Training, Equity, and Advocacy Services
TransPonder created Training, Equity, and Advocacy Services (T.E.A.S.) to fulfill our commitment to educate the community at large
Transgender people are a diverse community representing all racial and ethnic backgrounds. While trans people are increasingly visible in our culture, they still face severe discrimination, stigma, and systemic inequality; therefore, our work has to be intersectional. At TransPonder, we have provided training across Oregon to a broad spectrum of organizations and have learned that positive change for the transgender community is created through:
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- supporting personal efficacy from within the trans/gender-diverse community,
- supporting institutional and systemic change in the broader community through consultation, training, and education, and
- Continuing training practices to create a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Whether you are at the beginning of this work or wish to continue building on a solid foundation, TransPonder’s Training, Equity, & Advocacy Services (T.E.A.S.) will meet you where you’re at and work alongside you to foster a safe, empathetic, and honest conversational space where everyone can grow their knowledge and advocacy tools together.
To begin the process of trans/gender-diverse support and inclusion within your organization, click the button below!
Meet Our Training Team!
Sara Summers (she/her)
Training & Education Director
Gemini
Loves Poptarts
Cis
Biracial
Voracious reader
Queer
This is not her cat
Andrew Horan (he/him)
Training & Education Specialist
Taurus
Cis
Gamer
Queer
Dances like no one is watching
Puerto Rican Irish
This is not his axe
Current Training & Workshops available
Gender 101: VarieTEAS
(Beginner, virtual-only 90-minutes)
Gender 101 is an essential training designed to equip you with foundational knowledge about gender and its related concepts. In this session, we will explore:
– Key terminology and definitions
– The importance of inclusive language
– Understanding gender expression and identity
– Proven strategies for fostering a more inclusive environment
– The significance of pronouns and how to respect them
This training is ideal for those eager to begin their journey of understanding gender and sexuality.
Bias Interrupted: The Implicit To the Explicit & All the Bias In-Between
(Beginner available virtual & in person, 90-minutes)
To effectively eliminate biases, it is essential to recognize how they manifest in our daily lives. This workshop will delve into bias in workplaces, schools, and communities. The TEAS team will equip you with the tools to identify common biases and understand their enduring effects. By participating, you and your group will enhance your skills and knowledge, empowering you to implement equitable practices that can recognize and disrupt bias effectively in the future.
All Aboard the Effective Ally-Ship
(Beginner, virtual or in-person, 120 minutes)
Effective allyship is an ongoing commitment to supporting underrepresented groups. This training offers an opportunity for participants to gain a deeper understanding of crucial terms and definitions, explore the responsibilities that come with being an ally, and discover the foundational pillars of allyship. Attendees will learn to advocate effectively and practice techniques for interrupting behaviors through constructive interventions. Together, we will identify everyday opportunities to embody allyship, making a meaningful impact in our communities.
Spilling the Tea: Identifying Acts of Exclusion
(Advanced, virtual & in-person, 120 minutes)
Participants will embark on a transformative journey into history, uncovering the critical factors contributing to exclusions based on race, gender, and sexuality. This experience will empower them to pinpoint intentional and unintentional exclusions within various environments, including workplaces, schools, communities, and homes. TEAS will illuminate the profound consequences of these exclusions and emphasize the urgent need for proactive intervention. Attendees will partake in engaging practical exercises designed to refine their validation skills, enabling them to apply these techniques effectively in real-world situations.
Cup of Privileges: Awareness & Understanding of Privilege
(Intermediate, virtual & in-person 90-minutes)
The notion of individual identity is complex, involving various components, prominently featuring the idea of privilege. This training aims to explore the different dimensions of privilege, fostering a deeper awareness and understanding of its many forms. By engaging with this topic, we can better recognize how privilege shapes experiences and perspectives, ultimately promoting a more inclusive society.
The Tale of Language Lore
(Beginner, virtual and in-person, 90-minutes)
Language and its meanings evolve, adapting to reflect cultural and societal changes. Like when we watch older television shows or movies, and our beloved characters open their mouths, and before you can press pause, they utter words that are so cringe-inducing that the show is nearly ruined for you…sometimes completely ruined. This training will explore biased and gendered language, phrases, biased writing, and culturally appropriative and pejorative language. Participants will learn origin stories, impact, alternatives, and advocating for using those alternatives.
Gender 102 (Intermediate, virtual-only, 90-minutes)
This training provides an essential opportunity to deepen your understanding of advanced terminology and concepts related to gender expression and identity. Participants will explore the history of gender evolution and engage in interactive activities that highlight the diverse spectrum of gender and sexuality. This training will equip you with knowledge on critical topics such as:
- Sexual and romantic orientations
- Gender-affirming care
- Gender congruence
Leadership Series
Bias & Leadership
In this session, we will discuss the biases commonly experienced by people in leadership positions. We will also explore strategies for overcoming these biases, both personally and by building supportive structures within your organization. Additionally, we will cover what you can do when you experience bias directed toward you. By the end of this training, you will better understand how to recognize and overcome biases in leadership and how to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace.
Identifying Acts of Exclusion in Leadership
Acts of exclusion manifest through verbal, behavioral, and environmental actions that convey hostile or derogatory remarks and insults, often driven by deep-seated biases. This dynamic workshop is designed for leaders seeking to foster an inclusive environment. Participants will gain essential skills to identify and combat various forms of exclusion effectively. Equip yourself with the tools to make a positive impact in your organization. Additionally, we highly encourage attendance at the “Spilling the Tea: Identifying Acts of Exclusion” workshop, which dives into the nuances of exclusions and their effects. Join us in creating a more equitable workplace!
The Privilege of Leadership
Join us for an engaging workshop designed to delve into the concept of privilege and its crucial impact on leaders and their teams. Together, we will navigate the intersection of leadership and power dynamics, uncovering the complexities and challenges that privilege presents. Our focus will be on practical, actionable steps that leaders can implement to harness their privilege positively, empowering their teams to create a more inclusive and respectful workplace culture.
“It felt comfortable. I love the term…’ assume best intentions’ because I am trying, but I know I inadvertently make mistakes. But it is my responsibility to learn.” – Gender 101: VariTEAS participant.
“Sara’s skilled and engaging instruction made the training awesome. She is good at communicating with the group and making the training interesting.” – Spilling the Tea: Acts of Exclusion participant.
“I really enjoyed how personable and relatable the presenters are and how they shared examples from their own lives to help make the learning more real.”– Bias Interrupted: The Implicit To the Explicit & All the Bias in Between participant.
“I liked how non-confrontational the trainers were. I was never made to feel like I had been doing something wrong; just shown the best ways to improve.” – Gender 101: VariTEAS participant.
“I enjoyed how easy it was to read the slides and understand what was being discussed by the information presented. I also enjoyed the multiple stopping points for questions. I also love that there is another optional session on Monday for more questions!” – Gender 101: VariTEAS participant.