, trans students, and LGBTQIA2S+ students in rural areas.

image description: a light violet background contains icons connected to schools including laptops, pie charts, checklists, and bullhorns. “Calling LGBTQ+ Youth! Take the National School Climate Survey” frames a yellow cloud in pink bubble letters. “Are you 13+ and attended middle or high school in the US during the 23-24 school year? Help inform GLSEN’s ongoing work to ensure safe and affirming schools” appears in the yellow cloud in grey letters.

The PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois (PCNI) is currently seeking sponsors for their biennial Power of PFLAG conference. Make sure to save the date - Saturday, October 26 at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL.

image description: a heart colored with the progress pride flag is turned at a 45 degree angle. “2024 Conference” and “PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois” in salmon letters frames a dark teal “Power of PFLAG” in block letters.

Families Together Cooperative Nursery School(FTCNS) is excited to launch FTCNS Teacher Institute, which offers quality, engaging professional development experiences for educators. Their charter workshop, Introduction to Emergent Curriculum is an online asynchronous workshop that provides 1.5 professional development hours approved by Illinois Gateways. The workshop is intended for teachers who are new to emergent curriculum practices. The workshop explains the value of an emergent approach as well as practical guidance for how to begin implementing emergent curriculum practices. To celebrate the launch of the FTCNS Teacher Institute, they are offering educators a special discount. Email Nat if you’re interested in the discount code to save $25 on that course.