Rise Up Conference

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Alex Rectra
Ed.D.
Mountain View School District
Alex Rectra
Alex Rectra, Ed.D., brings over 11 years of experience in education, starting as a high school biology and middle school science teacher. Passionate about mentoring new educators, he advances teacher preparation through an AAPI, queer, and critical social justice lens. He served as a Teacher on Special Assignment with the Montebello Teacher Induction Program and has mentored student teachers from USC and Claremont Graduate University. Recently, Dr. Rectra served as a Community Schools Site Lead for Mountain View School District in El Monte, California. Additionally, he works as a certificated consultant with LACOE and teaches as adjunct faculty.

SESSION OVERVIEW

Disrupting Homophobia and Transphobia while Navigating Political Backlash: Practical Tools for Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth Across Systems
LGBTQ+ youth continue to face discrimination, isolation, and harm in schools, homes, justice systems, and community programs. This interactive session offers professionals from education, social services, law enforcement, health care, housing, and family advocacy fields practical tools to recognize and disrupt homophobia and transphobia in their everyday work. Rooted in the values of inclusion, compassion, and justice, this workshop centers the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ youth and provides evidence-based frameworks that help adults respond with care and courage while navigating political backlash during a rapidly changing policy landscape. Participants will analyze real-world case scenarios where inclusive efforts have failed, explore research on LGBTQ+ youth mental health and safety, and reflect on their personal and institutional roles in either reinforcing or challenging cis-normative and heteronormative norms. Attendees will leave with concrete resources—including sample language for difficult conversations, inclusive policy checklists, and youth-centered frameworks—that they can implement immediately within their professional settings. Finally, this workshop brings Rise Up’s theme, “What Now? Our Values in Action”, to life by helping adults across sectors use their values to interrupt harm and create affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ young people in families, classrooms, housing programs, and justice systems.
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