We improve the quality of life for all LGBTQIA+ youth in our community, as well as children raised in homes where LGBTQIA+ people live.
Our vision is a vibrant community where every youth thrives in their expression of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. Our programs and messages directly empower LGBTQIA+ youth and also support families, questioning/closeted youth, and the greater Santa Cruz County community.
Our Programs: Safe Schools Project; Queer Youth Leadership Awards;Trans Teen Project; Leadership Development
We would like to support trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive youth in Santa Cruz County this year with a website resource that educates and raises awareness among parents and the community about trans issues. We will facilitate conversations and understandings between trans teens and the wider community.
Trans teens will control their own narratives and share stories and experiences that are important to them. Our goals are: to promote existing resources available for the trans community, make short documentary films, implement teens-led small projects, promote an activity titled “Unbox Me,” and host radio shows.
Please help us raise funds to: hire a part-time coordinator to keep the site updated and work with partners such as Santa Cruz Trans, TransFamilies, and Big Brothers Big Sisters to support Trans teens in Santa Cruz county; provide honorariums to trans youth for internships; and pay student filmmakers for our documentary.
Thank you for giving me so many opportunities to get involved and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community and to get my voice heard.
Lucía Umeki-Martínez, they/she/he, Watsonville, 18 years old
