Suicide Prevention Training for Community Leaders

Community leaders have the power to convene people. This is a wonderful skill that comes with many responsibilities: logistics, marketing, catering, volunteer coordination, etc.  I believe that our responsibilities as community leaders goes beyond these basic steps and includes creating a welcoming and safe space for our community. 

When we help co-create those kinds of spaces, we help guard against isolation, depression and burn out that many experience when they operate for too long without a supportive community. Unfortunately, many community leaders themselves feel this isolation because they lack a strong peer network and are carrying on their shoulders all the pain and suffering brought to their attention by their community members. 

To support my fellow community leaders, I'm offering a training on how to deal with one of the hardest topics faced by any community. For the purpose of these trainings, I've defined "community leader" as anyone who regularly convenes groups of people. If that's you, I hope you'll join me. If not, please share this with a community leader in your life.

RSVP at www.suicidepreventionfortrainers.eventbrite.com.

Thank you for helping make our collective communities healthier and stronger. Please share the following event description.

Best,
Robbie


Suicide Prevention Training for Community Leaders
Oftentimes, community leaders* are sought out for support in times of crisis and are the first to become aware that someone is considering killing themselves. Attend this training to gain the skills to handle the "suicide question" and become knowledgeable about local resources for you and your community.

RSVP at www.suicidepreventionforleaders.eventbrite.com. Fee $10.
Due to limited seating, this 2-hour training is being offered on Monday, March 19 and Tuesday, May 8 - select your preferred date when registering.

QPR - Question, Persuade, Refer is modeled after the success of the CPR medical intervention and is based on the following concepts:

• Those who most need help in a suicidal crisis are the least likely to ask for it.
• Prior to making a suicide attempt, a person typically sends warning signs.
• Asking "Are you thinking about killing yourself?" is a key step to preventing suicide. 

This training will address:

• The anxiety we feel when we are talking to someone who is suicidal.
• How to specifically ask "the question".
• How to persuade someone to seek help.
• How to make sure they get the referral they need.

*For the purpose of this training, a community leader is anyone who regularly convenes groups of people.


About the Trainer:
Robbie Samuels has extensive experience as a community organizer, fundraiser and trainer. In 2011, his birthday, September 16, was declared "Robbie Samuels Day" by the Boston City Council. He is the Senior Manager of Events and Donor Engagement at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD). He is a Co-Founder & Co-Organizer of Socializing for Justice (SoJust), a grassroots, volunteer-run member-supported group, to build a cross-cultural, cross-issue progressive community, network and movement in Boston based on the philosophy of abundance. Robbie identifies as a white, queer, feminist, trans man and lives in Jamaica Plain. He likes burritos.

Learn more about Robbie and his other trainings "Art of the Schmooze" and "Fundraising: Getting Past the Fear of Asking" at www.robbiesamuels.com and view his testimonials.

Get Connected in 2012 with Socializing for Justice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Get Connected in 2012 with Socializing for Justice
Grassroots group building a cross-issue progressive network since 2006

On January 19th from 6-9PM, Socializing for Justice will be hosting it's largest event of the year, Connecting for Justice, at Lir on Boylston.  This open house event draws 120+ progressives of all stripes and is a great way to get connected to SoJust's cross-issue progressive community.  This is a welcoming space where all attendees, diverse by age, race, gender, sexual orientation, newness to Boston, and experience with activism, come together to “put the SOCIAL back in social justice!”  Newcomers and long-time members will celebrate the remarkable success of this member-driven, volunteer-run grassroots group.  Since 2006, SoJust has grown to over 1800 members and hosted nearly 110 events.

Why We Are Voting For Felix G. Arroyo and Ayanna Pressley for Boston City Council At-Large

By Robbie Samuels and Gunner Scott

Ayanna Pressley and Felix Arroyo

Felix G. Arroyo has been a long-time LGBTQ ally. In 2002, he was an early supporter of the successful bill adding gender identity and expression to Boston's non-discrimination law. As a first-term Boston City Councilor At-Large he used his position to highlight discrimination by the organizers' of South Boston's St. Patrick Day Parade, saying, "As an At-Large City Councilor, I represent all of Boston and all of Boston’s residents. I take that responsibility very seriously. An entire community that I represent is excluded from marching in the parade. While the Supreme Court said it is legally permissible to exclude LGBTQ groups, I cannot in good conscience march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade until everyone else can." To clearly show his support, Felix hosts an LGBT event when the parade is taking place.

"Robbie Samuels Day" September 16, 2011 in Boston

My expression when Felix
announced Robbie Samuels Day!

Thank you. Tonight was a very special night. At Socializing for Justice’s 5th birthday party, over 120 like-minded progressives gathered together to celebrate what we’ve created together! As the co-founder of Socializing for Justice, I'm was so excited to be there celebrating 5 years, 104 events, 1808 members and countless connections made since we founded this group in 2006.

I was surprised with special gifts 3 times at tonight’s party.

SoJust is 5! Celebrate on September 14th

WITHOUT FUNDING GRASSROOTS GROUP BUILDS A MOVEMENT

Marking Five Years of Building a Cross-Issue Progressive Network in Boston

1800 Members, 100+ Events, and Countless Connections Made Since 2006

Boston-based network Socializing for Justice will commemorate its fifth anniversary with an Open House event called “SoJust is 5! Connecting for Justice” on September 14th from 6-9PM at Lir Irish Pub at 903 Boylston Street in Boston. Newcomers and long-time members will come together to celebrate the remarkable success of this member-driven, volunteer-run grassroots group.

Your Passport to Progressive Boston

Your Passport to Progressive Boston
SoJust connects like-minded progressives & social justice organizations

Boston, MA - On May 19th, from 6-9 PM, Socializing for Justice will celebrate over 4½ years of cross-issue progressive movement building with an open house event, Connecting for Justice, at Lir Irish Pub on Boylston Street in Boston’s Back Bay. This event is a welcoming space that draws 120+ progressives of all stripes - diverse by age, race, gender, sexual orientation, newness to Boston, experience with activism - and the issues they care about. Socializing for Justice is the place to go for new Bostonians looking to plug into local progressive culture; as member Lizzi W. says, “It's an excellent way to meet like-minded individuals in Boston. Particularly if you're new to the area, it can make Boston feel less stoically puritan and more open and warm.”

Campus2Community: Progressive Faculty & Staff Network

Are you a progressive working on campus? Join Campus2Community!

Campus2Community is an inclusive multi-issue network of progressive faculty and staff in the Greater Boston area. C2Cnet is a project of Socializing for Justice, a grassroots group established in 2006 to build a cross-issue progressive community, network and movement in Boston by putting the SOCIAL back in social justice.