OSU Center’s Chautauqua Conference 2021 focuses on LGBTQ+ family resilience

The Oklahoma State University Center for Family Resilience is hosting its annual Chautauqua Conference virtually with the theme “Resilience of LGBTQ+ Families: Pride and Celebration” on Feb. 26, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The 2021 conference will feature presentations from a collection of researchers and experts in the areas of LGBTQ+ and gender expansive resilience, counseling and psychology. A panelist discussion and breakout groups are also part of the conference.

The conference will be hosted via Zoom. Interested participants can register online at the Oklahoma State University Marketplace.

“People often focus on barriers the LGBTQ+ community faces, but this conference will focus on resilience and strengths,” said Julie Koch, head of the OSU School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology and Chautauqua co-chair.

Speakers at the conference include Dr. Anneliese Singh of Tulane University. Singh is an associate provost for faculty development, chief diversity officer, and professor of psychology in the School of Social Work. Singh’s presentation is titled “Queer and Trans Resilience: Moving from Affirmation to Liberation in Our Collective Healing.”

Dr. Roberto L. Abreu, assistant professor of counseling psychology and director of the Collective Healing and Empowering VoicEs through Research and Engagement (¡Chévere!) lab in the department of psychology at University of Florida will present on how Latinx cultural values and beliefs promote acceptance of sexual and gender diverse family members.

Dr. Al Carlozzi, OSU professor emeritus and director emeritus of the Al Carlozzi Center for Counseling at OSU-Tulsa, will offer a presentation on the families of transgender and gender expansive persons.

The final speaker is Dr. Tangela Roberts, assistant professor of counselor education and counseling psychology at Western Michigan University. Roberts’ presentation is focused on an exploration of queer resilience through the formation of family.

General registration for the event is $25. Contact the Center for Family Resilience at cfr@okstate.edu for more information.