Sexuality & Spirituality: Exposing the Myths and Exploring the Truths

Presenter: The Rev. Diana Wilcox (she, her, hers)

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The Rev. Diana Wilcox is the Rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Bloomfield and Glen Ridge, and served as a chaplain at Montclair State University from 2010-2017. Mtr. Diana has a strong commitment to justice and equality, particularly for gender equity and LGBTQ rights. On campus, her student group was awarded the Nelson Mandela Award for Outstanding Leadership in Diversity (2014), and Mtr. Diana was also nominated for an Ally Award (2011). She was also recently a panelist at the American Conference on Diversity in Higher Education workshop on creating inclusive neighborhoods, where she spoke about her leadership in creating an ecumenical response to the Orlando Pulse Nightclub murders. She holds a Masters of Divinity degree from Drew University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Prior to becoming an Episcopal priest, Mtr. Diana worked in the Information Technology management field for over 20 years, her last position as the Vice President for Open Systems Engineering and Global Program Management for AIG. Before AIG, she was a management consultant for CSC Consulting, working with large multi-nationals. She lives in Sussex County with her dog and two cats, who keep her busy and laughing.

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The Road to Inclusivity

Presenter: Chrystal Mateo (she, her, hers)

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Chrystal Mateo is a first-generation American whose parents were born in Cuba and came to the United States seeking refuge from Fidel Castro’s regime. As the daughter of immigrants, the importance of getting an education was always instilled in her. After she came out to her parents as a lesbian, they emphasized how important it would be for her to armor herself with an education. With this in mind, she graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor’s in English and is currently in her last year of the Masters in Educational Technology program at New Jersey City University (NJCU). After which she plans on pursuing her PhD in Educational Research in Europe.  Chrystal is currently the Program Assistant at the Speicher–Rubin Women’s Center for Equity and Diversity at NJCU where she works alongside brilliant minds to provide students with E.A.S.E, education, advocacy, support, and empowerment, as they navigate through the college experience and beyond.

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LGBTQI Dating and Domestic Violence: Myths, Symptoms, and Signs

Presenter: Jim Collier (he, him, his)

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James Collier has been an active member of the LGBTQA community for over 20 years. James founded the Long Island Bears Club in 1997 and in 2007 co-founded the Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus where at its peak, had over 50 singing members. He is currently a Human Resources professional specializing in Organizational Development and training. James spent 20 years in the retail sector and has recently moved to the corporate sector. He enjoys a life on the North Shore of Eastern Long Island, with his Husband, son and their dog Ivy where he is currently pursuing his Masters degree in Human Resources at Stony Brook University.
 

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When Someone You Love is a Sex Worker

Presenter: Jessica Peñaranda (she, her, hers)

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Jessica Peñaranda is a longtime social justice advocate, social service provider, and cultural strategist who values creativity and innovation to inspire social change. She currently serves as the Director of Movement Building at The Sex Workers Project, Urban Justice Center, leading three key areas of growth and focus for the project: Community Engagement & Client Leadership, Training, and Public Policy and Advocacy. Jessica is passionate about leading this work through an intersectional, anti-oppressive framework with an emphasis on cultural humility, restorative justice practices informed by her lived experiences as a Queer Latinx immigrant woman of color.

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Polyamory and Poly Ethics

Presenter: Jé R. Hooper (he, him, his)

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Jé R. Hooper is the founder of FrequencyHouse Productions, clergy Leader, member of Beta Gamma Chi, and a recent, Ph.D Interdisciplinary Arts candidate at Ohio University. His work promotes the intersections of art, sexuality, justice, and religious ethics in efforts to expand social equity within sacred and public sectors. Within his transdisciplinary approach, he skillfully engages epistemic communication, reclamation of memory, body performativity, and fierce speech act as social resistance.  His works include, the co-production of Black Queer Love podcast, “Moving Upon the Face of the Deep” featuring Dr. Cornel West concert, “The Black Sacred Communion” within Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture and the collaboration with his life partner,  storäe michele, “the listening heart.” Currently, Jé is completely a film, entitled “Humanitas: A Conscious Coloring of Kindness” which funded by the Mossler Fellowship.

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Suicidality and Understanding Our LGBTQ Students

Presenters: Donnalynn Scillieri (she, her, hers) and Victoria Levine (she, her, hers)

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Donnalynn Scillieri is a human rights advocate, professional speaker, coordinator and moderator for events focusing on LGBT issues, domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. She is professor at William Paterson University, Kean University, New Jersey City University and Ramapo College; teaching Gendered Lives and Societies, Social Issues, Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies, Gender, Culture and Sexuality, Diversity and Difference, Sociology, and the New Student Experience. Until recently, she was on the Board of Trustees for the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence and headed the LGBT Task Force. She earned a BFA in graphic design and art history from WPUNJ and an MA in arts management from MSU. Donnalynn's daughter, Victoria Levine, will be co-presenting.  Victoria was the inspiration behind this workshop and is a criminal justice major transferring to William Paterson University, Spring 2019.
 

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