“Thanks to the funding from the Markham-Nathan Fund, Out Now will continue to provide popular education/social, support groups for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 22 and under at our office headquarters and beyond. Our groups offer a space where youth are seen, heard, and supported. It is here we work to move from personal stories to collectivized struggles and together, we come up with action plans to learn about and fight for our rights. This is where we build community, educate, and empower ourselves and one another. Group is the point of entry for all youth and from there we plug them into a range of other activities, projects and movements, such as:
Students Speak Project: For the fifth year we will work with Harvard Law School staff and law students asking the Out Now youth (and other participating youth from around the state): What do you in order to do well in school? Youth create one-page testimonies which will be added to the Students Speak website (students-speak.org). We will transport youth to the State House where they will present their testimonies at a legislative briefing; we will also travel to Harvard Law School for the 5th annual “Youth Summit,” where youth are with peers from all over the state for a daylong conference of which our youth will prepare and present a workshop (as they have done each previous year). One new development within Students Speak is that a cohort of 15 youth leaders from across the state were selected to come together to think about and plan for further actions to center youth voice in schools. Two Out Now leaders were selected and have begun meeting with mentors and the collective cohort. Meetings are both on zoom and in-person at Harvard Law School (Out Now staff drive the youth back and forth and participate as adult advisor supports). This cohort of youth leaders have sifted over legislative bills that are education related and have selected three that will be the focus for the FY26 year. This statewide work is in the early movement stage and this coming year looks to be very impactful.
Art and Social Justice: We are currently working with Common Wealth Murals on a
community art project that has not yet been done in Springfield! We are preparing to use graffiti
artwork to decorate 10 bus stop coverings in Springfield, all with anti-bullying messaging. We have approval from the city of Springfield and PVTA and are now in the development stage. We will have a community reveal party after they are completed.” Holly
community art project that has not yet been done in Springfield! We are preparing to use graffiti
artwork to decorate 10 bus stop coverings in Springfield, all with anti-bullying messaging. We have approval from the city of Springfield and PVTA and are now in the development stage. We will have a community reveal party after they are completed.” Holly
