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Update: Art & Acceptance

Posted by Simone Richmond on April 09, 2019

In 17 years, Art & Acceptance has come a long way. This Saturday night drop-in program for LGBTQ+ young people experiencing homelessness began when St. Luke’s clergy noticed just how many of these folks were in our neighborhood. Too many young people, sadly, are living at the margins-- because of their families’ refusal to accept who they are, who they love, or how they present to the world. From the dole of bread given to the needy two centuries ago to the People Living With AIDS program founded in the ‘80s, we have always tried to be responsive to the most invisible and marginalized among us.

We are enormously grateful for our Saturday night staff. And so are our Art & Acceptance guests. They’ve let us know that they feel seen and heard. Program Manager Jill Twohig, who began in September, brings experience in mental health counseling, harm reduction, queer communities, communities of color, and people experiencing homelessness. Youth Engagement Specialist Gabe Hooghuis started in January. He has spent decades in community education and services for LGBTQ+ young adults with a history of homelessness, helping them build independent living skill sets. Art Engagement Specialist Sue Lopez has been with Art & Acceptance for 5 years, leading art projects, connecting one-on-one, and going above and beyond creating special events. Sue is a bastion of guidance and support, both for our guests and for the staff and volunteers. She has built rapport, trust and a special bond over time. Sue is always working to improve the program, centered in an informed and nuanced sense of what the youth want, how they behave, and why.

Sue, Jill, and Gabe work hard to create Art & Acceptance’s safe space. Saturday nights, year-round, we have become a community providing structure, purpose, and creative expression, as well as important basic resources like legal and medical help for these youth. One-on-one, the staff members mentor and support our guests in achieving their goals, with techniques grounded in harm reduction and strength-based perspectives. Group projects, our monthly Open Mic night, and weekly games create investment and togetherness. Monthly Community Meetings are a space for the youth to express what they appreciate -- or don’t -- about the program. It’s a space to share what they would like to see, in a circle with staff and our dedicated volunteers. For example, our guests would like a second Trans Beauty Clinic (pictured here), so we will do our best to host one soon.

Right now the staff are working hard to help ground our volunteers in the safe space program model and conflict resolution techniques, as well as feeling comfortable setting boundaries. They have taken it upon themselves to kick off the enhanced volunteer training plan by inviting our guests to let us know what they most want our volunteers to know and keep in mind. Centered in their experience, only then will we will talk to the volunteers.

Finally, some big news: based on feedback from our guests and the needs we have observed, we’ve just made the decision to extend the age range of our program, up to 29. Too many young people aging out of the program are still in need. Young people experiencing homelessness in their mid-20s are especially vulnerable, as most spaces dedicated to homeless youth suddenly become unavailable to them. And a large proportion of our guests are trans, who face unique obstacles finding safe places just to be -- much less, affirming ones.

We are incredibly grateful for our staff and volunteers. They keep Art & Acceptance centered in its mission. Together, we’ll keep working, to listen and respond. We will always strive for everything we do coming directly from the needs of folks we serve.

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