Gender Consulting
“Josephine is bright, clever, interesting, and really funny! Loved hearing everything that was taught today. I could listen to this topic for several more hours.”
Guiding schools to inclusivity
I have done both basic and advanced staff trainings for dozens of schools, public and private, preschools through graduate programs. My goal is to welcome everyone where they are and support them as they strive for better learning environments for transgender students, staff, and community members.
For schools looking for more than just staff trainings, I also consult on policy - from writing nondiscrimination clauses, to analyzing HR policies, to crafting documents that support students and staff through gender transitions.
Schools/districts I have conducted trainings for include:
Babson College
Chicago Public Schools
Communities in Schools
Culver School
Downers Grove District 58
Elgin District U46
Evanston District 65
Feinberg Medical School
Grow Your Own Illinois
Illinois Educators Association
Lake Bluff District 68
Lyons District 103
Near North Montessori School
North Shore Country Day School
Northwestern University
Oak Park Friends School
Oakton Community College
River Forest District 90
Roycemore School
SafeHaven School
Special Ed. District of Lake County
Warren Township High School
I have also consulted on policy for Chicago Public Schools, Evanston District 65, Warren Township HS, and the State of Illinois, among others.
“This is one of the most inspiring and eye opening workshops I’ve taken. It was so practical and detailed, and everything was immediately applicable.”
Strengthening your business
Organizations with inclusive cultures are higher performing, have happier staff, and are better positioned to attract top talent. But when it comes to gender identity and expression, what does ‘inclusive’ mean? How do we identify ways to strategically transform ourselves to better serve all of our employees and clients?
I work with each organization to develop an individualized plan for their gender inclusivity trainings. Possibilities include:
Broad-scope, interactive ‘gender 101’ presentations for staff
Small-group deep dive multi-step workshops
Trainings targeting client-facing positions, focused on interactions with the public
Targeted, planning-based workshops for leadership & management
Implementation trainings for organizations adopting new policies or procedures around gender
I also offer organizational audits, working with leadership and human resources to evaluate policies and determine improvements to better serve employees and patrons of all genders.
Organizations I have worked with include:
For employers in the United States, all work is done with an eye to HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, which rates employers on their LGBTQ inclusiveness. Applying for and receiving high scores on the CEI can further attract high quality candidates and help retain top talent.
this section is about my institutional consulting - for more on my artistic work, click here.
Elevating theatrical institutions
With 20 years in professional theatre and extensive knowledge and training around gender, my goal is to build a theatre community and industry that are at the forefront of inclusivity. I work with many of the nation’s preeminent theatrical institutions and am always excited to bring that expertise to more places.
Beyond just consultation, I have conducted inclusivity trainings focused on virtually every piece of the theatrical institution and artistic process as well, including:
Responsible play selection and the building of artistic teams
Building inclusive casting processes
The creation of fully welcoming rehearsal rooms (including intimacy) and backstage areas
Marketing & PR language & approach
Inclusive organizational leadership
Crafting fully inclusive programs for education
Organizations I have consulted with include:
I have also conducted organization-wide EDI trainings for many theatres, including:
“Josie’s insight and generous spirit have infused... our organization in innumerable ways. She’s... one of the most inspiring people I’ve had the fortune to work alongside, [and] as authentic as you’ll find.”