Congratulations

Nick Thornton

Winner of Marie-Kristin Friedow Memorial Scholarship

It is with great honor that I recommend Nick Thornton for the PFLAG Detroit Scholarship Program. I’ve had the privilege of knowing Mr. Thornton for the past three years as an Advisor, Camp Counselor and Mentor through the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion and as a liaison for the Riverview High School Diversity Club in which Nick has ran for the past two years.

 Nick and I first met at a social justice/leadership retreat (CROSSTOWN) where I served as the Assistant Director and Nick as a first year delegate. The months following the retreat, I had the opportunity to continue working with Nick through various diversity and inclusion trainings and retreats. The following summer, Nick was accepted to be a participant in the ‘Ambassador program’ of CROSSTOWN, an intensive experience for Metro-Detroit student leaders enacting change in their communities. During the Ambassador Program, Nick and I’s relationship shifted into a mentor/mentee one. In the group of twelve equally exemplary advocates for change, Nick still managed to shine.

 Throughout the week, and in his Diversity Club, Nick has the innate capability of bringing out ideas from each member, especially the group members that might otherwise go unnoticed. Watching Nick work with his peers is like watching a magic act. In every group, there are people who are quiet and introverted that have amazing ideas and input yet go overlooked for their extroverted or more confident peers.  

Nick works to find the voice of those students. With gentle confidence and support, he gets others to share and be involved thus creating a truly inclusive community for all. Nick does this in a most empowering way: coupled with encouragement, confidence in the person, and compassion. It’s clear that Nick touches every life he comes across, leaving others feeling more confident to be who they are.

 During CROSSTOWN, there are several workshops and discussions focused on gender identity and sexual orientation. In my ten years facilitating workshops on LGBTQA issues, I’ve never seen someone reach others and encourage them to open their minds like Nick. He’s an ally creator by nature.

 One student said it best: ‘I hated gay people; I was so scared of them… until I met Nick. Now, I want to fight for LGBT rights.” This student is now a part of his high school diversity club and has hosted several events focused on LGBT inclusion. Nick doesn’t only host events, facilitate discussions and create inclusive communities; he inspires others to enact that same change in their communities.

Through his role as the Riverview High School Diversity Club Nick has hosted many community dinners that bring parents, community members and students around for great cultural food, diversity discussions and games building community. Nick has also been essential in recruiting his peers to be a part of community projects and events focused on LGBT issues. When I hosted my first LGBT event at the University of Michigan – Dearborn, Nick brought members of his diversity club, introducing them to the college experience and providing them with additional learning and development opportunities. Nick has hosted movie nights, events and rallies working to create inclusion and a sense of advocacy amongst his peers. By being the man of character, vivacious spirit, and unbound determination for equality, Nick inspires others to be a part of the LGBT Civil Rights Movement. He is undoubtedly most deserving of the PFLAG Detroit Scholarship Program.

Sincerely, Alli Sheppard LGBTQA Coordinator

Congratulations

Alexa Van Vliet

Winner of PFLAG Detroit’s 2011 Scholarship Award

Through being a Resident Assistant and the President of the Gay Straight Alliance on Oakland University's campus, I have set up several S.A.F.E. (Students, Administrators, and Faculty for Equality) LGBTIQ trainings for both residents in the dorms and for special groups on campus, such as Disabilities Support Services.  

I am currently compiling a list of all the S.A.F.E. trained Resident Assistants so that students who need support can seek out these student leaders on campus to talk to. Several members of the LGBTIQ and straight Ally community have told me that they felt more comfortable talking about LGBTIQ issues and that their voice is not invisible. Also with the GSA, I have set up benefits for the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit, for HIV positive & homeless youth, and for the family of Corey Jackson, the young gay student who committed suicide on our campus. Due to the support and outcry by the GSA and Ally communities after Corey's suicide, Oakland University added Gender Identity & Expression to our non-discrimination policy. The activism and presence of the GSA has convinced the Administrators that our Gender & Sexuality Center should have its space expanded so as to accompany more than 15 people at once. Our legitimacy as a resource for students keep rising as we highlight the need for a safe space, women’s resources, and student sexual well-being.

 I am working with our Gender & Sexuality Center Coordinator to modify our S.A.F.E. program so as to teach it to high school faculties and students. It is my brainchild, and I have been contacted by GLSEN to talk about where we would like to host it. Once we have completed the program, we are going to present it to the ARCUS Foundation so as to receive funding. I have also applied to GLSEN's Safe School Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. at the end of March. They will let me know within two weeks if I have been accepted. It is one of my dreams to help enumerate the Elliot Larsen Civil Rights Act so as to include sexual orientation and gender identity & expression. Other equality movements interest me as well, such as Complete Immigrant Reform and Disability Justice. Some more programs that I have organized with the GSA include a series of Coming Out Week events in mid October such as the Coming Out Monologues, The Big Pillow Fight, and a Safer Sex Seminar. Another series of events is our Transgender Week of Remembrance which entails a Transgender Panel and movie night. We have teamed up with several other minority organizations to put together a Tunnel of Oppression as well. The GSA's biggest program of the year is the Annual Drag Show which hosts professional Drag Queens and Kings. Outside of Oakland University, I have sought out more involvement with social justice. I have attended Creating Change in February of 2010, the largest LGBTIQ political activism conference in the U.S. 

 It is my full intention to attend MBLGTACC in Ann Arbor at the end of this month to interact with other LGBTIQ students as we fight for more inclusive campuses. I was accepted into the Center for Progressive Leadership’s Civil Engagement Academy workshop, which includes over 50 hours of training to become a leader in Michigan’s Progressive movement and to affect the political outcome of the state. Just recently, I was nominated as the College Head for the Gay Straight Alliance of Southeastern Michigan, which is a team of over 30 GSA leaders from Southeastern Michigan high schools and universities.