LGBTQIA+

Community Meetings

Four quarterly confidential sessions open to CCRC staff of the LGBTQIA+ community, with two sessions per quarter for allies.

Click Here to Register for November Community Sessions:

For LGBTQIA+ Community Members:

Connected and Conflicted: LGBTQIA+ Experiences with Social Media

Thur, Nov 13 at 5pm-6:30pm and Mon, Nov 24 at 11am-12:30pm -

Join us for thought-provoking discussions on the relationships queer & trans people have with social media - both in and out of the workplace. We will explore the influence of social media on community, advocacy, and expression, as well as the challenges of navigating privacy, boundaries, bias, and safety.

Click Here to Register for December Allyship Sessions:

Open to Aspiring Allies:

Meeting the Needs of Intersex Children and Their Families

Thur, Dec 11 at 5pm-6pm and Mon, Dec 22 at 11am-12pm - Approximately 1.7% of children are born with natural variations in sex characteristics that don't fit typical female/male definitions. December's panels bring together intersex experts & advocates to discuss the experiences of intersex children and their families, resources, advocacy, and tips for early childhood providers.

We are excited to invite all CCRC staff to participate in the LGBTQIA+ Community Meetings. This group is designed to explore and celebrate the diverse experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and Two-Spirit individuals working in early childhood care and education. Together, we will discuss the joys, challenges, and unique nuances of our work, our identities, and our communities.

Each session will center on a planned topic, while also allowing space for group members to bring up their own topics and share insights. This will be a space for open dialogue and mutual support, where we can act as a collective sounding board for one another. Attendance is confidential, and we warmly welcome those who are questioning or exploring their attractions and/or gender.

All sessions will be facilitated by Lyndon Cudlitz and his team, ensuring an engaging and informed environment. We will hold four quarterly community group sessions specifically for LGBTQIA+ members throughout the year, as well as two allyship sessions each quarter that are open to all staff committed to learning, supporting, and growing in their allyship along with members of our LGBTQIA+ community. Closed community group sessions will have an additional 30 minutes, after the 1-hour monthly topic discussion, to bring their current issues and questions and to support and problem solve collectively.

Join us in building a community of understanding, support, and advocacy for a more inclusive and affirming early childhood care and education environment. Make sure to look for our DEIB News Bulletin each month, where updates and program details will be shared. We look forward to connecting with you and hope that you will receive our welcome with good faith and understanding.

2025 Session Dates

For LGBTQIA+ Community Only:		Open Ally Sessions:
January 9 at 5 PM - 6:30 PM	July 10 at 5 PM - 6:30 PM	March 13 at 5 PM - 6 PM
January 16 at 9 AM - 10:30 AM	July 28 at 11 AM - 12:30 PM	March 24 at 11 AM - 12 PM
February 13 at 5 PM - 6:30 PM	August 14 at 5 PM - 6:30 PM	June 12 at 5 PM - 6 PM
February 24 at 11 AM - 12:30 PM	August 25 at 11 AM - 12:30 PM	June 23 at 11 AM - 12 PM
April 10 at 5 PM - 6:30 PM	October 9 at 5 PM - 6:30 PM	September 11 at 5 PM - 6 PM
April 28 at 11 AM - 12:30 PM	October 27 at 11 AM - 12:30 PM	September 22 at 11 AM - 12 PM
May 8 at 5 PM - 6:30 PM	November 13 at 5 PM - 6:30 PM	December 11 at 5 PM - 6 PM
May 19 at 11 AM - 12:30 PM	November 24 at 11 AM - 12:30 PM	December 22 at 11 AM - 12 PM

Closed community group sessions will have an additional 30 minutes, after the 1-hour monthly topic discussion, to bring their current issues and questions to support and problem solve collectively.

According to Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): “Affinity groups, or employee resource groups (ERGs), bring together employees with similar backgrounds or interests and can have a powerful influence in the workplace.” We recognize the need for communities of like-minded members to hold safe spaces for conversations, support, and allyship. To that end, we are continuing an initiative that we believe will fill a significant void.

These sessions are confidential and open to CCRC staff of the LGBTQIA+ community only, aside from the “open” sessions for allies, as noted above.

Meet Our Facilitator

Lyndon Cudlitz

Lyndon Cudlitz has over 20 years of experience in group facilitation and LGBTQIA services, and delivers customized training and technical assistance for educators, healthcare providers, nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies. His work encourages clients and communities to make institutional shifts, to improve interpersonal relationships, and to examine the beliefs individuals have internalized about others and ourselves. His background includes children's rock climbing instruction, sexual health education, and founding & directing youth leadership programs in Maine, New York, and Missouri. When not in front of an audience or climbing rock walls around the country, he can be found volunteering at a summer camp in Upstate NY.

FIND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT ECLC PROGRAMMING

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more of our work and access helpful resources.

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About Early Care & Learning Council

Early Care & Learning Council (ECLC) works, both in partnership with and in support of the New York State Child Care Resource Center (CCRC) agencies. Our network provides education, technical assistance, and comprehensive training to child care providers, businesses, and community organizations while promoting best practices designed to improve the quality of early childhood care and education in New York State.