The Inside Scoop
May 2018
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Youth Pride, Inc. would like to sincerely thank our friends and allies for subscribing to our listserv. Welcome to YPI's first edition of our new newsletter,
The Inside Scoop.
Each month, we'll share recent and upcoming YPI, local, and national news in relation to the LGBTQ communitty. Each issue will also feature a Monthly Spotlight and a Meet Someone New column. Our Monthly Spotlight will highlight an organization, business, or individual working with the LGBT community in Rhode Island. Our Meet Someone New section will introduce you to a different YPI affiliated individual through a brief biography. This is the first time in several years YPI has published a newsletter; we look forward to writing it and providing you with relevant and up to date information! If you have something you'd like to see or something you's like to share in the newsletter,
please let us know. Happy reading!
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YPI Nominated as Honorary Mashal for 2018 Pridefest!
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The 43rd annual Pridefest and Illuminated Night Parade will be held on Saturday June 16th, 2018! Members of the LGBTQ communitty have faced unwarrented discrimination, oppression, and humiliation at the hands of our heteronormative society for decades. Each year, Pride events take place throughout the country during the month of June to stimulate open conversation, education, and advocacy among the community and their allies. June is considered Pride month because The Stonewall Riots, occuring June 28th of 1969, mark the start of the Gay Rights Movement in the United States.
Youth Pride, Inc. is remarkably grateful to have received the title of Honorary Marshal at this year's Pridefest! Honorary Marshals are selected based on specific criteria; "commitment to standing up and being a voice for the LGBTQ+ community across Rhode Island" as quoted from Rhode Island Pride. YPI would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to the other Honorary Marshals nominated this year; TGI Network and SAGE RI.
Pridefest begins at 11am along the South Water Street Greenway in Providence. The Illuminated Night Parade kicks off at sunset near Kennedy Plaza. We hope to see everyone at Pride, please stop by the YPI tent and find out how to march with us in the parade!
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Looking for a Summer Job? We're Hiring!
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Youth Pride, Inc. is currently looking to hire four Youth Summer Program Assistants! We are seeking two youth 16-18 years old and two youth 18-24 years old to
support YPI staff in the planning and execution of YPI programs, services, activities and events. Assistants will build skills in presentation, public speaking, event coordination, workshop development, and peer-to-peer advocacy and service navigation. As a part of their position, Program Assistants will participate in YPI’s Leadership Development program (OUTSpoken) and gain experience in policy development and advocacy at the community, city, state, and national level.
*When applying, select 'Youth In Action'
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Knowledge is power! Make sure you know your HIV status and the facts about HIV.
Do you know that individuals living with HIV who are taking their medications and have a undetectable viral load (this can be confirmed by a doctor)
will not transmit HIV to a HIV-negative sexual partner? These individuals do not pose a risk of infection. Find out more from the Center for Disease Control,
here.
Do you know your status? Free and confidential HIV testing is available at YPI once a month, but you can get tested at any time!
Find out where below:
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Monthly Spotlight
Big Gay Al's Big Gay Bowling League
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From left to right; Megan, Erin, Leo (Founder and President), Jennifer, and Cat
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Big Gay Al's Big Gay Bowling League is Kicking off its 19th Season at Town Hall Lanes!
First night is Tuesday, May 15th at 7:30pm at Town Hall Lanes in Johnston, RI. The cost of bowling is $16 and they bowl in teams of four. The league meets every Tuesday
through the 2nd week of August.
Big Gay Al's Bowling League is an inclusive charity bowling league open to all skill levels. All money raised is donated to charity. In the past, Big Gay Al's Bowling League has raised over $80,000 and has donated to several deserving charities. Some charities include AIDS Care Ocean State, AIDS Project RI, OPTIONS Magazine, PFLAG, Marriage Equality, and even Youth Pride, Inc!
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Youth Pride Needs Your Help Securing A Grant!
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MissionBox is currently offering a $3,500 unrestricted grant to a deserving nonprofit that significantly contributes to the empowerment of teens. For the last twenty-five years Youth Pride, Inc. has been
dedicated to meeting the unique needs of youth impacted by sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.
YPI is also built upon the three values of leadership, affirmation, and community.
This grant is awarded to the organization that receives the most recommendations. We believe Youth Pride, Inc’s community is vast and supportive and are calling upon our friends and allies to assist us in securing this grant! Helping us is quick and easy, all you need to do is
visit our page and leave us a thumbs up recommendation
. Recommendation button is next to our logo!
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Elana Rosenberg
Executive Director
Elana grew up in Kentucky, and after moving around New England a bit, she settled in Rhode Island 11 years ago. In 2007, she began working at YPI as the GSA Network and Programming Coordinator. In that role, she organized center programming, provided professional development to Rhode Island school educators and administrators, and managed the statewide GSA Network for five years. Elana left YPI to join the Community Investment team at United Way of Rhode Island. There, she spent three years managing the RI Statewide Afterschool Network and working with education and youth based non-profit organizations across the state. She returned to YPI in November 2017, to become the organization’s 6
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Executive Director. She holds a BA in sociology from Smith College and a MS in College Student Personnel from Miami of Ohio University. When she’s not hard at work doing all things YPI, you can usually find Elana with her dog Tinker, hiking in the woods or training for agility competitions.
