Liberatory Responses to Suicide and Crisis

In this session, we will discuss the history of carceral responses to suicide and crisis. Beginning with the conflation of madness and queerness, we will explore the ways queer and trans people have been targeted by carceral psychiatric and psychological “interventions.” We will trace the persistence of this historical trauma’s legacy in current crisis response models. After grounding in historical and contemporary responses to crisis and suicide, we will imagine liberatory frameworks for responding to suicide and crisis that resist paradigms of punishment and pathology. Presenter: Jess Stohlmann-Rainey. I am Jess (she/her) and I love to talk about suicide. I am a mad, queer, feminist, care worker. I am a trainer and consultant, and work as Director of Peer Services at Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners (who provides the statewide crisis and peer lines, RAINN hotline, Colorado Lifeline, and others), and an instructor at the University of Denver’s School of Professional Psychology. I live as a […]

Trans-Inclusive Therapy Practices, Part II

Join us for the second of two panel discussions with experienced therapists whose practices include transgender and nonbinary clients. We’ll hear from a group of therapists about inclusive practices, gender-affirming therapy, and how individual therapists approach working with transgender and nonbinary clients. Bring your questions for our panel about therapy in general, or about their specific practices. Panelists: Jasmine Lammers, MA, LPC finn phoenix, MSW, CAPSW Ellice Plant, LCSW, CHT, HHC Caitlin Myles Weber, LMFT, CST

Queerly Creative Daily Art Journaling with Sassafras Lowrey

For nonbinary and transgender people of all ages putting our stories onto the page is important and can even be personally transformative. Creative daily art journaling is a way that we can document our queer lives for memory and self-reflection. Art journaling involves combining words, photos, drawings, cut/paste from magazines/newspapers/mail, stickers etc. onto the page to document memories. Especially during the pandemic which has brought so much isolation and uncertainty, art journaling can be a personal (or collaborative) way of documenting the special and mundane moments of daily life. In this workshop we will explore tips for no/low-cost ways of getting started with art journaling, techniques for art journaling, and strategies for queerly incorporating creative journaling into your life. ---------------------- Register in advance for this meeting: https://forge-forward.zoom.us/.../tZ0rf... After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. ---------------------- SUPPLIES NEEDED: -- Notebook of any kind and size (optional) -- Paper (lined […]

Out of the Shadows: Mental Health First Aid

Register in advance: https://forge-forward.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dtgnYamkT1q1nzB-F2k4Kg There are powerful benefits when we bring our whole selves to our interactions with others.  Doing so has a direct impact on our friends, co-workers, family, and community. Rob Vallentine, a national instructor for Mental Health First Aid, will discuss the importance of investing in our own Mental Health and how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in others.  He will share how to improve interactions with someone struggling with their mental health using the 5 step action plan of Mental Health First Aid. Rob is proud to help shed light on an important health issue too often kept in the shadows. Sometimes all it takes is one moment and one story to spark an inspiring movement. Presenter: Rob Vallentine Rob is on a mission to ignite personal passion to find purpose, and in turn make a positive impact on the world.  While his work and community service […]

Volunteer at PrideFest!

PrideFest Milwaukee, WI, United States

Want to attend Pridefest 2022? Volunteering with FORGE for a short 3 hour shift will get you in for free, as well as gear you up with a fantastic, uniquely designed T-shirt for this year’s event. Our theme this year:  I’m here for trans & nonbinary survivors Sign up today!  http://signup.com/go/Pride2022   Pridefest kicks off the Milwaukee festival season. The Wisconsin festival season is rapidly approaching, and it all starts with the nation’s largest LGBT festival, Milwaukee’s annual Pridefest. This year’s Pridefest runs from Thursday, June 2nd through Saturday, June 4th, 2022. FORGE is once again a co-sponsor of the Health & Wellness area. The Health & Wellness area was created as a space to increase the visibility of LGBTQ non-profit organizations and programs and to showcase their robustness and viability. Each booth has fun and creative content and activities to engage participants and promote health and wellness of the LGBT communities. FORGE has one […]

Connecting with Community: Pods and Mutual Aid

Pod mapping is a useful way to identify the resources you need, where to connect to those resources, as well as what you have to offer others. Pod mapping can be useful in building community and creating mutual aid structures. In this pod mapping workshop, we will discuss creating supportive networks, navigating stalking or harassment-related behaviors by others, reducing violence in our communities, and protecting ourselves and communities from COVID-19 and other illnesses through connection and mutual aid. While pods are not a perfect solution, they are useful as a way to increase support and reduce risks. Join us on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 for conversations about the positive impact of pods and pod mapping.

Give me a boost! What you need to know about COVID, vaccines, and treatments

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and impact our lives in different ways. Join us on Tuesday, August 16th at 7:00 PM central for an engaging info session with two trans-knowledgeable and -empowering providers: Donna Whittle, MD, and Ericka Sinclair, MS, MPH.  The presenters will discuss the latest COVID-19 information about new variants, vaccines and boosters, strategies for staying safe and healthy, and more!  Video clips from "Give me a Boost!" https://youtu.be/st_rVxICArQ https://youtu.be/GOHawyfdlSs https://youtu.be/pE9G7XIdiLM https://youtu.be/nyKtOYu2uUs

