Elizabeth Munsky is the Director of LGBTQ+ Initiatives at the New York City Department of Correction (DOC). A graduate of Stony Brook University, Elizabeth holds a degree in Sociology and Women’s Studies. Elizabeth has built her career on the core values of education, collaboration and introspection.  No matter how large or small the system you are trying to change happens to be, in order to create true sustainable change, education and understanding must be your foundation.  Education is built on the basis that there is no one teacher and no one student, we must all be open to learning from one another and educating one another.  Throughout all of Elizabeth’s roles she has challenged her participants, her colleagues, her employers and herself to look inward and ask ourselves the hard questions we often point at others.  Some of her previous work includes the development and implementation of national LGBTQ+ Domestic Violence programming,  LGBTQ+ young adult programming; in which Elizabeth brought prominent LGBTQ+ adults back to their high schools to education and empower the current staff and student body through stories of hope and stories of struggle; and regional and national LGBTQ+ responsive training programs, where Elizabeth worked with historically hetero and cis-sexist institutions to build inclusive policies and practices.  In her current role she works to build support, affirmation and safety for LGBTQ+ individuals within the DOC’s custody as well as LGBTQ+ staff members.  To accomplish this some of Elizabeth’s current initiatives are; LGB/TGNC support groups, developing reflective and experiential trainings for all staff members and analyzing current policies to ensure the inclusion, affirmation, support and safety for all LGBTQ+ people in custody. You can reach Elizabeth at Elizabeth.munsky@doc.nyc.gov.