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Center Youth

Working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and allied youth ages 13-18

Center Youth includes:

For Schools/Agencies:

Albany LGBTQ Youth Peer Support Group

The LGBTQ Youth Peer Support group in Albany meets every Friday at from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Pride Center, 332 Hudson Ave. This peer support group is a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ youth and their allies ages 13-18 to discuss issues of coming out, school, work, and relationships in a group of their peers and to socialize and meet new friends. Facilitated by trained volunteers, and supervised by Pride Center staff, the Peer Support Group empowers youth to become strong, independent, and community-minded and provides them with the opportunity to meet like-minded peers across school districts.

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Schenectady LGBTQ Youth Peer Support Group “Rainbow Nights”

The LGBTQ Youth Peer Support group in Schenectady meets on the third Thursday of every month from 6pm to 7:30pm at the Emmanuel-Frieden’s Church located at 218 Nott Terrace in Schenectady. This support group is a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ youth and their allies ages 13-18 to discuss issues of coming out, school, work, and relationships in a group of their peers and to socialize and meet new friends. Facilitated by trained volunteers, the Peer Support Group empowers youth to become advocates from themselves and provides them with the opportunity to meet like-minded peers across school districts. For more information contact Curran Streett at cstreett@capitalpridecenter.org or call 462-6138.

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Advocacy Opportunities

Working with LGBTQ youth and their allies, the Pride Center empowers them to use their voice and tell their stories to elected officials on state and local levels in order to make change in our community. Because we are based in the seat of NYS government, youth members have a unique opportunity to make their voices heard on a state level. Opportunities include legislative visits and trainings, writing workshops and regional conferences on youth empowerment.

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Center Youth Action Team

The Center Youth Action team is the newest addition to the Capital Region Safe Schools Coalition. The Center Youth Action Team is designed to encourage youth leadership, contradict myths and stereotypes of the LGBT community, give voice to the rich diversity of the LGBTQ community, and provide positive representations of the LGBTQ and allied community. This unique program provides youth with training and speaking opportunities to help make schools safer while developing a sense of confidence and pride in their identities. The Center Youth Action Team will be conducting trainings and presentations for school teachers, administrators and GSA’s as well as community groups throughout the year. If you are interested in joining the Center Youth Action please contact Curran Streett at cstreett@capitalpridecenter.org or call 462-6138 for an application and for more information!

The Center Youth Action Team is funded in part by The William and Mary Barnet Family Foundation.

Meet the 2011-2012 Team:

Courtney is a junior at Amsterdam High School where unfortunately there is no Gay Straight Alliance. She is one of the only out students in her school. Courtney is the stage manager of her high school drama club, and participates in band and key club. She is excited to be a member of the Center Youth Action Team because she wants to meet new people and try to spread a positive image of LGBTQ youth.

Allie is a junior at Bethlehem Center High School and is the president of her Gay Straight Alliance. Allie joined the Center Youth Action Team to have the opportunity to be an LGBTQ activist and spread the word to stop hate and bullying in schools. She is enjoys theater, writing, rugby, and playing music.

Evan graduated high school and now spends most of his time reading, writing, playing RP games and volunteering at various places around Albany. He is member of the Center Youth Action Team because he is hoping to provide support for others who may be experiencing rough spots in their own coming out journeys by sharing his experiences and insight.

Rachel is currently a senior at Albany High School and is the president of her Gay Straight Alliance.  She enjoys acting, music, shopping, making people laugh and to make a difference in her community. She’s been attending the Pride Center’s Youth Group for almost 4 years and has participated in many of their activities. She was also a peer educator at Equinox. She plans to study acting and communications media at Pace University and hopes to eventually study at the Lee Strasberg Institute of Theater and Film and eventually move to LA to pursue a career in film and music!

Andrew, a senior, is openly gay and actively participates in the LGBTQ community. He is the Vice President of Albany High School’s GSA and hopes to accomplish many goals during his year on the executive board. Andrew really hopes to educate the public on LGBTQ issues and improve the community and create a more welcoming place for everyone.

