The Queer Youth Scene

The Queer Youth Scene is a fun, safe space for queer youth and their youth allies, ages 12 to 18, to meet and make a difference. Our main focus at the Scene is to better our schools and communities by educating ourselves and others about homophobia, transphobia, gender identity, sexual orientation and other LGBTIQ issues. The queer youth scene is a primarily youth driven activist group, but when you work hard, you have to play hard too! The Scene is also involved in creating many youth social events such as dances, summer camps, movie nights, and Gay Day events.

If you would like to get Queer Youth Scene email updates, or if you have any questions, comments, ideas, or dreams of any kind, you can contact our queer youth coordinator Nikira.

 

Scene Upcoming Events:

S.E.X.Y. Conference Planning Meetings 
Every Sunday from 3:00pm - 4:15pm
The Diversity Center
1117 Soquel Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 

Be an active participant in helping plan for the upcoming queer youth conference S.E.X.Y. (Safe, Educated, X-traordinary Youth).  We would love your input and ideas on various aspects such as what you would like to see in the workshops, and the kind of after-party dance you'd like to attend.

(We will be having a meeting on Valentine's Day this Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010) 

 

Young Queer Alliance (YQA) Activist Meetings

Every Sunday night from 5:30pm to 7:15pm -ish.

Usually at:

Inner Light Ministries
5620 Soquel Ave.
Aptos, CA 95073

 

Want to build your resume for college? Want to learn leadership skills while meeting new youth you can connect with? Want to better your school and community? YQA is here for you!

Call for transportation support!

Email or call your Queer Youth Program Coordinators with your questions or comments:

Nikira at (831) 425-5422 or queeryouth@diversitycenter.org

Vanessa at (831) 428-5426 or vanessa.wilson@scccc.org

Community service hours and/or internships are also available through work with STRANGE.

 

Queer Valentine's Day Party

Sunday, February 14, 2010 from 5:30pm to 7:15pm -ish

Inner Light Ministries
5620 Soquel Ave.
Aptos, CA 95073

 Come have an awesome, gay Valentine's Day! There will be a potluck dinner (so bring something if you can) and also a white elephant gift exchange (we will explain what that is later, just bring a gift $5 or under). Hope to see you there! Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Queer Youth Resources:

Queer Youth Get Connected:

Download our bilingual brochure with the descriptions and contact information for many of the organizations that serve queer youth in Santa Cruz County.

 

Check out our online list of Queer Youth Resources in the Diversity Center Resource Directory.

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Queer Youth Program Coordinator, Nikira Hernandez


Nikira is an activist, born and raised in Santa Cruz. She left her hometown briefly to obtain a degree in Environmental Science from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. She hopes to use her degree, which focused on Environmental Justice, to create change and fight oppression. Nikira is excited to be on board with the Diversity Center, because it provides her with an opportunity to combat homophobia and transphobia where it often hits the hardest: queer youth


Nikira graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 2004, where she was president of the Santa Cruz High School Rainbow Alliance. Nikira worked with the Rainbow Alliance to organize student-led presentations on homophobia in the classroom. She also organized school and county-wide events for The Day of Silence and National Coming Out Day. Her work with STRANGE, Triangle Speakers, The Queer Youth Task Force, and The Safe Schools Project landed her a Queer Youth Leadership Award in 2002 and a Mayor’s Proclamation at Santa Cruz LGBT Pride in 2004.

Contact

For more information about the Queer Youth Scene, please email the queer youth program coordinator, Nikira, or call the Diversity Center (831) 425-5422.

 


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