About the book: Sorted: growing up, coming out, and finding my place
Book discussion led by Dr. Case Willoughby: Thursday, March 31 from 12:45-2PM
In person: HFLC 232
Here’s the link to join the discussion virtually:
https://meet.goto.com/868289469
When Jackson Bird was twenty-five, he came out as transgender to his friends, family, and anyone in the world with an internet connection. Assigned female at birth and raised as a girl, he often wondered if he should have been born a boy. Jackson didn’t share this thought with anyone because he didn’t think he could share it with anyone. Growing up in Texas in the 1990s, he had no transgender role models. He barely remembers meeting anyone who was openly gay, let alone being taught that transgender people existed outside of punchlines. In this “soulful and heartfelt coming-of-age story” (Jamia Wilson, director and publisher of the Feminist Press), Jackson chronicles the ups and downs of growing up gender-confused. Illuminated by journal entries spanning childhood to adolescence to today, he candidly recalls the challenges and loneliness he endured as he came to terms with both his gender and his bisexual identity.
About the author-Jackson Bird
Jackson Bird is a writer, internet creator, and LGBTQ+ advocate dedicated to demystifying the transgender experience by sharing his and others’ stories online. You can hear some of those stories on his podcast, Transmission, as well as on his YouTube channel, jackisnotabird. A TED Resident and Speaker, Jackson’s TED Talk “How to talk (and listen) to transgender people” has been viewed over a million times. Jackson was also a 2018 GLAAD Rising Star Digital Innovator, a YouTube NextUp Creator, and a LogoTV Social Trailblazer nominee. A proud member of FRESH Speakers, Jackson has shared his story and hosted workshops at conferences spanning from TED Women to San Diego Comic-Con as well as at private events at Oxfam, YouTube, MIT, and more. He is also known for his past work with the Harry Potter Alliance (HPA), a nonprofit that activates online fan communities towards social action. Jackson lives in New York City and is a proud Gryffindor.
About the book discussion leader-Dr. Case Willoughby
Case Willoughby is a nationally recognized change agent in student affairs, centering his work on student learning, development, and success. As VP for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Butler County Community College, Case works with his team to create an educationally purposeful environment, teaching students the competencies to be successful as students and citizens. An ACPA 2017 Diamond Honoree, he has held national student affairs leadership roles that include the National Joint Task Force on Student Affairs Professional Competencies and Faculty Lead for the Donna M. Bourassa Mid-Level Management Institute.
LGBTQ+ Guest Speaker-Mitchell R. Hortert
Wednesday, March 2 at 1 PM
Mitchell R. Hortert, MSW is a BC3 alum and community leader, advocate, and educator. He is the past President of PFLAG Pittsburgh, a non-profit organization that provides support, education and advocacy to families, friends, allies and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. He has held trainings, lectures, and speaking engagements on topics that range from working with families with children who identify as LGBTQIA+ to creating safer spaces for the LGBTQIA+ Community from across Pennsylvania to nationwide including at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the Cognitive Behavioral Institute, and has been featured at numerous conferences. He is also the first ever instructor on working with the LGBTQIA+ community for the City of Pittsburgh’s Bureau of Police’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program. In 2010, he co-found the Butler LGBTQ Interfaith Network, an organization that consists of LGBTQ affirming clergy, pastors, and faith leaders that affirm the spirituality of all LGBTQ people, their friends and allies. He is a member at Sewickley United Methodist Church. Mitchell attended the University of Pittsburgh where he obtained his master’s degree in Social Work.
Open Education Week March 14-18
Daily webinars for faculty and activities for students all week at the Heaton
"Open education is a philosophy about the way people should produce, share, and build on knowledge. Proponents of open education believe everyone should have access to high-quality educational experiences and resources, and they work to eliminate barriers to this goal. Such barriers might include high monetary costs, outdated or obsolete materials, and legal mechanisms that prevent collaboration among scholars and educators.
(From opensource.com)
“Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning and research materials in any medium – digital or otherwise – that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license that permits no-cost access, use, adaptation and redistribution by others with no or limited restrictions" (William and Flora Hewlett Foundation).
For more information on benefits of OER for both students and faculty click here.