Grantee Spotlight

VOICES Community Stories Past and Present, Inc., works with youth ages 14 to 21 in afterschool and summer programs that mentor in the documentary arts. Our vision is that all youth have the opportunity to decide what their future look like. Our mission is to provide young people with the safe space, positive relationships and skills training to document real-life stories and the platform to share those stories with the world. Through learning the documentary arts, VOICES youth improve their self-efficacy and critical thinking and literacy skills.

Year after year, VOICES works with youth who, through the responsibility of being in our programs (and in turn, the responsibility of being a published author), are able to change negative behaviors into behaviors that set them up for college, the work world, and being an engaged citizen. We teach that your story is your power. Youth in VOICES' programs are given the freedom to write about and explore all aspects of their world and identities-they tell stories of their culture, families, dreams, struggles, and accomplishments. Funding from the LGBT&S Alliance Fund-which shares our desire to build a more diverse, equitable community-is vital to our continued work and we are so thankful for this partnership.

Learn more at www.voicesinc.org

Remember, if you purchased tickets for this year's Evening wiith Music and Friends (Thank You!), your invitation and canceled check or credit card statement are your receipt for tax purposes. Tickets were $75, and $45 of that is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.