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Lauren Crandall

Miss Colonial 2016

Lauren Crandall is a 23 year-old graduate of SUNY Oneonta and current employee of SUNY Adirondack. In March 2016, Ms. Crandall was named Miss Colonial 2016 in the Miss America Organization. An avid learner, Lauren earned Magna Cum Laude status with her Bachelor of Arts in English, while minoring in Sociology and Women and Gender Studies. At SUNY Oneonta, Lauren served as the community service chair and then president of the local social-service sorority Pi Delta Chi.

A leader on campus, she earned Gold Level status in the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Program, worked in Residence Life and the Academic Advisement Center, and was an intern at the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center. She now acts as a Residence Hall Director, advisor to the Residence Hall Association, and a member of the Leadership Development Task Force at SUNY Adirondack.

Lauren Crandall has extensive training in areas such as Safe Spaces and Diversity Education and through national organizations including the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). She also has in-depth, working knowledge of New York State bullying policies, effective communication, the coming out process, developing diversity-focused youth groups, and more.

Some more information on Ms. Crandall:

Selected as one of 40 persons from across the nation to participate in the Safe Schools Advocacy Summit held by GLSEN in Washington D.C.
Published poet and journalist, specializing in slam poetry and spoken word
Member of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society
Member of the Order of Omega Greek Honor Society
Member of the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society

Helping Students Thrive:

It’s E.A.S.Y.

As Miss Colonial 2016, Lauren Crandall is dedicating this year of service to promoting the platform, Helping Students Thrive: It’s EASY. This platform focuses on developing welcoming, safe, and inclusive educational environments in which all students are able to thrive- regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Helping Students Thrive: It’s E.A.S.Y. involves four different themes to make schools safer and affirming: Education, Advocacy, Safe Spaces and Youth Groups. Throughout her time as Miss Colonial 2016, Ms. Crandall hopes to develop each of these components in K-12 schools and within colleges across New York State.

All youth deserve quality educational opportunities.

Just the Facts

Harassment, Bullying, and Victimization is Prevalent in OUR Schools

Over80% of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) students in New York State have been verbally harassed or threatened in school
95%LGBT students in New York hear homophobic remarks (e.g., “that’s so gay,” “fag” or “dyke”) regularly while at school

These Incidents Are Affecting Students and School Climate

More than 30% of LGBT children in the United States have attempted suicide- that’s over 4 times the average for all students
80% of transgender students report feeling unsafe at school because of their gender expression
Students who face frequent harassment based on sexual orientation or gender expression have a lower GPA than students who were less often harassed (2.9 vs. 3.2)
31% percent of LGBT students missed at least one day of school in the past month because of safety concerns

Lauren Crandall, Miss Colonial, can develop a custom presentation, training, or workshop for any combination of the four components of her platform: Education, Advocacy, Safe Spaces, & Youth Groups.

Sessions can be 30 minute concise presentations up to a 4 hour course divided into 2 days.

EDUCATION – Informational workshops and seminars based on programming developed by numerous national organizations including the Anti-Defamation League and the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network. Ms. Crandall has designed several age appropriate seminars to best impact K-12 students.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM #1: “Strong Words Make Strong Classrooms”
Recommended Length: 1 hour

Workshop Goals: Students will learn the importance and impact of words and explore how to speak with respect. Understanding what makes people unique and special, they will develop an appreciation for differences building a better and more fun classroom. Students will be able to visualize positive and negative words as being the foundation to our self-esteem.
Project 1: Positivity Portraits: Each student will draw them-self on a piece of paper which will be passed around. Each student will write nice words to describe one another on the paper.
Project 2: Building a Stronger Classroom: Each student receives an index card and writes one word that makes them a good person. Index cards represent “bricks”. Students then build a brick wall, so show the strength of their classroom.
Project 3: It All Falls Down: Giant “Jenga” (shoeboxes) pieces have positive words on them and miscellaneous objects (Ball, pillow) have negative words. Students try to build a wall with the words, and then discuss how positive words make a stronger student but negative words can bring everything down.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM #2: “My Family Rocks!”
Recommended Length: 1 hour

Workshop Goals: Every family is different, but that does not make one family better than the others. Step-families, cross-generational families, multi-racial families, single-parent families, and families with same-sex parents will all be covered in this interactive workshop. Students will learn about various types of family structures and how each family is unique.
Project 1: The Great Big Book of Families: Lauren will read this short book with the students and discuss the different types of families featured in the book.
Project 2: Family Scavenger Hunt Game: Each student will be given a “Bingo Card” with 10 different family descriptors. Students will walk around the room with classmates and try to find someone who matches each family description.
Project 3: Family Portraits: Using art materials, each student will create a family portrait that shows each member of their unique family and includes the following sentence: “My unique family rocks because ______.” Students will then have the opportunity to present their family portrait.

