LGBTQ+ Beyond the Basics

LGBTQ+ Beyond the Basics

Looking to learn more about being an informed ally? Want to learn to deconstruct harmful narratives? Let's go beyond the basics! In this workshop, we’ll work to deconstruct our thinking about gender and sexual orientation and then address real harm being done in our communities. We’ll make sure that we leave you with tools, language and resources to better serve as an ally.

Objectives:

Participants will:

• examine their understandings of heteronormativity, gender stereotypes and how these shape our culture
• deconstruct harmful narratives that affect trans, gender diverse and queer populations
• recognize specific ways that LGBTQ+ people are disenfranchised in access to basic needs such as food, housing, medical care and safety
• learn how to safely intervene when harm is being done in front of you
• expand their allyship tools and mindsets

Presenter Bios:
Justine Mainville Pagano

Justine Mainville Pagano (she/they) has been a part of Sojourner House since 2022 and serves as the Violence Prevention & Education Manager. In this role, she works with community partners, schools, private companies and healthcare providers to lead conversations and workshops about interpersonal violence, harassment and more. Through 1:1 support, education initiatives and peer mentoring the education team intends to affect the future by empowering young people to envision their lives without abuse and violence.

Prior to joining Sojourner House, Justine completed their Masters in the Art of Teaching at Brown University and had the honor of teaching language arts and social studies to young folks in Providence for 7 years. She's an alum of Rhode Island College and has worked and volunteered in non-profit settings since she arrived in Providence in 2007. She looks forward to welcoming her first child later this summer with her partner.

Linzi Rae Matta, LICSW

Linzi Rae Matta, LICSW (she/her) began her career in victim’s services at URI as a Peer Advocate working with Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services in 2007, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music History and Literature with a Minor in Women's Studies in 2010. After volunteering for a local domestic violence agency in 2012, she then worked to obtain her Master of Social Work degree from Rhode Island College, and graduated in the class of 2017. She has been a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker since 2019.

Linzi has developed an expertise in providing trauma focused treatment modalities to survivors of interpersonal and systems-induced trauma, with a particular focus on addressing the healing needs of those who have survived physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse.

Linzi has worked for Sojourner House as their Clinical Director since April 2022, which has expanded her experience in supporting LGBTQ+ survivors of trauma, clinical consultation and supervision, training facilitation, policy development, program operations, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her teaching experience includes 3 years as an Adjunct Social Behavioral Sciences Faculty Member at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, teaching first year medical students on how bias, social issues, and trauma impact patient care. Linzi currently serves on the Rhode Island Social Work Licensing Board and enjoys taking a systemic look at how to better support her fellow social workers.

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