NEWARK, N.J., Aug. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PSEG has
partnered with The Tyler Clementi Center at Rutgers University to expand its LGBTQ Youth
Empowerment Initiative to the city of Camden. The goal of the program is to help
create more inclusive school communities for the LGBTQ student
population and their allies.
Through an initial $10,000 grant
from the PSEG Foundation, the first LGBTQ Youth Empowerment
Initiative began at Rutgers
University-Newark in 2013 and has expanded to Camden this past May. This expansion is
designed to encourage New Jersey
public high schools across the state to participate in
LGBTQ-affirming youth events. These workshops aim to improve the
health and well-being, academic performance, and graduation rates
among LGBTQ students.
"We are proud to help expand this important social initiative
across the state," said Ellen
Lambert, President of the PSEG Foundation. "We want to
empower school leaders by providing them with the resources and
tools they need to speak with their students and serve as a support
system. In both school and work environments, we strive to
create inclusive cultures that allow everyone to succeed."
"The Tyler Clementi Center is thrilled to be partnering with the
PSEG Foundation on such an important initiative," said Maren Greathouse, director, Tyler Clementi
Center. "While LGBTQ youth are more visible than ever in our
schools, many continue to cope with social stigma, peer
aggression/bullying, and fragmented support networks. This
partnership with PSEG provided critical support to LGBTQ youth and
their allies, and offered teachers and administrators with the
professional development needed to carry on this work in their
respective schools."
The workshops engaged students across South Jersey in meaningful
discussions about identity development, coping strategies,
constructive methods for responding to anti-LGBTQ violence, and
improve overall relationships between LGBTQ students and allies.
Students also were invited to participate in a statewide climate
survey that measures school, home and neighborhood environment,
overall health and academic aspirations – providing an in-depth
snapshot of the experiences and needs of LGBTQ youth across
New Jersey. Results of this study
will be released in fall 2017.
Additional information on the specific workshop grant process
will be announced in the near future.
About the Tyler Clementi Center
The Tyler Clementi Center at Rutgers
University-New Brunswick studies the transition experience
of students entering higher education, examining the impact of
bias, peer aggression and institutional climate on students
identifying with one or more stigmatized populations,
including LGBTQ and gender non-conforming students, students
of color, women, religious and ethnic minorities and other
stigmatized identities and/or experiences. Through research and
scholarship, best practice guidance and practical
tools/interventions, the Tyler Clementi Center assists campus
professionals in fostering institutional responsiveness and an
affirming transition experience for all students entering higher
education.
About the PSEG Foundation
The PSEG Foundation (501c3) is the philanthropic arm of
Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE:PEG). The Foundation
generally supports and invests in programs in three areas:
community and the environment, education and safety. The Foundation
provides grants to organizations in communities served by PSEG and
its subsidiaries.
To learn more about how PSEG supports an all-inclusive
environment, check out how Antonio
Fernandez, our Chief Compliance Officer, brings his whole
self to work by reading his Energize! blog post.
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SOURCE PSEG Foundation