The Inside Scoop
August 2020
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Thank you for reading Youth Pride, Inc.'s August edition of The Inside Scoop! Within you will read about our benefit night with Flatbread Company, several staff workiversaries, the virtual 5K you can run for YPI, and our new tutoring program!
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Your Dinner Can Benefit YPI |
Have you dinner benefit YPI and Eat For a Cause! On Tuesday, 8/11, Flatbread Company Providence will be donating a portion of the funds from all pizza orders to YPI! The offer applies to take out or delivery; all day.
We recommend their delicious Applegate Farm Pepperoni and Mushroom Flatbread, but all of their flatbreads are delicious!
Make sure to RSVP to our Facebook event to get updates and be stay reminded!
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A group of amazingly dedicated community members have collaboratively launched Going the Distance, and we are so excited to be part of it! Going the Distance is a virtual 5k benefiting Rhode Island non-profit organizations that directly work with youth and foster their socio-emotional wellbeing; especially during this difficult, and more isolating, time of social distancing and distant learning.
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The event is a virtual 5k that participants can walk, jog, or run at any time during the month of August. Complete the entire 5k (that's 3.11 miles in total) in one attempt or break up the number of miles to meet your needs/fitness level over the course of days or weeks; that's the beauty of a virtual 5k. As long as you complete 5k/3.11mi between August 1-August 31, you succeed!
To sign up for the 5k, click the button below. You will be directed to the sign up page and asked to select your entry preference; registration for one participant for $10 or registration with a Going the Distance t-shirt for one participant for $25. After choosing your entry preference, you will be asked for your contact information, which organization you would like to benefit, and if you would like to add an addition donation to the organization. Please note that if you sign up but do not donate anything extra, we still benefit from your entry registration!
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An organization is only as successful as the individuals putting in the work to make it so. Youth Pride, Inc. is no different. The facilitation of our multiple weekly support groups, operation of our Basic Needs Pantry, and consistent connection with donors, just to name a few, only happens because our staff is dedicated and enthusiastic about the work they do and the population they serve.
This summer we got to celebrate several work anniversaries and want to extend the congratulations here! Jesus Holguin, Center Coordinator, celebrated their four year work anniversary on May 4 2020. Dev Devine, Center Coordinator, celebrated their one year, work anniversary on June 3 2020. Tiffani Carcieri, Administrative Coordinator, will celebrate her three year work anniversary on August 9 2020.
Thank you all for the hard work and dedication you bring to YPI each and every day!
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Get Connected to a Tutor! |
YPI is beginning a partnership with local community members who want to donate their time to tutoring YPI youth in response to the gaps in education created by COVID-19.
Currently, math tutoring is completely set up and ready to accept students! For more information, or to sign up, email Andy@youthprideri.org
We recognize that multi-disciplinary tutoring has better potential to reach more students and address more areas where students need support, practice, and confidence. We are trying to determine which other subjects and grade levels would be most beneficial for us to find tutors for. If you're a student, please fill out our tutoring survey below to give us your feedback!
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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.
Below is an awesome, extremely in depth guide to being an Ally in the BLM movement. There is also a BLM toolkit for families published by Family Equity. The toolkit demonstrates how to start or continue conversations with family of all ages. Lastly, if you're looking to donate to the cause but are not sure which petitions/funds/etc will directly help the community, a list of legitimate funds is below.
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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
Rhode Island and All Those Who Contributed to the RI Parentage Act
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The Inside Scoop has been covering the journey of the Rhode Island Parentage Act since it's original introduction to The House Judiciary Committee in March 2019. Current parentage laws in RI have not been updated since 1973 and the newly proposed Parentage Act aims to provide a clear roadmap to parentage for same-sex families or families using assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization (IVF); situations not referenced in the original law but are now more common in today's ever changing society. As noted by LGBTQ Action RI, same sex couples can currently adopt a child conceived through assisted reproduction, but they would "need to go through a home study, put a notice in the paper advertising for the donor to come forward, and then...go to court to get a declaration of adoption." The adoption process also could not start until the child was six months old, leaving a large window of uncertainty and no legal attachments to the parent. The RI Parentage Act streamlines all of those requirements, and only mandates some paperwork.
After the March 2019 hearing, the house and committee "recommended measures be held for further study". In June 2019, the state Senate passed the Uniform Parentage Act 35-to-0. Shortly after, Family Court Judge Michael Forte raised concerns over the bill and requested that the House conduct a study commission before enacting or vetoing it, thus putting a pause to the bill's life.
After a year, on July 16, 2020, the House approved the RI Uniform Parentage Act in a 65-1 vote and minutes later, the Senate passed matching legislation 33-1. The legislation was signed by Governor Gina Raimondo July 21, 2020.
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Mexico City First in Country to Ban Conversion Therapy |
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Conversion Therapy is any form of therapy or similar process that seeks to change a person’s attraction to same-sex individuals or attempt to push individuals to identify by their biological sex assigned at birth. While some forms of conversion therapy include religious instruction or praying the gay away, other forms are more intense and can involve electroshock, waterboarding, and medication. Overall, conversion therapy is unregulated and has no proven success rate; causing more psychological harm than good to individuals. Currently, 20 US states have banned conversion therapy for minors and the United Nations recently called for a global ban on conversion therapy practices.
On July 24th, 2020 Mexico City's regional congress approved a bill criminalizing conversion therapy for youth and adults. Providers offering these therapies are now susceptible to serve 5 years in prison; more if involving a minor patient. Under the new law, conversion therapy is defined as psychological or psychiatric measures or treatments which intend to nullify, hinder, modify or undermine the expression of a person's gender identity or their sexual orientation.
This makes Mexican City, with a population of 8.9 million people, the first jurisdiction in the country to ban conversion therapy.
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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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