Kate Okeson is co-founder and program director of Make It Better for Youth, the Monmouth County Consortium for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning Youth, where she organizes people and resources to affirm and accept our young LGBTQ+ community through education, outreach, and social opportunities. Over the last several years, MIB4Y has focused intently on educator-to-educator initiatives, including the development of a pilot curriculum pathway for NJ’s LGBTQ+ Inclusive Curriculum legislation, and providing training to school districts on inclusive education practices and approaches.
Kate’s work in education comes from her 20+ year career as an art educator and artist in NJ who focuses on bringing inquiry-driven processes and exploration to the classroom. In her work as a studio arts teacher, she attends to the discipline of creative and critical thought as a means to ask beautiful questions which lead to growth and action.