New Questions Broaden Student Perspectives

By Jared Gorfinkel, Intern 

The Physician Assistant program at the Miami Dade College Medical Campus invited YES Institute to open a dialogue on gender and orientation with over 60 of their students. Much of the discussion centered on gender and gender transitioning as the students began to explore ways in which these topics could impact their workplaces: How should I provide care and interact with patients of varying gender identities? What is “intersex” and how is it different from “transgender”?

YES staff member Sky Guilbaud and volunteer speaker Krysta shared their experiences and answered questions, allowing the students to broaden their notions around gender and orientation.

"Very educational and informative. The dialogue opened up new ways to approach situations involving gender identity via illustrations and real life examples of hardships experienced by patients who went through a gender transition."

"I was relieved to see that YES Institute does not assume that all church-goers are anti-gay or overly judgmental. As a person of faith, I find that this is automatically assumed when in fact it is a major stereotype. YES Institute is bigger than race, religion and gender. It's all about people. Incredible program. Keep doing what you do!"

"It was really important for me to hear all of this information, and now I think I have more compassion and understanding toward the transgender community. In the future I will know how to welcome a patient with this experience."

Joseph speaking with 60 Physician Assistants at Miami-Dade College

Lotus House Blossoms with YES Institute

YES Institute speakers and staff with Lotus House team.

Lotus House women’s shelter in Liberty City invited YES Institute to open a series of Community Dialogues with guests and staff about the topics of gender and orientation and their relationship to suicide prevention and healthy development. Many participants shared personal insights after the conversations:

“This dialogue gave me a better understanding of the gay and transgender community, of how they feel and what they go through in life, and the consequences of society’s actions and behaviors.”

“It didn’t hurt to speak up and share sensitive topics in my life, because today I realized that everybody has them.”

“There are so many labels, and I am going to try to not label myself anymore.”

“I now understand that cultural sensitivity requires time and more dialogue.”

Lotus House operates a stylish thrift store in Midtown, and is producing the acclaimed Art Live Festival in Wynwood coming up in October. Proceeds from the store and festival fund programming at the non-profit women’s shelter.

Partnership with Adrienne Arsht Center Spotlights Education & Culture

The Adrienne Arsht Center and Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project has invited YES Institute to partner in an initiative engaging the Greater Miami community in an ongoing conversation about issues of bigotry, bullying and intolerance.

From August 4th to November 4th, the Arsht Center will bring together organizations from all over Miami to participate in a county-wide calendar filled with performances, education programs, and public forums, all of which culminate with Ballet Austin. According to the Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project’s website, Ballet Austin is “a full-evening [of] contemporary ballet that turns the spotlight on discrimination and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit.”

YES Institute is proud to be partnering with the Adrienne Arsht Center for this project and will be leading two courses on gender and orientation topics during this three month period: Gender Continuum™ on September 22, and Deciphering the Matrix of Orientation™ on September 23. Through our partnership with the Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project, YES Institute will bring conversations on these topics to the forefront through communication and education on gender and orientation.

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