Introduction:

After listening and learning to the great youth at Outright Vermont for two years I have come to see youth enpowerment based on two principles:

1.) Providing the resources so youth can do the heavy lifting; and
2.) Changing the fundamental power dynamics so that that hard work achieves results.

The point is not to provide resources so youth don’t have to do the work – it is to provide the resources so they do most of it. Under this model, youth are an essential element in achieving social justice and change.

Youth Empowerment Project:

As a result of these lessons, I am continuing to provide support to queer youth centers working on youth empowerment. If your youth center is interested in help, don’t call me. Call your youth. After you have done this, and if they are interested, have them call me.  

Below is a list of youth accomplishments while I was at Outright Vermont:

2009 Accomplishments for Outright & our youth:
 
More queer youth served. 50% increase in youth turnout at Outright
More Vermont youth educated. 2,900 youth at 113 anti-bullying presentations and GSA mtgs
More youth reached through health workshops. 20 Sass Academy seminars
More free HIV testing with three testers in-office and Oraquick testing provided
More GSAs across Vermont. 4 new GSAs joined our GSA Network, for a total of 24 in VT
More local and national media coverage. Three national Associate Press stories about Outright & our youth in ’09
More  outside of Chittenden County events. Counties reached with sustained programs (Rutland, Brattleboro) 
Second Safe Schools Report Card 
Largest GSA Conference in Outright History
Largest Youth Pride in Outright history
Largest Queer Prom in Outright History
First state-wide gender neutral bathroom campaign in the United States
First Gendertopia – gender-based afterschool program in America
First UVM MSW Intern added to Outright staff 
First ever Youth Awards Dinner 
Second Vermont Pride Youth Zone Tent
Second Night of Noise, following Day of Silence actions
Partnership with the Northlands Job Corps Center in Vergennes
Partnership with the Worker’s Center in Burlington 
Partnership with Safe Space and RU12 Community Center 
Partnership with Freedom to Marry Task Force
New Monthly Rutland Bowling Nights
New  Gender and Java program statewide
Outright Youth Named “Top 40 under 40” in Advocate Magazine
Outright Youth Named to “OUT 100” list in OUT Magazine 
Outright represented at National March on Washington 2009
Largest number of youth Board members 
Largest number of interns (6) ever 
Held Winter Party 
Held MasQueerAde Dance 2009
Joined Vermont Suicide Prevention Coalition
Joined National Safe Schools Roundtable
Joined Federal Stop Bullying Now campaign 
Largest fundrtiaing year to-date 
Selected as a member of the 2009 state Cyberbullying working group
Served as a member of the state’s HIV prevention roundtable
Welcomed Speaker Shap Smith to speak at our Youth Awards Dinner
Youth Addresses Governor Douglas during Visibility Day

2008 Accomplishments for Outright & our youth:
 
More queer youth served. 350% increase in youth turnout at Outright
More Vermont youth educated. 2,035 youth & adults heard Outright’s anti-bullying message
More health workshops. 20 Sass Academy seminars
More GSAs across Vermont. 4 new GSAs joined our GSA Network, for a total of 26 in VT
More positive media coverage. 23 newspaper stories about Outright & our youth in ’08
First U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum exhibit in VT
First Safe Schools Report Card 
First state-wide visibility and education campaign, VT Youth Stand OUT
First Vermont Pride Youth Zone Tent
First Night of Noise, following Day of Silence actions
New Partnership with the Northlands Job Corps Center in Vergennes
New Partnership with the Worker’s Center in Burlington 
New Monthly Bowling Nights & Monthly Movie Nights
New Thursday Night Radical Queer Gender Bender Nights
New Computer lab and presentations stage
Led Youth Pride 2008 and City Hall Speak Out 
Led Vermont Pride March 2008 
Held 2nd Annual GSA Conference 
Held Queer Prom 2008 
Held Winter Party 
Held Drag Idol 2008
Held MasQueerAde Dance 2008
Served as a member of the state’s anti-bullying working group
Served as a member of the state’s HIV prevention roundtable
Welcomed Speaker Symington to a meeting with our youth on gender identity
Met with Governor Douglas during Visibility Day