Frances Marion
MSW
Los Angeles Unified School District
Frances Marion
Frances Marion (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Los Angeles Unified School District. As a member of the Human Relations, Diversity & Equity unit, she provides training and consultation to school communities on a range of issues related to identity, bias, conflict and school climate. Her areas of clinical experience include school social work, HIV/AIDS care, somatic approaches to trauma healing; and psychotherapy with children and families, including at an LGBT Center. Her approach has been strongly shaped by the frameworks of transformative justice, nonviolent communication, and grassroots movements for racial justice. She is building towards a Rainbow Club in every elementary school and welcomes connections with other educators doing this work.
SESSION OVERVIEW
Rainbow Clubs: Affirming Spaces for Young Children to Explore Identity in Community
Rainbow Clubs are student-centered spaces for elementary-age children to explore the various dimensions of identity. Using art, games, books, and music, Rainbow Clubs provide an opportunity for students to engage with the intersections of gender, race, sexual orientation, class, family structure, and more, in developmentally appropriate ways.
This workshop will review data about gender and sexual development in young children, provide examples of inclusive practices at the elementary level, and highlight community-wide interventions, such as parent workshops, clubs, and participation in the Welcoming Schools National Day of Community Readings focusing on literature supporting transgender and nonbinary youth. Participants will leave with a toolkit about Rainbow Clubs for elementary age youth, as well as an activity guide with sample meeting outlines.