QUEER YOUTH INITIATIVE
2011 Grants Awarded

This year the Alliance Fund was able to secure a matching grant from the Funders for LGBTQ Issues to support a Queer Youth Initiative, awarding a special round of grants targeting special problems for Youth.

Among the projects funded through the 2011 Queer Youth Initiative were:

Casa Libre en la Solana:  “Made for Flight”, a transgender youth and ally empowerment workshop series that incorporates transgender history, ally development, creative writing, and kite building to commemorate the lives of the transgender individuals who have been murdered in the last year.  Done in various LGBT youth gathering locations and culminates in the annual transgender day of remembrance.

Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault:  “LGBT Youth Public Harassment Safety Project” which documents the extent of public harassment of LGBT youth, raises public and government awareness about its effects on their safety, and develops effective solutions to reduce its incidence and impact.  The project develops leadership skills in youth, who advise the program, disseminate its findings, and teach their peers about public harassment safety strategies.

Open Inn Children, Youth & Family Services:  “LGBT Youth Housing Project” which, utilizing community partnerships and collaboration, provides emergency shelter and transitional housing, case management, and specialized support services to empower lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth ages 18-22 to escape homelessness and unsafe situations, identify and access community resources, and attain self-sufficient adulthood.

Wingspan Anti-Violence Program:  “Rainbow on the Road”, a project to start Wingspan support groups for LGBT youth in rural communities in Southern Arizona.  Anti-Violence Programs staff recruit and train adult advocates from these communities and provide technical assistance so that they may facilitate regular meetings.

Wingspan Anti-Violence Program:  “Rainbow Connect”, a peer-to-peer “warm line” that offers LGBT and allied youth an opportunity to connect with peers across Southern Arizona.  Youth will be able to share (via a phone connection manned several hours/day, 6 days/week by trained youth from several LGBT organizations) their coming-out stories and discuss school and family violence issues.

Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation:  “Project ALLY (Arizona Life Links for Youth)—Gatekeeper Training”, the purpose of which is to save lives and reduce suicide attempts among LGBTQ youth.  SAAF intends to provide suicide prevention trainings to create a community support network of peer leaders and trusted adults who can recognize suicide warning signs an be prepared to respond in a culturally-competent manner when working with LGBTQ youth in crisis.

Of the total $15,000 awarded, $10,000 was provided by the Funders for LGBTQ Issues, and $5,000 matching funds were donated by the Alliance Fund's generous donors.

Next year our challenge is to raise a special $7,500 to match the Funders' $7,500.  The final year of the project, our share will be $10,000 and the grant's will be $5,000.