Sharing Your PFLAG Story to Create Change (GOTV Edition)

Knowing how to shape and effectively tell our PFLAG stories to create real and lasting change is a skill that separates the talkers from the activists and advocates. And as many of us are trying to encourage friends and families to head to the polls and vote for equality-minded candidates this November, that skill is more important than ever.

This highly interactive – 75 minute – session will encourage participants to pick a personal experience and develop it into an engaging, must-hear narrative that can help GOTV in their communities!

In this session, participants will:

Discuss how and why personal stories are so effective in inspiring others to take action in support of our LGBTQ+ loved ones

Use PFLAG National’s storytelling workbook to identify, develop, and refine their personal stories that will encourage others to head to the polls

Better understand the ever changing relationship they have with their stories and their audience over time

Fine-tune their storytelling and public speaking skills and learn strategies to calm their nerves

Hear from storytellers on the PFLAG National staff to practice a new way to provide feedback to others when they are preparing to share their stories

Jamie Henkel (she/her)

Vice President, Learning & Inclusion

PFLAG National

Jamie Henkel is the Vice President, Learning & Inclusion at PFLAG National. She is the program’s lead trainer and oversees the development of new publications and learning sessions for PFLAG National’s Straight for Equality program. Since 2012 she has been the lead architect of PFLAG Academy Online, a monthly webinar program. Jamie lives in Portland, OR with her cat and partner. She enjoys day hiking (but not backpacking) and everything else that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Mackenzie Harte (they/them)

Learning & Inclusion Manager

PFLAG National

Mackenzie Harte is the Learning & Inclusion Manager at PFLAG National, contributing to a team that has trained tens of thousands of allies since Mackenzie started in March of 2021. Prior to their time at PFLAG, Mackenzie worked with the GLAAD Media Institute to train over 12,000 activists and advocates across the globe, as well as managing Bisexual+ Awareness Week (#BiWeek) in 2019 and 2020. Mackenzie currently resides in New York City with their cat Saoirse, and is a (song)writer and staunch devotee of Carly Rae Jepsen in their spare time.

Katie Blair (she/her)

Vice President, Advocacy

PFLAG National

Katie Blair is an experienced advocate with a track record of leading numerous historic initiatives aimed at safeguarding and advancing civil rights. She served as the Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at the ACLU of Indiana for over a decade where she spearheaded the organization’s coalition and legislative work on issues including LGBTQ rights, criminal legal reform, racial justice, reproductive freedom and voting rights. In her role at the ACLU, Katie led the fight to defeat Indiana’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which would have enshrined LGBTQ discrimination into law. Additionally, she spearheaded the fight against Indiana’s abortion ban and led the charge against the state’s most recent legislative attacks on LGBTQ youth and their families. She also created business advocacy and community engagement programs that have become models for advocacy organizations across the country. Prior to her work at the ACLU of Indiana, Katie served as the Director of Activism for Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Executive Director for the 51% Club, a political organization aimed at inspiring Democratic women to vote. Originally from Illiopolis, Illinois, Katie received her undergraduate degree in communication and her Masters of Public Health from the University of Missouri. She lives in Indianapolis with her wife, Megan, and their three rescue dogs, Stevie Nicks, Jolene and Sissy.