Dates: April 14 and May 26
Times: 10:00 AM Central Time, Mexico City 
Max 150; 5 per school 

Facilitator: Dr. Emily Meadows 
Dr. Emily Meadows (she/her) is an LGBTQ+ consultant specialized in international schools. In addition to her doctoral degree, Emily holds master’s degrees in both Sexual Health and Counseling, and has worked as an international school counselor for over a decade. She researches, publishes, and trains school communities on equitable policy and practice, while also teaching for the State University of New York. Having spent more than half of her life in international schools, Emily specializes in culturally-relevant solutions to promote safety and belonging worldwide. 

Staying the Course: Navigating Resistance while Sustaining Belonging in International Schools


Session 1: Navigating Resistance While Sustaining Belonging & Equity

In the context of a significant global cultural shift, schools are increasingly facing pressure to scale back, soften, or abandon LGBTQ+-inclusive and broader DEIJ practices. This session focuses on understanding and responding to that resistance in thoughtful, strategic, and values-aligned ways.
Participants will be guided through practical tools to critically assess external political, cultural, parental, or institutional pressures, and to make informed decisions that balance risk with meaningful positive impact. Rather than prescribing a single “right” approach, the session offers a non-judgmental framework for navigating complex realities, helping educators identify pathways that continue to foster belonging and equity even in cautious or constrained contexts.

Session 2: Partnering With Parents and Caregivers While Staying Grounded in DEIJ Commitments

Building on the foundation established in Session 1, this session focuses on engaging hesitant or concerned parents and caregivers in ways that are relational, strategic, and aligned with your DEIJ commitments. Participants will explore concrete strategies for maintaining momentum on DEIJ work while recognizing the importance of community partnership and trust. The session emphasizes communication approaches that reduce defensiveness, clarify purpose, and keep schools anchored in their commitments, with care not to escalate conflict or retreat from core principles.
While participation in both sessions is strongly encouraged, this session will include a brief review of key concepts from Session 1 to ensure that participants who were unable to attend the first session can still fully engage.

REGISTER HERE