LGBTQ Advocacy: Past & Present

Join the Center for Civic Education & Justice and the University YMCA for Friday Forum + Conversation Café!

This lunchtime series creates space to learn from diverse perspectives, engage in thoughtful dialogue, and connect with others across differences. Each program features speakers, panels, or interactive conversations designed to inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and action. 

Lunch is provided from the Y Thai Eatery at no cost, so come ready to eat, listen, learn, and join the conversation!

This week's speaker: Aster Gilbert

Aster Gilbert is an LGBTQ+ educator, facilitator, and advocate who serves as the Manager of Training and Public Education at Center on Halsted, one of the Midwest’s leading LGBTQ+ community centers. Through their work, Aster has partnered with businesses, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies to build greater understanding and inclusion of LGBTQ+ communities. With expertise spanning workplace inclusion, allyship, LGBTQ+ history, supporting LGBTQ+ youth, and domestic violence education, they bring both a deep knowledge of gender and sexuality studies and a dynamic approach to public education. Aster has also taught courses on LGBTQ+ history and special topics and previously developed public programming featuring LGBTQ+ artists, activists, scholars, and community members.