Creating Affirming Spaces for the LGBTQ+ Community – Virtual Program

Creating affirming spaces for your LGBTQ+ community members and employees is important.  An affirming space has a direct impact on a business’ bottom line by reducing isolation, mental health stressors, and ultimately staff turnover. And affirming spaces encourage fully engaged community members. We do not have to agree on everything to share the table, but everyone should have a place there. Join Jennie Mills (She/Her) and Jay Knight (They/Them) for an affirming conversation at this virtual table.

This program was live on Thursday, August 12
7:00–8:30 p.m.
Free, virtual adult program.
This is a Holland Museum Cultural Lens program

Biographies

Jennie Mills

Jennie Mills has been part of the LGBTQIA+ community for over 30 years, and part of the Grand Rapids community for 29.

Jennie has been on several Board of Directors in Grand Rapids, including Secretary for the Grand Rapids Pride Center, is the current Chair for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce OutPro Steering Committee, and is the Vice-President and Co-Facilitator for the Grand Rapids LGBTQIA+ Healthcare Consortium.

Jay Knight

Jay Knight has a master’s degree prepared nurse with extensive experience in hemodialysis, the emergency department, and informatics. They have been at Spectrum Health for 9 years. Jay was one of the projects leads for the SOGI implementation project at Spectrum Health. Jay is also an experienced educator working both in and outside of the traditional classroom as a part time nursing clinical instructor for Montcalm Community College.

Jay serves as the Chairperson of the Spectrum Health Healthy Pride Inclusion Resource Group and is also on the Executive Board for the Grand Rapids LGBTQ+ Healthcare Consortium serving as Secretary. Jay is currently working on their doctorate in nursing with a dissertation focused on addressing LGBTQ+ health disparities. They have acted as a peer reviewer providing feedback for care of the transgender patient with Elsevier a publishing leader in healthcare. Jay identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.

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