The Inside Scoop
November 2020
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Thank you for reading Youth Pride, Inc.'s November edition of The Inside Scoop! Within you will read about our upcoming virtual Gala, the Little Unicorns launch date, our Thanksgiving plans, all of our in-person services, and the influx of LGBTQ representation in US politics.
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Save the Date for YPI's Virtual Annual Celebration & Party! |
With social distancing guidelines in effect and the pandemic still relentlessly sweeping the world, a lot of in-person events have been canceled or postponed. To ensure we still get the opportunity to come together this year with our community partners, supporters, donors, and friends, we're planning a Virtual Annual Event Celebration to be held on Thursday, December 17th from 5-6pm!
Entertaining will include Hasbro’s Toys 2 Men Band, Billy Gilman, DJ Valentina, and drag performances by Sasha Stone and Randy Andy.
We are making this event free to remove as many barriers as we can, but donations are welcome when you register!
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YPI's traditional community Thanksgiving dinner will look a little different this year. Rather than having YPI youth, staff, board members, friends and supporters in our space for a community Thanksgiving meal, we will be bringing the meal to our youth!
We are very grateful to receive 30 Thanksgiving meal boxes from Ellies sponsored by UNIF. We hope to deliver these meal boxes to youth and their families Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Interested youth can send us a Facebook message, or email us at info@youthrideri.org, to reserve a meal box. We just need to know how many you need for you immediate family and where to drop them off!
We also have one generously donated frozen turkey to give out. If interested, send us an email and we will coordinate drop off or pick up.
We wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving!
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Little Unicorns Launching January 2021 |
Before the outbreak of Covid-19 changed our ability to offer in-person programming, we had begun developing a new YPI program, called Little Unicorns. Little Unicorns will be a space built for LGBTQ+ youth ages 5 to 9 to gather and socialize, while families can connect with each other and receive relevant information, resources, and support. YPI is hoping to launch a virtual Little Unicorns in January of 2021.We would love for interested families to fill out our Little Unicorns Interest Form below. We will reach out to everyone who submits the form as the new year gets closer.
In the meantime, we offer weekly Social Space for our 13 and unders on Zoom each Thursday. To link to learn more and sign up for Social Space is below as well.
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YPI is open for select in-person services by appointment only. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays youth can make appointments to go through our Basic Needs Pantry for food, clothes, toiletries and school supplies or to use one of our computers, free wifi and/or chargers.
Appointments can be made through our Calendly which is linked below. The second link will take you to a full write up of our in-person reopening and other services we're still offering such as counseling and mase management.
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We would like to extend a huge congratulations to our Executive Director, Elana Rosenberg, for reaching her three year work anniversary as YPI's ED! This also marks Elana's eighth year of service at YPI, having previously worked as YPI's GSA Coordinator.
Your dedication to the youth of our state is palpable and unwavering. Thank you for making YPI the welcoming, safe, and homey place it is today, Elana.
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Racial Equality Resources
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YPI stands with youth of color and are committed to deepening racial equality within our organization and our work. We will provide resources in our newsletter to continually educate, mobilize, and engage our readers in racial justice matters.
The first link, 26 Ways to be in the Struggle Beyond the Streets, lists all the different ways communities can engage in liberation outside of rallies and protests. The second link will take you to a list of racial justice resources created by Rachel Ricketts, a queer, Black activist, educator, and author. Some of her resources include, Addressing Whiteness and Addressing Anti-Blackness.
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Are you really missing drop-in hours? Need someone to talk to? Are you experiencing crisis? Have concerns, fears or mental health needs that you need to express to someone? Here are a couple of resources for you that were compiled by YPI staff. |
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Essential Resources During COVID-19
Other Resources from YPI
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Monthly Spotlight
PrYSM, Queer Transformative Roots and RIC's Unity Center
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PrYSM, Queer Transformative Roots, and Rhode Island College's Unity Center are hosting a Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil Saturday, November 21st at 1pm in Dexter Park in Providence. The vigil will also be streamed on PrYSM's facebook page for people to attend virtually.
We hope you will attend and stand in solidarity with us as we cherish and honor the memories of our loved ones taken too soon due to gender-based violence.
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Increase in LGBTQ Representation in USA Politics |
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The fight for presidency was not the only item on the 2020 election ballot; voters also nominated state representatives, senators, and other local officials. As the results poured in, it became clear that LGBTQ politicans were making history across the nation. The 2020 election has elected a noteworthy amount of LGBTQ individuals into political office.
Several states elected their first ever LGBTQ politicans into their State Senates:
- Shevrin is the first out LGBTQ person elected to the Florida state senate.
- Kim Jackson is the first lesbian elected to Georgia's State Senate.
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Sarah McBride is the first, and now highest-ranking, openly transgender senator. McBride claimed her seat in Delaware after winning with over 70% of the vote.
- Jabari Brisport is the first openly LGBTQ person of color elected to the the New York State Senate.
Several more states elected their first ever LGBTQ politicians into their State House of Reppresentatives:
- Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres are the first openly gay Black men elected to New York's House of Representatives.
- Michele Rayner-Goolsby is the first openly queer Black woman elected to Florida's House of Representatives.
- Taylor Small is the first openly trans individual elected to Vermont's House of Representatives.
- Stephanie Byers is Kansas' first openly trans politician elected to the House of Representatives.
- Eddie Mannis and Torrey Harris are the first openly gay and bisexual men elected to Tennessee's House of Representatives.
- Mauree Turner, possibly the most diverse addition to the legislature, is the first Black, Muslim, and non-binary individual elected to Oklahoma's House of Representatives.
We also want to recognize that a California governor nominated the first openly gay man to the State Supreme Court, Martin Jenkins. If approved, Jenkins will also only be the third Black man ever to serve on the state’s highest court.
Kamala Harris' Chief of Staff is also making history. Harris named Karine Jean-Pierre, previously a MSNBC commentator and current senior adviser to Joe Biden, as her Chief of Staff. This makes Jean-Pierre the first lesbian Haitian-American individual to serve in this role for a vice president.
According to the LGBTQ Victory Fund,only Alaska, Louisiana and Mississippi have yet to ever elect a LGBTQ legislator. Maybe
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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 |
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 info@youthprideri.org
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If you have a story you feel should be included in an upcoming newsletter, email Info@youthprideri.org |
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