Solutions That Last

Participants practice the model of communication.

Families, therapists, teachers, and students, came together this month for YES Institute’s signature course, Communication Solutions™. They shared about their communication breakdowns in their lives, and in particular when things get uncomfortable or too painful we disengage, even with those we are closest to. By the end of the weekend, participants were in action to use their voices, and signed up to be volunteer speakers for YES Institute community dialogues.

“I hope to utilize what I have learned this weekend to change the way I relate to people with opposing views. It really opened my eyes that arguing my point is a futile effort. I see that no matter how loud my argument or how well reasoned, my old methods are not the best way to create change. I can now see the humanity in people affording me the opportunity to add generosity to the communication.”
- Father of a Miami Dade County Public School Student

“Simplicity and depth are two main ingredients that made this a powerful course. Before there was no choice but to struggle and fight, now, I can move on."
- Graduate Counseling Student

“I don't see communication as challenging anymore, but as opportunities to invest in a real and intangible way with others no matter who it may be. We all have fears and realizing that others are often feeling similar to me helps me to connect.”
- Participant from North Carolina

Martha Fugate with participants in Communication Solutions™.

South Florida Universities Discuss Openly

My name is Jared, and I recently joined the staff of YES Institute as an intern and volunteer speaker. While passionate about the topics of gender and orientation, and a dedicated intern, I had reservations about speaking in front of a group of people. Dr. Barbara Garcia-Lavin, Director of Division Internships & Training for Nova Southeastern University (NSU), invited YES Institute to converse with her psychology interns and postdoc residents, and I was asked to be on the YES speakers team.

Jared sharing his story at Barry University

This was the first time I’d ever publicly shared about my own orientation, and the impact it’s had on my family, friends and my life. I quickly felt the nerves leave my body and my voice grew more confident as I continued to speak. As I became more comfortable, so did the room, and they were engaged with what I had to say, asking me more questions. I felt at that moment that my voice and my story was making a difference.

“This was an extremely necessary discussion for us to have as therapists. I liked how we were given the personal side of these issues rather than just facts and statistics. The speakers were very powerful and moving. ”

“Today was very informative! I wasn’t aware of how high the suicide rate is for this population. The presentation really helped change my thinking on this topic.”

I also spoke with YES Institute during a Community Dialogue at Barry University, a Catholic college in Miami Shores. Michael Fountain, a Residence Hall Coordinator, invited YES Institute to present to 40 Barry resident advisors.

Emily addressing the interns at NSU

Throughout the conversation, the audience became more expressive, sharing their personal and cultural struggles with gender and orientation. I found myself more nervous than the first time I’d shared; the audience was nearly double in size, and they had been asking more in-depth questions. I felt vulnerable as I shared about my own orientation, but the more I spoke, the more my fear diminished. I was now able to be authentic with the audience, no longer afraid to look them in the eye and tell my story. And when I was finished, I was met with genuine questions about my happiness and future goals. I was shocked, and yet grateful to see that they actually cared. I felt like my story and the stories of other YES Institute speakers had shifted us all in a positive way.

Some of the students said:

“The YES dialogue was an intense but eyeopening experience for me. It was my first time meeting and listening to people who identify as gay and transgender. I now understand more about what they go through on a daily basis.”

“I now feel like I can better handle a situation relating to these topics in my residence hall.”

“All of the guest speakers made a huge impact on me. I was very touched and driven to become more involved.”

If you are interested in getting involved as a Community Dialogues speaker with YES Institute, contact us today!

Honeybee Campers Have a Dialogue on Gender

Sky Guilbaud facilitates honeybee community dialogue.

Camp Honeyshine, a program that “encourages the balance of mind, body and soul in girls and women”, invited YES Institute to have a community dialogue with seventy middle to high school "honeybee" campers.

“Camp Honey Shine provides an environment for young girls to learn how to develop their own voice and sense of direction in life by bringing them in contact with people, resources, and messages that are life changing.”

Some of the honeybee campers said:

“I specifically learned today that everyone is a human, whether they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgender.”

“Today I learned that boys and girls shouldn’t be bullied just because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgender because that can affect them. They could commit suicide or hate themselves. You can have a friendship with someone gay, lesbian, bisexual, and still feel safe around them.”

“I’ve learned how hard it is for girls who like girls. Also for girls that change to boys. It made me sad, because to this day people don’t understand how harsh their words are.”

WVUM The Voice Interviews YES Institute

Hyan Frietas (center) with Virgin Vandervlugt, RN and Joseph Zolobczuk, MS Ed., Director of Education. 

WVUM The Voice features a talk show called “Not For Profit” which highlights the work of non-profit organizations in Miami every Saturday at 2:00pm on local 90.5 FM. 