Khadijah, a senior at Albany High School, is a member of the Center Youth Action team because she wants to educate others about LGBTQ experience, gain new skills, and to learn more about the community as well. In her spare time she is a member of her school’s hiking club and theater program and enjoys art, music, and spending time with her friends. Being on the team is very important to her because she is gaining leadership skills and introducing a bit more information to those who may not understand.

 

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Healthy Social Opportunities

Building positive relationships is essential to all youth, but for LGBTQ youth, many times opportunities are limited. The Pride Center coordinates the LGBT Alternative Youth Prom each year, along with our community partners, and over 300 youth participate each year, along with almost 100 chaperones. This event, as part of Capital Pride week, gives participants a memory of a welcoming prom for years to come. Other social events include an annual Youth BBQ during the summer months, as well as other events throughout the year.

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Advocating for LGBTQ Youth

The Pride Center works with over 20 school districts in the Capital Region to build welcoming environments for all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We also provide presentations and in-service trainings to local and regional community organizations and agencies on promoting positive LGBT youth development. If your agency is interested in working with the Pride Center, please fill out a SPEAKER REQUEST FORM and we will contact you.

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Capital District Safe Schools Coalition

The Capital District Safe Schools Coalition is a multi-level initiative to provide schools, LGBT activists, and student groups the tools to make our local schools safe for all youth. This coalition educates the community about experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth, creates opportunities for meaningful youth leadership; empowers LGBT youth to be leaders in schools and our community and fosters a safer learning environment for youth to develop.

Key components of the Capital District Safe Schools Coalition include:

  • An expansive list of the schools who have pledged to prioritize the safety and growth of their LGBTQ students as well as those harassed because of the perception of their sexual orientation or gender identity;
  • The Center Youth Action Team, a group of LGBTQ and ally youth ages 13-18 trained to advocate to create change in their schools; and
  • The Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) Network, supporting the work of school-based LGBT groups.

We have worked with the students, teachers, or administrations of:

  • Albany High School
  • Averill Park High School
  • Berlin High School
  • Bethlehem Central School
  • Bethlehem Middle School
  • Ballston Spa High School
  • Brittonkill Central School
  • Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School
  • Cairo-Durham High School
  • Cohoes High School
  • Columbia High School
  • Emma Willard School
  • Green Tech Charter School
  • Guilderland High School
  • Harriet Myers Middle School
  • Hoosic Valley High School
  • Hoosick Falls Central School
  • Ichabod Crane High School
  • Johnstown High School
  • LaSalle School
  • Mayfield High School
  • Mohonasen High School
  • New Lebanon High School
  • Niskayuna High School
  • Rensselaer High School
  • Saratoga High School
  • Schenectady High School
  • Scotia-Glenville High School
  • Shaker High School
  • Shenendehowa High School
  • South Glens Falls High School
  • Troy High School
  • Tech Valley High School
  • Vanderheyden Hall

We have also worked with the following colleges:

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Russell Sage College
  • Saint Rose College
  • Siena College
  • SUNY Albany Undergraduate College

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Capital Region Gay Straight Alliance Network

The Pride Center is inspired by the work being done all over the Capital District by Gay Straight Alliance groups in over 30 high schools. In our work with many of the groups, we see how tirelessly their faculty advisors work, how motivated their student advisors are, and how few opportunities the groups have to connect with each other. In response, the Pride Center launched a network for the faculty and student advisors to connect, share ideas and support each other’s efforts in the coming year. The Gay Straight Alliance network meets on a regular basis, and creates opportunities for youth to create change in their schools like creating awareness of the issues LGBTQ students face and ways to be a better ally for this community. For information on upcoming Gay Straight Alliance Network events, contact Program Director Curran Streett at cstreett@capitalpridecenter.org or call 462-6138.

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The Center Youth Action Team is funded in part by The William and Mary Barnet Family Foundation.

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