Youth and Young Adult

Youth Empowered to Act (YETA) is a coalition of LGBTQQ and allied youth young leaders working to create safer, supportive and intersectional* spaces to engage in advocacy and social justice. Every year, this youth group organizes and leads Orange County’s only LGBTQQ youth conference, the OC LGBTQQ Youth Convening. Community events include but are not limited to: speaking at school board meetings, presenting at local youth conferences, hosting a leadership summer program, drag show fundraiser, and attend the national Creating Change Conference. This is a free group with no membership fees.

Cisn’t is a closed social space for transgender, intersex, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and questioning youth 13-18. The purpose of this group is to create a supportive and inclusive environment in which one’s gender may be freely expressed and respected. Given that the majority of transgender students feel unsafe in school, it is important to provide a safe and welcoming environment that caters to the direct needs of transgender youth. Two adult group facilitators offer discussion topics relating to the transgender community while leaving space for youth to connect with peers and participate in engaging activities and community events, such as Transgender Day of Visibility, OC Trans Pride, and Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Rainbow Group is a social drop-in group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and allied youth ages 13-18. Three adult mentors facilitate group activities and discussions to provide a safe and supportive environment, where youth can make lifelong connections with their peers and develop a positive sense of identity. On a monthly basis, we invite guest speakers from different community organizations to speak in order to increase the educational component of our program. Youth are able to learn about different topics, such as STI and HIV prevention, relationships and setting boundaries, consent, dating, sexual self-care, gender identity, coming out, advocacy, empowerment, student rights, bullying and harassment, drugs and alcohol, mental health and suicide prevention.

Youth Empowered to Act (YETA) is a coalition of LGBTQQ and allied youth young leaders working to create safer, supportive and intersectional* spaces to engage in advocacy and social justice. Every year, this youth group organizes and leads Orange County’s only LGBTQQ youth conference, the OC LGBTQQ Youth Convening. Community events include but are not limited to: speaking at school board meetings, presenting at local youth conferences, hosting a leadership summer program, drag show fundraiser, and attend the national Creating Change Conference. This is a free group with no membership fees.

Cisn’t is a closed social space for transgender, intersex, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and questioning youth 13-18. The purpose of this group is to create a supportive and inclusive environment in which one’s gender may be freely expressed and respected. Given that the majority of transgender students feel unsafe in school, it is important to provide a safe and welcoming environment that caters to the direct needs of transgender youth. Two adult group facilitators offer discussion topics relating to the transgender community while leaving space for youth to connect with peers and participate in engaging activities and community events, such as Transgender Day of Visibility, OC Trans Pride, and Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Rainbow Group is a social drop-in group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and allied youth ages 13-18. Three adult mentors facilitate group activities and discussions to provide a safe and supportive environment, where youth can make lifelong connections with their peers and develop a positive sense of identity. On a monthly basis, we invite guest speakers from different community organizations to speak in order to increase the educational component of our program. Youth are able to learn about different topics, such as STI and HIV prevention, relationships and setting boundaries, consent, dating, sexual self-care, gender identity, coming out, advocacy, empowerment, student rights, bullying and harassment, drugs and alcohol, mental health and suicide prevention.