Workshop Descriptions

Below is a list of workshops to be presented on Saturday, May 7th, 2022 at the QTBIPOC Conference.

Session 1 10:35-11:35am

Access Now: Disability Justice 101 

Writer, educator and community organizer for disability justice Mia Mingus explains: “With disability justice, we want to move away from the ‘myth of independence,’ that everyone can and should be able to do everything on their own...". Now more than ever, Disability Justice is a critical movement that supports disabled people who are also people of color, queer and trans, undocumented, elders, and more. We, as a collective, can learn and apply Disability Justice teachings to our everyday work, student and personal lives. This session will engage in an ongoing conversation on how we all can participate in cultural shifts that are more accepting of disabled, queer and trans people of color and explore current manifestations of ableism in the academy. 

UCR's QTPOC: Who Are We (30 minutes)

Our program is to promote an organization on UC Riverside's campus that aims to provide a safe space for Queer and Trans People of Color. UCR QTPOC creates safe spaces for its students by hosting various events. Some of these events include educational workshops, social events, study sessions, and special guest appearance events. 

Exploring Queer & Trans Spiritualities: A Joy-Centered Approach

In this workshop, shawndeez will facilitate a discussion on how queerness and transness intersect with the spiritual, the mystical, and the religious realms. Using joy as a focal point, they will invite us to explore the untapped potentials of queer/trans spirituality. 

Session 2 1:05-2:05pm

Decolonizing Queerness 

Queer ≠ white! This workshop explores the impact of colonization in queer spaces, and how the mainstream Western lens affects queer solidarity. Participants will leave understanding how white supremacy affects queerness, knowing strategies for creating space, and feeling that the world is just a little wider. 

Student Leadership & Community Power

This workshop explores the process of creating, maintaining, and expanding identity-based community spaces designed for QTBIPOC students. Using UCLA’s Transgender UCLA Pride as a case study, this workshop will explore the process of developing community, building resources, navigating higher education, and how to create sustainable growth while preventing student leader burnout. 

Queer and/or Transgender Black, Indigenous, People of Color (QTBIPOC) Student Experiences Project at UCLA 21-22

Historically, there has been a lack of research that focuses on the unique experiences of LGBTQ college students of color. Our presentation hopes to inspire undergraduate QTBIPOC scholar-researchers to capture our rich stories and experiences to improve conditions on our college campuses. We will be sharing our experience interviewing, analyzing data, and some of our preliminary findings on the current QTBIPOC students' experiences at UCLA. This is a closed space for QTPOC people.