​SAN JOSE, CA – The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE), in partnership with the County of Santa Clara Office of LGBTQ Affairs, hosted the eighth annual LGBTQ+ Summit on October 9. The day-long summit brought community members together to share experiences, strengthen connections, and learn across generations. 

Held at the SCCOE, this year’s summit centered on the theme, “Bridging Generations Through Advocacy.” The theme highlighted the history and evolution of LGBTQ+ advocacy while creating opportunities for participants of different generations to learn from each other. Santa Clara County Board of Education Vice President, Jessica Speiser, noted the summit also reflected the Board’s vision of a county where every student is seen, supported, and inspired, as well as its goals focused on strengthening the whole child and building powerful community partnerships. 

​​​photo: "Intergenerational Storytelling" panel session with visual notetaker and ASL interpreter

“Supporting young people to reach and flourish in adulthood takes all of us working together,” said Vice President Speiser. “Spaces like the summit strengthen community partnerships that benefit our students throughout the county.”

Keynote speaker Tiffany Woods encouraged young attendees to learn from advocates throughout LGBTQ+ history and carry forward the progress and unfinished work of earlier generations. Conversations from workshop sessions and panels shared experiences that span multiple generations. For educators and community partners, those conversations reinforce the importance of listening to young people and considering their perspectives for a thriving community. 

Through community partnerships like this one, the SCCOE continues to strengthen environments where every student in every community can experience belonging and access to the support they need to go from surviving to thriving.