This invite-only training will help support the formation of an Anti-Violence Project in the Fox Vally and Oshkosh areas of Wisconsin.
Goodwill Industries of NCW, Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, Harbor House Domestic Abuse Services, Reach Counseling and The Sexual Assault Crisis Center have joined together to help form the Fox Valley LGBTQ Anti-Violence Project to address hate crimes, sexual assault, domestic violence and suicide prevention within the LGBTQ community. The steering committee for this Project started meeting in January 2011 and continues to make progress.
Because this issue impacts all our communities, this event will bring together leaders in law enforcement along with other leaders together to discuss what is happening at a national and local level concerning the LGBTQ community. michael munson from FORGE will inform attendees about what is happening nationally as well as highlight what other communities are doing. Kathy Flores will share some information about what has been happening at a local level and more about our plans for the future.
Kathy Flores is the leader for the Fox Valley & Oshkosh Anti-Violence Project. In her full-time work, she is currently the diversity coordinator for the City of Appleton. Kathy has been a member of the Wisconsin Coalitions Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault LGBTQ Intimate Partner Violence Committee since 2004 and she started her work in anti-violence in 2002 as a volunteer with the Sexual Assault Crisis Center. Also in 2002, she became the community education outreach advocate at Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs and served in that role for 7 years. Kathy is trained in suicide prevention, specializing in suicide prevention for the LGBTQ community. Kathy considers herself to be a passionate advocate to curb all forms of violence within the LGBTQ community and has presented day-long workshops for those working with LGBTQ survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault.michael munson is the co-founder and Executive Director of FORGE, a national organization focused on improving the lives of transgender individuals by building stronger connections, providing resources, and empowering growth through knowledge. His educational background is in psychology, with an emphasis in trauma. Munson’s work on violence against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals is groundbreaking, stressing the intersectionality between complex components of identity, experience, and societal constructs that can both spur violence, as well as catalyze healing for individuals and communities. He is passionate about engaging professionals to embrace these complexities and learn key skills to better serve their clients/constituents.
