MNF Spring 2024 Grantee – Out Now

“Thanks to the funding from the Markham-Nathan Fund for Justice, Out Now, Springfield’s only queer youth organization is planning the following for the year to come: We will continue to offer our weekly popular education, social/support groups for LGBTQ+ youth ages 22 and under in the Greater Springfield area. These groups meet on zoom once a week and in person once a week. Youth here can talk about all things of interest to them, make friends and get plugged into youth leadership roles and community-based social justice work (if they are interested).

We are currently preparing to embark upon another art and social justice summer project with Common Wealth Murals (CWM). We have partnered with CWM for the past three years creating beautiful queer murals in the downtown Springfield area. This year we are doing a new project where we will beautify a bus stop with art in some fashion that is yet to be determined. It has always been our desire to make sure busy bus stops in neighborhoods of color in Springfield have covering, and not only are interesting to look at, but also would leave a neighborhood looking better than it did previously. The youth are very excited about this project!

Finally, we are working with an organization called, Brown’s Promise located in Washington D.C. Brown’s Promise is working to fulfill the promise of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, which this year is in its 70th anniversary. With leadership from Brown’s Promise staff, we are working in collation with local and statewide partners as we explore options that will move Massachusetts public schools toward real desegregation and with full equity of resources, so all students have opportunities.  Out Now youth leaders, as well as other youth participants are involved in this work and have had a lot to offer thus far. We are preparing for our second community focus group that will take place in the fall.” Holly Richardson