The Safe Zone Allies training sessions welcome full and part-time university employees of all sexual and gender identities who are interested in and committed to addressing issues and topics of importance to the LGBTQIA+ community. This two-hour training session addresses terminology around gender and sexual identities, community cultures and norms, polices that impact the LGBTQIA+ community, heteronormativity, oppression and allyship. 

During this training session, participants engage in discussion and learning to gain valuable knowledge that will help them in developing their LGBTQIA+ advocacy and allyship. After attending the session, participants can self-select to be a University Safe Zone Ally and will receive a window/door Safe Zone Allies sticker recognizing the commitment to being a safe space and place for all and will be added to the Microsoft Teams Community with other University Allies. 

Safe Zone Allies training sessions allow participants to leave with the following: 

• An increased awareness of the issues that affect the LGBTQIA+ community
• A foundational knowledge of terminology and common language
• A deeper awareness, understanding and comfort with LGBTQIA+ related topics
• An understanding of the advantages that society affords non-LGBTQIA+ people
• An opportunity to be an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community on campus

Please register through the epd.uark.edu training calendar. Training sessions for this semester will be held via Zoom on:

• 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 23 (Register here) 
• 2-4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10 (Register here) 
• 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10  (Register here) 

The Zoom link will be sent 24 hours prior to the session.