These students in Connecticut hosted a multi-school Pride conference
Last year, we awarded $500,000 in grants to schools across the U.S. for student-led projects that support LGBTQ+ youth through our 50 States, 50 Grants, 5,000 Voices initiative. Just over a year later, it's time to see how their projects turned out!
This school in Connecticut used their grant funds to host Valley Pride Conference, with a day full of workshops about gender and sexuality, activism, safety, dating, and so much more!
We asked student Aaron how it went:
What did you hope to accomplish with your grant project? Do you think it was a success and if so how?
With this Grant project we hoped to bring a Community together, A community of Students who needed to find a space that was not just safe but a space where they could be free to speak with one another and learn what it feels like to be in an environment where there was no hate mixed in with the respect that they were given. It was Just respect. Along with that, we hoped that students could find a space where they could learn about the things that maybe wouldn't have learned otherwise, things concerning their own personal safety along with the safety of those similar to them. With this in mind, I believe that we did exactly what we had planned. We brought these students together and through our different workshops, these students were able to learn according to their own personal interest and they were able to meet and talk to people who may have similar experiences to them.
Has it made LGBTQ+ students at your school feel more seen and supported? How so?
Although I can’t speak for everyone, I know that this event has certainly made me feel more seen and supported and I know that it has done the same for others. It's not often that our school does something for its LGBTQ+ students if at all, and I know many other schools are the same. I have high hopes that maybe this event will help stir the pot for change in both this school and in many others. I know many of our school's student that may have wanted to attend this event didn’t get the opportunity to for many possibly reasons but I hope in years to come, that these same students find it in themselves to come out of their comfort zone and join the safe space that we have tried our best to create.
What surprised you most about the process of completing your grant project?
What surprised me the most about the process of completing the grant project was simply seeing how many people were absolutely eager to be participating in the event itself. We didn’t know what the outcome would be but even when all we had was an idea, we wanted this to happen and so did many others. Even after the registration due dates had passed, people still wanted to participate. We had a community of people eager to be united.
What has the reaction been to your grant project?
At this event we had about 80 students and teachers join us and I am certain that if we did something similar in the years to follow, we would have many more. We had a real community in this conference and many of the students I had the privilege of speaking with both during and after the conference could not stop talking about the amazing time they were having being able to speak with people who could understand them on a deeper level than most people in their lives. They absolutely loved the workshops and I know a lot of them walked to the bus afterwards with big smiles on their faces. These students were glowing and I know this conference made an everlasting impact on each of their lives.
What was the most exciting part of participating in this program?
I believe the most exciting part of participating in this program was simply seeing everything all put together and seeing everyone together. I knew from the beginning that this event was going to be an important one but it wasn't until I saw the room filled with students that it really occurred to me what we had accomplished. All the work that everyone had put into it and all the time it took suddenly seemed absolutely worth every second.
What message do you want to share with LGBTQ+ youth as the new school year begins?
The message I want to share with LGBTQ+ youth as the new school year begins is that even when it seems like the world is crashing down and you are struggling with whatever you may be struggling with, there is a community of people who have your back and will stand with and support you. You are important, and even when you seem small, everyone has the ability to help make a difference. 💜
Stay tuned for more and see all of last year's grantees here: itgetsbetter.org/blog/meet-the-grantees