The Inside Scoop
October 2020
|
|
Thank you for reading Youth Pride, Inc.'s October edition of The Inside Scoop! In this edition you will learn about the select in-person services we have begun offering, our newest program Mindful Makers, Boscov's Friend's Helping Friends event benefiting YPI, how we're recognizing Coming Out Day and LGBTQ History Month, and more
|
|
 |
Open For In-Person Services! |
While our virtual programing is ongoing, we're very excited to begin offering some in-person services again! |
YPI is now open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1-5pm, by appointment only, for Rest and Recuperation (R&R) time and/or access to the Basic Needs Pantry. Signing up for a R&R appointment gives youth, access to a spot in our space with computer, free WiFi, and a phone charger. What they do with that hour is up to them. Staff will be around for assistance and to catch up!
Youth can also sign up to go through our Basic Needs Pantry in person to take clothes, food, toiletries, and schools supplies. Premade bags are continue to be available for pick-up as well.
|
Youth will also be able to stop in for individual in-person counseling or case management services.
Even though it looks a little different from pre-COVID times, we're still very excited to have youth back in our space.
|
Coming Out Day & National LGBTQ History Month 2020 |
National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is a day of observation held annually on October 11 for LGBTQ individuals to claim their identities and show their presence in the community. Homophobia and transphobia thrive in environments filled with silence and ignorance on the topics of sexuality and gender. Coming out to family members, friends, or coworkers provides an opportunity to shed pre-existing stereotypes and fears. Seeing individuals you already know, love, and respect come out hopefully puts identity into perspective and eliminates oppression and discrimination.
Closely tied to NCOD, October is National LGBTQ History Month. Over the next few weeks, you will see many organizations and individuals highlighting and celebrating important LGBTQ figures and their acheivments.
The coming out process along withthe the contributions of LGBTQ individuals on society will be tied into a lot of our programing and social media posts this month. We encourage any youth struggling with their identity or the coming out process to join one of our several weekly support/discussion groups! You will meet others who understand what you're feeling and will receive advice and support!
The Way Out, our general LGBTQ youth support/discussion group meets Wednesdays from 4-5pm via Discord. Gender Spectrum, our weekly support/discussion group for trans, questioning and non-binary youth meets Tuesdays from 4-5pm via Discord.
|
|
|
|
Mindful Makers;
YPI's Newest Program
|
Join Dev, one of our awesome and crafty Center Coordinators, every Friday from 3-4pm on Zoom for an hour of quiet, mindful art making.
Mindfulness is the art of focusing one’s attention only on the present; experiencing thoughts, feelings, and sensations but not judging them. Mindful Makers hopes to provide a safe, quiet, and tranquil environment for collective art creation, all while fostering mindfulness.
Bring whatever you would like to create–that short story you want to start, that painting you want to work on again, that bracelet you want to finish weaving, or anything else–and work on it with other YPI youth on a quiet Zoom call.
|
Friends Helping Friends is Boscov's department store's annual fundraiser for nonprofit organizations. YPI is a registered organization for Boscov's event and we are thrilled to be part of the experience.
|
This is the first year Friends Helping Friends has been extended to a two day event, rather than just one. On Wednesday, October 14, and Thursday, October 15 when shoppers mention "Youth Pride, Inc." at check out, we will receive 5% from your total purchase. As a bonus, anyone who shops during this two-day event will receive 20% off most items. All of this is applicable online OR in person so make sure to stop by the Boscov's in Providence Place mall, or check out their website for clothes, furniture, jewelry, and more!
Like our Facebook event page so you won't forget! In addition to it being a reminder, we will also post awesome sales and finds during Friends HElping Friends so you won't miss out.
|
Youth Voice in the
2020 Election
|
More than 15 million people have turned 18 and gained the right to vote since the last presidential election in 2016. Are you one of them? Youth voice is very important, and we want to encourage all of our youth to ensure they're registered to vote and know their plan for voting in November; whether that means identifying your in-person polling place or requesting a mail-in ballot by the October 13th deadline.
Vote.com is an excellent source for all of your voting needs. In less than two minutes you can check your voter registration status, learn where your polling place is, or request a mail-in ballot for absentee voting. If you're not old enough to vote, the website even has a "Pledge to Register" feature that sends you a reminder text on your 18th birthday!
We're not just voting on the president in the upcoming election; 470 seats in the U.S. Congress (35 Senate seats and all 435 House seats) are up for election as well. If you're interested in learning more about candidates, Ballotpedia offers a thorough look at all the candidates running for election this year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Racial Equality Resources
|
|
|
YPI stands with youth of color and are committed to deepening racial equality within our organization and our work. We will continue to provide resources in our newsletter to regularly educate, mobilize, and engage our readers in racial justice matters.
The Conversation is a website published by Penguin Random House for books, resources, and programs aimed at anti-racist engagement. Browse through the various categories and admire the abundant book lists on race and bias.
Open Yale Courses provides free and open access to a selection of introductory courses taught by distinguished teachers and scholars at Yale University. African American History: From Emancipation to the Present examines the African American experience in the United States starting in1863. Prominent themes include the end of the Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction; African Americans’ urbanization experiences; the development of the modern civil rights movement and its aftermath; and the thought and leadership of Booker T. Washington, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X.
Stages of Freedom is a Providence, RI non-profit organization that promotes black cultural events for the entire community. On 10/9, they will be hosting Pulitzer Prize winning author Dr. David Blight who will be speaking on Frederick Douglass in Rhode Island. His virtual talk will bring Douglass alive in new and exciting ways, and includes an African American spiritual sung by the Schiller Chorus.
|
|
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. |
|
Essential Resources During COVID-19
Other Resources from YPI
|
|
Monthly Spotlight
Thundermist and Neighborhood Health Plan of RI
|
|
Thanks to two very generous donations from Thundermist and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, YPI is well stocked with much needed supplies to help fight the spread of COVID!
Through funding from the RI Department of Health, Thundermist was able to conduct COVID outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. The Thundermist team assembled 'COVID bags' containing masks, hand sanitizer, LGBTQ+-focused COVID messages about staying healthy, and some other essentials such as bandaids, toothbrushes and toothpaste; we were gifted 82 bags!
|
|
Neighborhood Health Plan of RI is also keeping the YPI community safe by donating 300 masks and 300 individual bottles of hand sanitizer to our Basic Needs Pantry!
Youth accessing our space for our Basic Needs Pantry or R&R time are welcome to take a COVID bag and other supplies!
Thank you Thundermist and Neighborhood Health Plan of RI for supporting YPI's Basic Needs Pantry!
|
|
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.
|
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. |
|
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
|
|
|
|
If you have a story you feel should be included in an upcoming newsletter, email Info@youthprideri.org |
|
|
|
|
|
|
