Safe Zone Training empowers inclusivity across campus

Bolstering its commitment to fostering inclusivity across campus, the Center for Gender + Sexuality at Jacksonville University was awarded a $10,000 grant from the LGBTQ Community Fund at the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida. The grant was co-authored by two Jacksonville University professors, Dr. Sarah Parker, professor of english and director of the Center for Gender + Sexuality, and Dr. Natalie Indelicato, professor of clinical mental health counseling.

The LGBTQ Community Fund at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida makes grants that support community organizations and institutions, so they can better serve the local LGBTQ community. Established in 2014, the fund has made over $1 million in grants in Northeast Florida and invested $120,000 in local research and convenings to improve the lives of those in the LGBTQ community.

The grant supports the implementation of Safe Zone Training, which offers faculty and staff the opportunity to learn about LGBTQ+ identities, gender and sexuality, and examine prejudice, assumptions and privilege. Using an evidence-based approach, the training provides participants with educational and interpersonal tools to create and sustain a welcoming environment and advocate for a more inclusive community for LGBTQ+ students.

"Empowering JU faculty and staff with Safe Zone Training is a vital step toward fostering an environment where every LGBTQ+ student can thrive," said Dr. Indelicato. "By equipping facilitators with knowledge and empathy, this grant paves the way for a more inclusive and supportive JU community, demonstrating that understanding and acceptance are prioritized university values."

In spring 2024, Jacob Gandy, a Jacksonville University alum and local mental health practitioner who specializes in working with the LGBTQ+ population, led two separate facilitator trainings, preparing 14 participants to lead future Safe Zone Training sessions. The group is now set to conduct seven sessions throughout the '24 -'25 academic year, exceeding the grant's initial goal and covering various departments, including Nursing, Applied Health Sciences, and Athletics. The training sessions will involve a range of activities that invite participants to think about LGBTQ+ identities and experiences in new and more empathetic ways.

"We are so excited to make Safe Zone Training a regular offering at JU, thanks to support from the LGBTQ Fund," said Dr. Parker. "People who have already taken the training have responded really positively, and they have especially liked the way that it creates an opportunity for members of the JU community to ask questions and learn more about LGBTQ identities."

In feedback submitted regarding initial facilitator training, students expressed feeling increasingly safe, supported and represented on campus. Facilitators emphasized the importance of ongoing education and allyship to support a welcoming and inclusive campus culture.

"The Safe Zone Training has exceeded my expectations, providing me with invaluable insights and practical tools to more intentionally address topics related to identity, gender, and sexuality," said Dr. Victoria McNeil Young, assistant professor of psychology at Jacksonville University. "It has equipped me with strategies to reduce bias and promote education effectively. I am excited about the future possibilities of facilitating this training and further contributing to a more inclusive and supportive campus environment."

Since its inception two years ago, the Center for Gender + Sexuality has been pivotal in promoting gender and sexual diversity awareness on campus. Safe Zone Training will serve to amplify this awareness.

Explained Antonia Carucho, a student worker at the Center for Gender + Sexuality, "While our center offers direct support to LGBTQ+ students and allies, the Safe Zone training goes a step further. It educates JU's faculty and staff, ensuring they are equipped to create a safe and welcoming environment for all JU students. I am incredibly grateful for this initiative."

Safe Zone Training will begin immediately following the start of fall semester. Dean Lauren Knight and Dr. Lindsay Head will offer Safe Zone Training to faculty and students at the College of Law on Friday, Sept. 13 from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Dr. Jen Weldon and Dr. Parker will lead a session open to 20 faculty and staff members on Friday, Sept. 27.

For any questions regarding Safe Zone Trainings, email Dr. Sarah Parker.

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