In July, Joseph Zolobczuk was interviewed about the work of YES Institute, and Sky Guilbaud and Virgin Vandervlugt shared how they and their families were impacted by the topics of gender and orientation, and how getting involved in YES Institute made a positive difference in their lives. 

Click on the following links to download and listen to the pre-recorded show broadcast: 

Segment 1

Segment 2

Segment 3

Segment 4

The DREAM Hotel is a Pioneer on South Beach

By Joseph Zolobczuk, MS Ed., Director of Education & Research

This week, the Dream Hotel became the first luxury destination on South Beach to train their entire front office staff and concierges as part of the Pink Flamingo Certification Program. Conceived by Steve Adkins of the MDGLCC and in collaboration with YES Institute, the Pink Flamingo program gives access to creating a welcoming experience for gay, transgender, and all Miami Beach visitors, residents, employees, and families.

YES Institute was invited by Dream Hotel to provide an educational dialogue focusing on gender and orientation as part of Pink Flamingo Certification Program. The Dream Hotel staff had the opportunity to be open and honest about these topics and sharpen communication skills to create a greater relatedness with guests. Committed to making a shift as an entire hotel, staff reflected on ways they could bring customer service to a whole new level.

After the dialogue, the staff shared: 

“I gained knowledge on language which will help me better address guests.”

“It definitely had an impact on me. Sky's story is very touching.”

“I found it very important for the type of work I do, and for human rights in general.”

The professionalism and ease with which staff can learn to deal with various situations can make all the difference in a customers experience. The Dream Hotel is taking the lead to achieve extraordinary standards for all of their guests.

Dream Hotel staff with YES Institute.

Miami VA Healthcare System Takes On Inclusive and Welcoming Healthcare for All Veterans

By Joseph Zolobczuk, MS Ed., Director of Education & Research 

Rachel Sottile, Executive Director, facilitates dialogue.

The Veterans Education Committee at the Miami VA Healthcare System is committed to leading the way in providing inclusive and competent care for all Veterans. As part of this initiative, they invited YES Institute to facilitate a two-hour dialogue on gender and orientation. More than 30 personnel including physicians, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and heads of departments participated.

Two YES Institute volunteer speakers, both of whom are Veterans, shared how their experiences around gender and orientation impacted their service and took questions from the hospital staff.

On September 20, 2011, the armed forces mandate “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was overturned. Months before on June 9, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) had already issued a directive providing for “respectful delivery of health care to transgender and intersex Veterans”.

Even though military and public opinion is shifting, these changes are only a starting point in addressing barriers to care. Considering a recent JAMA article, 75% of medical schools surveyed in the US and Canada rated themselves "fair," "poor," or "very poor" on the integration of gender and orientation content in undergraduate medical school training.

Comments from the staff included:

“I learned the importance of open dialogue with those who hold rigid beliefs even if they are different from mine.”

“One of the most important things I can do is use the pronoun and name the person wants to be known by.”

“I’m going to share what I learned today. We need more seminars like this if we’re going to make a real difference for our Veterans.”

YES Institute looks forward to supporting the efforts of the Veterans Education Committee as they work to meet the needs of all Veterans and their families.

Jim Gross, a US Veteran and YES Institute volunteer, shares his story.

US Customs & Border Protection Officers Commemorate Pride Month with YES Institute

By Joseph Zolobczuk, MS Ed., Director of Education & Research 

Port of Miami CBP officers with YES Institute staff.

The topics of gender and orientation impact relationships everywhere, and the Department of Customs & Border Protection (CBP) is no exception. Comprising the largest law enforcement agency in the US, over 45,000 sworn federal agents and officers are tasked with overseeing 300 ports of entry.

This June, both the Miami International Airport (MIA) and the Port of Miami invited YES Institute to open a dialogue with staff as part of their diversity initiative. In addition to hearing first hand experiences from people who identify as gay and transgender, specific instances of fear and confusion around gender were also shared in the dialogue.

At MIA, all the officers expressed how beginning the conversation was a worthwhile experience for them. “I learned more about how different gender is from sexual orientation. It was extremely educational and a moving dialogue.”

At the Port of Miami, some of the officers shared their discomfort when the gender presentation of a US citizen didn’t match their ID. One officer recalled, “I was so worried about getting it right–I wanted to be politically correct and not offend, but what if I accidentally said the ‘wrong’ gender to them?” Rachel Sottile, Executive Director of YES Institute offered, “One thing you could do is ask, ‘How do you want to be known? What pronoun do you prefer?’ For many who are in the process of a gender transition, the ID checking process can be fearful and threatening. If you come from a willingness to acknowledge people how they want to be known, you can make a huge difference.”