Trans-Inclusive Therapy Practices, Part I

Join FORGE for the first 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: Jan Singer, LCSW Kim Skerven, Ph.D Travis Trott, LCSW

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