We use an “I do, you do, we do” model to build inclusive environments that persist and sustain after we complete our services. This means partners can expect to engage in sessions where they learn from us, practice with us, and be prepared to apply what they have learned in their own context.

Rooted in empathy, accessibility, intersectionality, and collective learning, our workshops provide youth-serving spaces with supportive and customized consultation and facilitation to increase LGBTQIA2S+ inclusion.

LGBTQIA2S+ Youth Inclusivity 101 - Transformation Begins Within

This workshop is the first in our three-part series. It offers youth-serving professionals foundational concepts related to gender and sexuality. The training further prompts participants to apply key concepts to their own lived experiences, and create the foundation upon which our 201 and 301 trainings will build. Participants will also focus on the importance of acceptance as it relates to equitable LGBTQIA2S+ youth support.

LGBTQIA2S+ Youth Inclusivity 201 - Application to Youth Culture

This workshop dives into the roots of gender as a social construct and creates opportunities to explore gender and sexuality beyond the spectrum. Youth-serving professionals will learn about pronouns, practice using gender-affirming pronouns, hear from and reflect on Denver’s queer youth, and critically analyze the impact of harmful language. Participants will begin to apply the concepts they’ve learned to scenarios, interventions, and advocacy involving young people.

LGBTQIA2S+ Youth Inclusivity 301 - Integration into Practice Continuum

This workshop builds on the content of 101 and 201 and supports participants in applying all the concepts they’ve learned within their own work context (e.g. lesson plans, classroom management, workshops, inclusive policies, workplace culture). Participants will explore scenarios including staff, guardians, and community member interactions. They will create individualized commitments for continued learning/unlearning and explore lingering curiosities in the ongoing pursuit to equitably serving LGBTQIA2S+ youth.

*Customizing Workshops Beyond the Classroom

We primarily work with schools and nonprofits that provide education-centered programming for youth; however, we also enjoy working with organizations that work beyond this scope, including but not limited to organizations that support LGBTQIA2S+ adults age 25 and up and/or are dedicated to providing therapeutic support to youth.

If your organization supports queer adults or requires that we customize our trainings and/or scenarios to support beyond the classroom, we charge $200/hour to adapt our trainings to the needs of your specific community.

Level 1: GSA Start-Up Consultation

Level 1 is for schools who are starting or restarting a GSA from scratch. If you are ready to create an ongoing, extra-curricular space for LGBTQIA2S+ students and their allies to find community, this is the option for you and your school. Joy as Resistance will provide guiding resources and foundational in-school support for youth and group sponsors to feel confident leading a sustainable GSA.

Level 2: GSA Tune-Up Consultation and Thought Partnership

If your school already has a GSA, sometimes additional outside support can be helpful in navigating challenges that arise while running and sustaining the program. Examples may include leadership turnover, inconsistent attendance, intragroup conflict, inconsistent support from administration or other students, or low recruitment. Many GSAs face these types of opportunities for growth at some point in their development. Level 2 provides your GSA leadership with tailored support to continue growing and sustaining your GSA successful program.

Our Inclusive Practices Assessment service supports schools and youth-serving organizations who are committed to making their spaces to more supportive of LGBTQIA2S+ youth. Our facilitated process helps leaders understand the strengths and areas for growth within their school or organization. The resulting recommendations then guide leaders in developing and committing to an action plan.

This service is for youth-serving professionals who are seeking support with situation-specific instances involving the LGBTQIA2S+ youth that they serve. Support can look like educational tools, resources such as a gender support plan, or advice on how to approach the situation with the youth and/or your colleagues.

We offer 30 minute free consultations, no contract needed. Consultation beyond this time is $200/hour.

We offer three tiers of pricing based on your budget size and financial capacity. We ask that partners choose the tier that fits the best.

Tier 1 is for schools and organizations who are interested in our services but cannot afford to pay the full cost. This tier is likely a good fit for Title I schools and nonprofits whose budgets are $500,000 or less. We subsidize service costs through the generous support of key donors.

Tier 2 is for those who are able to pay the amount that delivering the service costs Joy as Resistance. This tier is likely a good fit for schools with limited budgets and nonprofits whose budgets are between $500,000 and $1 million.

Tier 3 is a good fit for those who can afford market rate for these services. This pricing tier emphasizes the actual value of our expertise, time, and support, and ultimately allows us to sustainably provide these important services. This tier is likely a good fit for school districts and nonprofits whose budgets are over $1 million.

To view pricing at each tier, visit the Joyful Spaces Menu of Services below.