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Jesus Holguin
Youth Worker
Jesus has been a leader at YPI since he was a sophomore in high school. He also works with the Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island; most recently serving as the Youth Leadership Director, educating and mobilizing youth to fight toxic infrastructure in their communities. Originally born in Manhattan, Jesus now resides in Providence. He identifies as a Cisgender Queer Afro-Latino Youth. Through community connections, he was introduced to Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE) shortly after his mother was incarcerated and deported on February 11th, 2010. He quickly became passionate about organizing and changing the community. Jesus' main areas of activism include LGBT Rights, Gender Justice, Environmental Racism, Food Justice, and Immigration Rights.
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Tiffani Carcieri
Administrative Coordinator
Tiffani has been employed by YPI since August of 2017. Prior to working for YPI she was employed by the University of Rhode Island's Gender & Sexuality center as Building Manager. She advocates for justice and equality because she believes every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of age, race, ethnicity, ability, sexuality, or gender identity/expression. Tiffani holds a B.A in Psychology and a B.S in Health Sciences. In her freetime, Tiffani enjoys relaxing in nature, playing real-time-strategy games, creating art, and hanging out with her cat!
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Representative Ajello Proposes Legislation to Avoid Misgendering After Death
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On March 27th, 2018 testimony was heard at a House Committee Meeting in response to
Representative Edith Ajello's
(Democrat, District 1, Providence) new proposed legislation. The prospective legislation aims to protect trans and non-binary individuals from being misgendered on death certificates. The legislation states that it "
would require that a death certificate reflect the decedent’s gender identity, as reported by the next of kin or the best qualified person available, unless the person completing the death certificate is presented with a document that memorializes the decedent’s gender transition”.
It is important for the wishes of the deceased be respected. Many individuals in the LGBTQ communitty already experience misgendering on a regular basis. The idea of misgenderment in obituaries and death certificates is no different. This new legislation could assist those with unaccepting family and friends maintain their pronouns in all related documents post-death and prevent others from making changes.
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First of Its Kind Trans Wellness Center Opens in LA
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After ten years in the making, the 3,000 square foot Trans Wellness Center (TWC) opened its doors on April 24th, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The TWC serves as a multifaceted resource center for trans and nonbinary individuals. Inclusive healthcare including transition needs and hormone therapies are available through the TWC in addition to housing, legal, and employment assistance all under one roof.
The TWC is funded by an annual one million dollar grant issued by the L.A County Department of Public Health. The advisory board guiding the TWC is composed of eight transgender and non-binary individuals. Most noteworthy are the six trans-focused organizations that came together to form, and currently serve, the TWC. These organizations include APAIT (Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team); Bienestar; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles; Friends Community Center; TransLatin@ Coalition; and the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
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Mission:
Youth Pride, Inc. is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of youth and young adults impacted by sexual orientation and gender identity/expression while working to end the homophobic and transphobic environments in which they live, work and play.
Values:
LEADERSHIP: YPI is committed to creating the leaders of today. Youth voices drive our process, and we seek to develop the leadership skills necessary both within the organization and outside of it.
AFFIRMATION: YPI believes all youth must be affirmed for who they are and how they express themselves. We are committed to making that a reality in all of the environments in which young people live.
COMMUNITY: YPI believes building strong connections is essential to youth success and empowerment. We strive to create a caring, respectful and diverse community of young people and adults.
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Your tax-deductible donation helps YPI
continue to do the important work we do in accordance to our mission. Your gift would be directly investing in our state's LGBTQ youth so that they may have a chance to share their gifts and light with the world.
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Our Programs and Services
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Youth Pride, Inc. serves over 700 Rhode Island LGBTQ youth and their straight allies a year through a variety of programs and services.
Our Center, located on Westminster Street in Providence, primarily serve as a drop-in and programming space, and is currently open to youth ages 13 to 23 on Tuesday and Wednesday from 3-8pm and Thursday from 3 to 5. Youth ages 9 to thirteen are welcome at our exclusive 13 and under drop-in time on Thursdays from 5-8 pm. All YPI Center services and activities are free to youth. YPI youth get to attend events, workshops, cultural, educational, social, and wellness activities at YPI and around the state.
Our center is home to a Basic Needs Pantry, open to youth in need of food, clothing, toiletries, and school supplies. We offer one on one counseling with in-house clinicians. Our clinicians facilitate and supervise three peer-support groups.
YPI also offers support to those who work with youth through policy and advocacy, and by providing professional development workshops and technical assistance to service providers and educators.
For more information on getting involved with YPI as a volunteer or if you or someone you know is in need of our services, contact [email protected]
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If you have a story you feel should be included in an upcoming newsletter, email [email protected]
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