JUNIOR HIGH/MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM: “My Super Awesome Special Self”
Recommended Length: 1.5 hours

Workshop Goals: Before endeavoring to develop cultural knowledge and awareness about others, we must first uncover and examine personal social and cultural identities. Students will reveal and discuss different facets of their individuality. They will then discuss negative and positive stereotypes associated with identities and how they react to each of those stereotypes.
Project 1: Identity Web: Students will complete an identity map highlighting 5-6 of their identities. These can be based off age, gender, race, ethnicity, participation in sports/activities, hobbies, etc. Each student will then choose one identity, which others will give stereotypes for (good and bad). Students will discuss how these stereotypes make them feel.
Project 2: Cross the Line: For this project, students will line up in front of a line of tape on the floor. The group will be asked questions and if they agree with or identify with the statements, they will step across the line. Statements will gradually grow more personal and heartfelt, with the intentions of discussion about differences and similarities between classmates.
Project 3: Four Brains: Students will be grouped together and given one fictional scenario per group. Each scene is a first person account of why that student feels alienated or ostracized in the class. Groups will select one person to “act” the scene and the other three students will go over questions related to the scene.

HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM: “Sticks and Stones and Words Can Hurt Me”
Recommended Length: 1.5 hours

Workshop Goals: Designed for students aged 14+, this workshop dives into what sexual orientation and gender identity really mean. Students will discuss the fluidity of gender norms over time, and what the repercussions are when someone breaks those gender norms. Emotional and heartfelt, coming out stories and instances of bullying will be touched upon in depth, leaving students fully grasping how a simple word or phase can impact someone’s life.

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS: Each college seminar is individually designed based on need and group size. Ms. Crandall can also assist colleges/universities in the creation of LGBTQ Speakers Bureau programs to hold panels to educate their communities for years to come. These workshops are intended to “train the educators” by helping college aged students develop personal testimonies which they will spread to others in their communities. Speakers Bureaus are designed to teach college students to be leaders in educating others about LGBTQ struggles.

Advocacy

An engaging presentation for local youth to become involved in advocacy for bills such as the Safe Schools Improvement Act. Ms. Crandall will educate students on circumstances of their peers across the nation, while simultaneously training students in public speaking and professionalism, encouraging involvement in politics, and inspiring leadership. She teaches valuable life skills while inspiring and promoting confidence in students to work toward a goal. Bills that will be covered include the Safe Schools Improvement Act and Student Non-Discrimination Act.

Safe Spaces

A lengthier workshop inspired by GLSEN Safe Space programming, including official GLSEN informational Safe Space Kit. This presentation is aimed mostly at administration, staff, and/or faculty in the development of a Safe Space program and corresponding network of allies and resources at the school. Ms. Crandall can also be booked to assist in regular Safe Space trainings as a rotating presenter for new network members.

Youth Groups

Small, intimate workshops for students interested in creating a student led group at their school or trainings for already-existing club executive boards or general body members. Ms. Crandall can cover topics such as gaining administrative support, membership growth, how to publicize your events, getting involved in charitable/philanthropic events, successful fundraising, and working toward a bigger goal as a club.

Other Events

Lauren Crandall is also available as a public speaker to discuss other topics. She has worked in Mutlicultural Affairs, Academic Advising, Admissions, and Student Affairs at three separate colleges and has knowledge and experience in various other areas of life. Contact her directly to set up a workshop, seminar, or program about the following:

Goal Setting
Lobbying State and Federal Legislators
The Importance of Community Service and Volunteerism
Female Leadership and Empowerment
Ending Bullying and Victimization
Miss America Organization offers Young Women
Overcoming Adversity
Resume & Cover Letter Building
Cultural Competency and Recognizing Diversity

Please, contact Lauren Crandall, Miss Colonial 2016, today to book her for your class, youth group, school club, organization, or function!

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