Davey Shlasko is a multi-issue educator, facilitator and activist. In addition to years of youth organizing and community education, Davey earned hir* M.Ed. in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Ze has extensive experience in student organizing, community-based youth organizing, health education, intergroup dialogue, anti-violence work and queer & transgender education. Ze has been involved in queer and transgender activism and education for almost a decade.

Think Again Training, founded by Davey Shlasko, helps individuals and organizations learn about social justice. Davey has provided trainings on classism, sexism, heterosexism, transgender issues, youth empowerment, sexual health, relationship violence, and intergroup dialogue. Hir clients include community organizations, human service agencies, high schools, student groups and colleges & universities.

*Davey says, “I identify as genderqueer and as an FtM transgender person. I prefer to be called by non-gendered or “third gender” pronouns because I feel they reflect my understanding of my own gender more accurately than either male or female pronouns. However, since it takes some practice for people to become proficient in using them in conversation, male pronouns are also okay.”

Chase Catalano has worked in student affairs, primarily in Residence Life, since he completed his M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in May 1999. He is currently a doctoral student in Social Justice Education. His dissertation is on transgender students’ experience in higher education.

He is a member of the NASPA Knowledge Community on GLBT Issues Leadership Team and has presented at regional and national conferences. He won the 2008 ACPA Award for Public Service from the Standing Committee for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Awareness.

Chase has taught undergraduate and graduate courses, facilitated trainings for student and professional staff, and provided guest lectures. His training and course topics include racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, religious oppression, transgender oppression, Millennials, and media/pop culture in relation to trans/gender expression.

Chase identifies as an FtM who experiences life as a white guy. Chase says, “Depending on my particular performance of masculinity, sometimes I experience life as a straight white guy, sometimes as a queer white guy.” He uses male pronouns.

Chase Catalano and Davey Shlasko have about 13 years combined experience doing education and advocacy around transgender issues, and have been facilitating together for about 5 years. They are co-authors, together with Linda McCarthy, of the Transgender Oppression Curriculum Design in Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice, 2nd ed. (Routeledge, 2007), and are currently working on the Transgender Oppression section of Readings for Diversity and Social Justice, 2nd ed. (to be published in 2010). Together they have facilitated workshops, led panel presentations, and taught graduate and undergraduate courses on transgender issues. Although both identify as transgender, their experiences and identities are quite dissimilar, which allows for open dialogues with both similar and divergent points of view.