Cup of Truth and the LGBTQ+ Institute Present:  
Rising to Meet the Moment: A Discussion on the Advocate Educator’s Handbook
In Recognition of the National Day of Silence (April 11, Annually) 

The Cup of Truth series at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights invites guests to grab a cup of coffee and engage in meaningful conversations on history and social justice. In partnership with local Atlanta coffee shops, Cup of Truth fosters intimate discussions with authors, experts, and community leaders, creating a welcoming space where all are invited to listen, learn, and share. 

The National Day of Silence, organized by GLSEN, is an annual day of action that raises awareness about the impact of bullying and harassment on LGBTQ+ students. Observed by students across the U.S., this day highlights the silencing effect of discrimination through a powerful, collective vow of silence. 

JOIN THE DISCUSSION
Purchase the book: The Advocate Educator’s Handbook: Creating Schools Where Transgender and Non-Binary Students Thrive by authors Vanessa Ford and Rebecca Kling at Bookshop.org or Amazon.com.  

PROGRAM 

6:30 – Meet and Greet, Book Signing
6:45 – Introductions
6:50 – 7:10 – Fireside Chat about Advocate Educator’s Handbook  

7:10 – 7:35 – Audience Q&A
7:35 – 8:00 – YOU(th) Belong Panel followed by the reading of a poem 

8:00 – 8:30 – Departure and Book Signing 

BIOGRAPHYS  

Vanessa Ford (she/her) is an award-winning educator and author. Her children’s book,
Calvin, won the 2022 Lambda Literary Award for Best Children’s Book, and she co-authored The Advocate Educator’s Handbook: Creating Schools where Transgender and Nonbinary Students Thrive. Ford was a classroom teacher for 14 years in DC Public Schools and her advocacy has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Newsweek and NPR. She was a founding member of The Human Rights Campaign’s Parents for Transgender Equality Council and sat for 2 years on the board of the National Center for Transgender Equality. She lives with her husband and two children, one of whom is trans, near Boston. Learn more about Vanessa’s work at JR & Vanessa Ford. 

Rebecca Kling (she/her) is an award-winning author, educator, organizer, storyteller, and advocate for social change. Kling is the co-founder and principal of Better World Collaborative, a social impact consulting firm working to combat the recent flood of anti-trans rhetoric and legislation. She co-authored The Advocate Educator’s Handbook: Creating Schools where Transgender and Nonbinary Students Thrive and previously served as the community storytelling advocate and director of education programming at the National Center for Transgender Rights, as well as on the leadership team of Harbor Camps, a sleepaway summer camp for trans and non-binary youth. In 2024, Rebecca’s work was included in 2 Trans 2 Furious: An extremely serious journal of Transgender Street Racing Studies, which won a Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Anthology. Rebecca lives in Chicago with her girlfriend and three cats. Learn about Rebecca’s work at RebeccaKling.com and Better World Collaborative.