Youth Leadership Opportunities

Pride for Youth offers several opportunities for young LGBT people (under 21) to get actively involved in our work and our community. We need your help to combat homophobia on Long Island and raise awareness of HIV/AIDS! You can also contribute to our Coffeehouse program by sharing your ideas, talents and energy in the planning of upcoming events.



Gay Youth Planning Committee

The Gay Youth Planning Committee (GYPC) is a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth (under 21) and straight allies who come together every Friday to take the lead on special events and weekly happenings at the Coffeehouse.

GYPC has put together exciting programs such as talent shows, Long Island’s best Halloween Party, dance contests, and Broadway Comes to the Coffeehouse, among many other events.

GYPC meets every Friday night from 7:45pm-8:30pm at the Coffeehouse. All you need to participate is some time to give, an open mind, and ideas to share. Contact Andrea Fogel, AFogel@longislandcrisiscenter.org. (516) 679-9000, ext. 122 to sign up.

    

Left: Gardening Project, Summer '06    Right: Peer Educators and Staff at the 2009 Long Beach Suicide Awareness Walk



Peer Education

Looking for a really cool job?

Every summer, Pride for Youth trains lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth (LGBT) to educate their peers about HIV and other health problems. Peer educators are selected based on their ability to speak to groups of teenagers, willingness to perform educational theater, and commitment to preventing HIV and helping other LGBT teens.

Once training is completed, peer educators meet weekly to develop and practice health education programs. For example, they perform monthly skits at the Coffeehouse that teach the audience about HIV, safer sex, and other problems facing LGBT youth. Peer educators also participate in youth conferences where they educate the general population about homophobia. Throughout the year, they publish editions of Queer Beans, PFY's youth-authored 'zine.

You get paid for the training, to attend meetings, and to conduct educational programs!!

If you are interested in applying to be a peer educator, first ask yourself the following questions:

  • Am I available to participate in training during August?
  • Am I available Tuesday evenings throughout the year?
  • Am I between the ages of 16 and 20? (those turning 16 in September can apply too!)
  • Do I like to learn new things and teach things to others?
  • Am I committed to helping other LGBT youth stay safe and healthy?

If you answered yes to all of the above...contact Contact Tawni Engel, TEngel@longislandcrisiscenter.org (516) 679-9000, ext. 128,to set up an interview.

Peer Educators at the 2010 Nassau Co. Human Rights Conference and the 2010 Family Planning Advocates Youth Leadership Conference in Albany



Youth Representatives

Every year, two young people who participate at Pride for Youth are selected to represent their peers on the agency’s Board of Directors. These Youth Representatives play an important role ensuring that young people’s voices are heard and that adult staff understand current issues affecting their lives.

Throughout the year, Youth Representatives attend about six meetings with the full Board of Directors where they provide reports on how Pride for Youth programs are doing. They are assigned to additional committees dealing with fundraising, governance and/or quality improvement. They also meet with Pride for Youth’s Director and Long Island Crisis Center’s Executive Director to gain knowledge of how a not-for-profit operates.

This is a volunteer opportunity and an extremely valuable experience for young people building resumes for college and/or future employment.

For more information about Youth Representatives, contact Andy Peters, AJPeters@longislandcrisiscenter.org, (516) 679-9000, ext. 126