This program is designed to provide further insight on the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies in west Michigan. Sara Van Tongeren (she/her/hers), licensed social worker, with Jeffrey Sorensen (he/him/his), Director of Out at the Lakeshore, will dive into these stories, and the impact they have on the LGBTQ+ community. They will discuss a brief history of the LGBTQ+ movement as a whole, along with a narrowed-down view focusing on the current progress in Michigan and the City of Holland.
Watch the recorded program now!
This program was live on Thursday, June 24, 2021
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Virtual Adult Program – Holland Museum Cultural Lens Series
Donations appreciated
Biographies
Sara A. Showalter Van Tongeren
Sara A. Showalter Van Tongeren, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the states of Michigan and Virginia, Sara has more than 12 years of clinical social work experience in settings such as private practice, foster care, in-patient hospitals and outpatient medical clinics, domestic violence shelters, and behavioral health. She is the coauthor to the book, The Courage to Suffer, which is published by Templeton Press and available on Amazon and wherever books are sold. Currently, she works in a private practice in Holland, MI where she provides therapy to individuals, to help them cultivate a sense of meaning and develop narratives of resilience following trauma and unexpected life events. Sara specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Narrative Therapy, Brainspotting, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, and Liberation Psychology. Currently she is an active member on the board at Out on the Lakeshore. You can find out more about Sara’s work at saravantongeren.com and follow her on Instagram @theexistentialtherapist.
Jeffrey R. Sorensen
Jeffrey R. Sorensen is the first Director for Out On The Lakeshore, a Holland-based LGBTQ+ Center, where he was instrumental in the city passing a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance. He is a Grand Valley State University graduate, where he earned a bachelor’s in advertising and public relations before working for several years in community relations at a local casino. Specializing in media relations, Jeffrey has had content published in several local, regional, and national publications. Jeffrey has served on several non-profit boards including the Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity’s LGBTQ+ Affinity Organization, and the Grand Rapids Young Professionals, where he is currently President and a founding member of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council.
Together
Together, Sara and Jeffrey each won the 2020 Social Justice Award given by the City of Holland for their work in helping to pass the city’s first Non-Discrimination Ordinance.
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