WiTEACH – Resource mapping

Wisconsin’s trans community has exploded in recent years, and so has interest in serving us. In this interactive meeting we will collaborate in creating maps and directories of resources available to trans community members. Registration: https://forge-forward.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvf-qrrT8tGtwV9y2dXvOjpc_m9bjoS0W5 Who is welcome at WiTEACH? Everyone who wants a Wisconsin within which trans and nonbinary individuals and families are welcomed, supported, and helped to thrive. About Wisconsin Transgender Education and Advocacy Coalition for Health: WiTEACH is a new trans people/service providers/community members statewide coalition designed to focus and make more effective efforts to improve the lives of transgender and nonbinary individuals and families. We invite you to join us! Our first year will be devoted to expanding and improving the availability of quality mental health care for transgender and nonbinary people throughout the state. WiTEACH Community Meetings (Zoom) 2nd Wednesday of the month

Overturning Roe v. Wade doesn’t mean overturning the right to inclusive, trauma-informed healthcare for trans and nonbinary people

This workshop will explore what reproductive health care looks like for Trans and Nonbinary people. Topics will include accessing reproductive trans health including everything from birth control to abortion options. Trans and nonbinary sexual assault and trauma survivors often have additionally complex relationships to reproductive healthcare, which will be woven into this workshop. We will provide real-life stories of Trans and Nonbinary accessing this care Presenters: Afton Bradley is a nurse and social worker who has provided direct care and managed multiple trans health programs in Virginia. They work as a direct practice nurse, consultant, trainer, and educator for LGBTQIA+ health services amongst providers, institutions, and community consumers. Afton Bradley, FNP, MSW, BSN, RN (they/them pronouns)       J (they/them) currently coordinates a Trans Health Program in the South. Their background is in social work with an emphasis on LGBTQ health, sexual health, immigrant justice, HIV, reproductive justice, harm reduction, and anti-violence. J is particularly interested in […]

WiTEACH – Mental Health Resources

The WiTEACH intention of improving mental health availability and effectiveness is not starting from scratch. In this meeting we will talk about where trans people and families are accessing services now, and who else is working on the problem. We will also establish the baseline and set concrete goals and strategies for the WiTEACH mental health project. Registration: https://forge-forward.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvf-qrrT8tGtwV9y2dXvOjpc_m9bjoS0W5 Who is welcome at WiTEACH? Everyone who wants a Wisconsin within which trans and nonbinary individuals and families are welcomed, supported, and helped to thrive. About Wisconsin Transgender Education and Advocacy Coalition for Health: WiTEACH is a new trans people/service providers/community members statewide coalition designed to focus and make more effective efforts to improve the lives of transgender and nonbinary individuals and families. We invite you to join us! Our first year will be devoted to expanding and improving the availability of quality mental health care for transgender and nonbinary people throughout the state. WiTEACH Community Meetings […]

WiTEACH – Health Clinics

Wisconsin hospitals and clinics are creating LGBTQ+-specific clinics and programs specifically for trans people at an incredible pace. In this meeting, we’ll hear from several of the leading programs and inventory the others. Registration: https://forge-forward.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvf-qrrT8tGtwV9y2dXvOjpc_m9bjoS0W5 Who is welcome at WiTEACH? Everyone who wants a Wisconsin within which trans and nonbinary individuals and families are welcomed, supported, and helped to thrive. About Wisconsin Transgender Education and Advocacy Coalition for Health: WiTEACH is a new trans people/service providers/community members statewide coalition designed to focus and make more effective efforts to improve the lives of transgender and nonbinary individuals and families. We invite you to join us! Our first year will be devoted to expanding and improving the availability of quality mental health care for transgender and nonbinary people throughout the state. WiTEACH Community Meetings (Zoom) 2nd Wednesday of the month

WiTEACH – Youth resources

Negotiating with schools. Finding in-person support groups. Locating safe and reliable online resources. Supporting parents. In this WiTEACH meeting, we’ll explore what’s available for supporting Wisconsin’s trans and nonbinary children and youth, and their parents. Timestamps: 0:00 Speaker introductions 0:31 Action opportunity (January: Waukesha school board) 7:30 Wisconsin updates 9:45 Youth resources 15:59 What is GSAFE? 23:29 Other resources for LGBTQ+ youth in Wisconsin 30:45 What's expected from the WI legislature this year for trans kids 35:05 How to weigh in on current issues impacting trans youth 37:04 Joint Committee on the Review of Administrative Rules 2023 contact info 37:59 Closing thoughts Who is welcome at WiTEACH? Everyone who wants a Wisconsin within which trans and nonbinary individuals and families are welcomed, supported, and helped to thrive. About Wisconsin Transgender Education and Advocacy Coalition for Health: WiTEACH is a new trans people/service providers/community members statewide coalition designed to focus and make more effective efforts to […]

State-Sanctioned Hate: The Impact of the “Culture Wars” on Trans Lives

There are actual human casualties of the current U.S. “culture war” involving trans identities and rights. In this training webinar for therapists and social services professionals, we’ll discuss the actual effects what’s happening in legislatures, social media, and “news” shows are having on trans and nonbinary individuals and families. We’ll also discuss what individuals can do to help mitigate the damage. 0:00 Introduction and agenda 2:31 Who is FORGE? 5:27 Moments of trans joy / trans hope 7:55 Intersecting realities 9:07 "Trauma informed" and webinar content 9:48 What is "State-Sanctioned" hate? 15:24 What have you seen in your community? 17:59 Social media and online hate 24:54 Healthcare access 29:17 Threats against providers 32:16 Child abuse claims 34:11 Transition bans / detransition bills 36:15 Schools and book bans 38:46 Bathrooms 41:55 Trans people in sports 43:25 Workplace discrimination 45:44 Money spent on anti-trans political agendas 48:24 Politicians behaving badly 53:59 Drag shows / drag queen story […]