A Fun Day at Volunteer Park

A small, but enthusiastic group of GSBA scholars, members, friends, and family gathered at Volunteer Park yesterday for the First Annual “Back to School Scholarship Picnic”. The weather cooperated in a timely fashion with the sun breaking out just as the picnic got under way. Participants of all ages enjoyed great food, a little Frisbee, some Whiffle Ball, and lively conversation.

John Otto Takes Position with the National Center for Transgender Equality

I recently moved to Washington DC to take a position with the National Center for Transgender Equality. Founded in 2003, NCTE is a national social justice organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people.

I am filling the newly created Privacy and Documentation Program Manager position at NCTE . Translated, that means I am working on information privacy and identity document issues, such as drivers licenses, passports, Social Security records, and medical record privacy, plus federal legislation and policy that affects transgender people. Sometimes these policies intentionally affect transgender people; sometimes they are unintended consequences of legislation meant to do other things, such as the REAL ID Act.

I am thrilled to be doing this work and it is a dream come true to have employment that combines my undergraduate work in transgender studies--for which I was supported by GSBA with a scholarship--and my Master of Library and Information Science degree. It's as if this job was tailor-made for me. This job also allows me to "change the way people think" (as I told the GSBA scholarship interview committee I wanted to do) and to change the world in some very practical ways. I seriously think that without my scholarship from GSBA, that the chain of events leading me to this job would never have happened. Thanks to you and everyone at GSBA, and all of the funders, for being part of me doing this work!

best,
John Otto
2003 GSBA Scholar

Bryce McKibben – Student Lobbyist for UW Undergraduates

I have been involved with leadership roles in student government since 2005. In my work with the Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW), I have focused my efforts on queer activism and political and legislative issues. I am currently entering my second year of employment as the “student lobbyist” for UW undergraduates.

As the Director of Government Relations for the ASUW, I represent our 30,000 undergraduate students in the educational policy deliberations of our state legislature and in Washington D.C. This winter I had the unique opportunity to live in the state capitol of Olympia, write legislation that was passed into law, lobby for policy and budgetary allocations, and to witness the historic passage of the Domestic Partnership legislation.

My experience in Olympia was truly remarkable; I participated in the passage of at least five pieces of legislation, including the capping of tuition increases, an effort to reduce the cost of textbooks, allow for voter registration to be done online, and make the State Need Grant available to part-time students. I also supported a state operating budget that included a total of $79 million in new financial aid to students in our state.

With the success of this year carrying forward, I was elected to the position of President of the Washington Student Lobby in April of this year. In this new role, I have joined other student leaders from around the country in lobbying on a national level with the United States Student Association. We are currently celebrating the impending reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which will make the greatest investment in financial aid in the U.S. since the G.I Bill passed in 1944.

I extend my thoughtful thanks for your support of my leadership activities and education and of the whole GSBA Scholarship Program. I extend special thanks to Louise Chernin and Mona Smith, who have always been so supportive and helpful to me. And to the hundreds of other Board members, donors, and volunteers – THANK YOU for all that you do!
Bryce McKibben
2005 & 2007 Scholarship Recipient

Back To School Picnic

The GSBA Scholarship Program invites you to a "Back to School" Picnic in honor of all our scholars. Come join us for an afternoon of fun, sun, food, and friends as we celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year for our scholars. This is a free event and friends and family are welcome.

Sunday, August 26th
Volunteer Park - 1247 15th Avenue East Seattle
1:00-4:00pm

Please RSVP to maryann@thegsba.org so we will have enough food. Hope to see you all there!

Tyler Smith Works to Improve Foster Care

I have been doing really well. Since receiving the scholarship, I have been doing an internship with the Child Welfare League of America and Casey Family Programs. I'm working with both organizations to produce a CD-Rom that will be used as a training manual for caseworkers, family member, and foster parents of LGBTQ foster youth. It'll contain work from various professionals and many LGBTQ organizations such as Lambda Legal.

I am also working on the Ansell Casey Life Skills Assessment which is used to assess the skills of foster youth. Together, Casey and I are going to produce a video that will be streamed from the Casey Life Skills website to train caregivers on how to properly use the assessment. The video will also help caregivers better comprehend assessment results and find better ways to discuss them afterwards. This project is known as the "conversation."

I just got back from Washington, DC where I got to work with the CWLA and attend the National Alliance to End Homelessness' annual conference. While I was in DC, I helped facilitate an all day training with Prince George's County social workers in Maryland on LGBTQ specific issues. It was quite exciting!
Tyler Smith 2007 GSBA Recipient

Welcome to Brains, Heart, & Courage

Welcome to the GSBA Scholarship blog, Brains, Heart & Courage. We created this blog because we have so many scholarship recipients who are doing amazing things in both their educational and professional lives and we wanted to have a vehicle for them to share their stories with other students and program supporters in a timely and consistent manner.

The name, Brains, Heart, & Courage comes from The Wizard of OZ. The story of Dorothy and her travels to the Land of OZ is really the story of a hero’s journey. Dorothy left what she saw as her dreary home in Kansas and was transported to a new, exciting, and sometimes frightening land. There she was befriended by the scarecrow, tin-man, and lion who represented the brains, heart, and courage that we all need to make our own hero’s journey. Once Dorothy had faced and conquered the many challenges put before her, she returned home with a new perspective and feeling of self-confidence, uttering those famous words, “There’s no place like home.”

All of our scholars are beginning, or continuing their own hero’s journey and hopefully will return home to our community someday ready to step into the roles of leaders and visionaries.

We would love to hear about your successes and your challenges. Please use this blog not only to report your stories, but also to receive support from all of us as you embark on your own hero’s journey.