We have two presenters this month:
Building and Sustaining Mental Health Resources for Vulnerable LGBTQ
Communities in Kansas City
This presentation will explore the issues, current areas of strength and growth that are needed to for LGBTQ youth, transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) communities and LGBTQ communities of color in Kansas City. Participants will view a new training video that discuses 5 frameworks essential to working with LGBTQ vulnerable population. Participants will also be provided background on the vicarious trauma currently being experienced by trans people of color and LGBTQ communities of color, post-Pulse and Trump and also have a chance to discuss building a resource guide for both TGNC and LGBTQ youth culturally competent mental health professionals.
Randall Jenson is a queer, multiracial artist of color and the Creator and Director of SocialScope Productions, a consulting and coaching company focused on LGBTQ multimedia projects and cultural competency. He currently works as the LGBTQ Program Development Consultant and Trainer for Cornerstones of Care. Randall's intersectional documentary projects have been awarded multiple awards, including "outstanding anthropological work" by the Association for Queer Anthropology (2010) and the Third Wave Mobilize Power Fund (2016) and Kansas City Rocket Grant (2016). These recent grants helped fund the startup of both the KC transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) youth group and KC TGNC Summit: building a leadership fountain for TGNC youth and TGNC people of color. Randall is a published writer, having been featured in "BOYS: An Anthology," and a blogger for The Huffington Post, Out Magazine, Bitch Media, The Advocate. In 2015, Randall was appointed as the lead advocate to help loved ones and their communities cope and heal from 3 LGBTQ homicides in Kansas City. He previously worked as the Manager of Youth Services for the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project, providing multi-state advocacy directly to LGBTQ youth affected by trauma and violence, as well as the LGBTQ Youth Advocate at Safe Connections in St. Louis, helping build the first regional LGBTQ youth anti-violence program.
Randall has received national awards for his leadership and work with young people and homeless and vulnerable youth, racial justice advocacy, addressing the juvenile legal system and media's impact on queer lives. Through his work as an anti-violence advocate, has keynoted Yale University's "Pride Month" series in 2016, "Sexual Assault Awareness Month" for University of Iowa in 2015, as well as "Take Back the Night" at Southern Oregon University in 2015. Randall's work as an artist and documentary filmmaker has allowed been featured at MIX: New York's Queer Experimental Film Festival in 2012 and headlined both the 2010 and 2012 Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender and Ally Collegiate Conference (MBLGTACC). He awarded the 2003 Jim Hoefer Community Service award for creating the "Youth Advisory Board" - the first ever LGBTQ youth teen social justice group - by St. Louis Pride, a featured speaker at the 2003 National ACLU Membership Conference in Washington D.C., featured in 2006 on The Oprah Show's "Growing Up Gay" epsiode, and awarded the “Youth Impact Award” by the National Youth Advocacy Coalition.
Jennifer Cumming, PT, MSPT, CLT, WCS, completed her master’s degree in physical therapy in 2001 at Des Moines University. She is one of 2 PTs in the Kansas City region who has passed the Women’s Health Certified Specialist exam through the APTA.
Jennifer began taking pelvic floor courses and treating pelvic floor diagnoses in 2004 while working at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. She developed the pelvic floor program at Norwegian American Hospital, a community hospital in Chicago. After moving to Kansas City, Jennifer joined the oncology and pelvic floor rehab teams at the University of Kansas Hospital. There, she helped to grow the pelvic floor and oncology rehab programs. She is co-owner of Foundational Concepts, Specialty Physical Therapy in 2013 to focus exclusively on pelvic floor physical therapy.
The pelvic floor is the foundational of the core musculature and is integral in sexual, bowel and urinary functioning. The presentation will provide an overview of the pelvic floor anatomy and function. We will also look at how pelvic floor therapists and counselors work together to help our clients achieve improved physical function and pain management strategies.
