COLAGE Volunteer Opportunity in Chicago
COLAGE is looking for an enthusiastic volunteer to help with local COLAGE programming in the Chicago area COLAGE Chapter.
COLAGE is looking for someone 19 or older in the greater Chicago area who has one or more LGBT parents and who has 4-6 hours per month to volunteer with COLAGE. The COLAGE Chicago coordinator acts as a liaison to parents and youth looking for resources, groups and support in the Chicago area as well as plans and staffs COLAGE Chicago events and outings withsupport from the COLAGE National Office.
The group stands for Childrens of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere. Contact Meredith Fenton at meredith@colage.org or Tina Fakhrid-Deen at tinatfakhrid@aol.com .
Chix Mix and QYC Team Up
Chix Mix Productions and QYC of DuPage team up to present the MAKING A CHANGE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. QYC and Chix Mix Productions will present two QYC youth group members with awards for $500 each for demonstrating commitment to making or hoping to make a positive change for GLBT people's lives.
'Chix Mix is proud to once again develop a youth scholarship award,' said Chix Mix co-founder Kathleen Ulm. 'It is very important for us to recognize the hard work our GLBTQ youth are doing to improve our community. We are even more excited to partner with QYC a fantastic organization.' Chix Mix's other co-founder is Julie Mosier.
To enter the competition, you can be any sex, any gender, any orientation, but you must be between the ages of 14 and 21. For complete submission requirements visit www.QYC.org . Applications must be received by May 1, 2005. Awards will be announced May 20 and officially presented at Windy City Media's 30 Under 30 Awards in June.
Deaf Queer Youth! Scholarship
The Deaf Queer Resource Center has announced the establishment of the Deaf Queer Youth Scholarship Fund, a new fund that awards monetary scholarships to deserving self-identified Deaf lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex college-bound youth. 'The main purpose of the fund is to identify, support and empower the next generation of Deaf Queer youth by recognizing and celebrating their achievements,' said Dragonsani Renteria, director of the Deaf Queer Resource Center. 'We are especially interested in supporting Deaf Queer youth who have shown a commitment to creating social change.'
The initial scholarships will be offered in the amounts of $250 to $500 each. In order to be considered for a scholarship, applicants must be under 25 years of age, be enrolled in high school or college, have a cumulative grade point average ( GPA ) of 2.5 or better, and submit a written or video essay and other supporting documentation. The deadline to apply is July 15, 2005. Deaf Queer youth of color are especially encouraged to apply. Visit The Deaf Queer Resource Center for more information www.deafqueer.org .
Young Americans Most Tolerant Age Group
With turnout rates among young voters up sharply ( to more than 50% ) in 2004, and social commentators considering the growing diversity of society, the attitudes of younger people on such hot-button issues such as gay marriage, immigration and race are more important than ever.
New analysis of 2004 exit-poll data, along with other research, shows young Americans are more favorable than other age groups toward people sometimes targeted by intolerance, including gays and lesbians, racial and ethnic minorities, and immigrants, according to analysis released by the Center for Information on Civic Learning and Engagement ( CIRCLE ) .
Some key findings include: 69% of 18-29 year-olds support gay marriage or legal civil unions for gay and lesbian couples compared to 60% of 30-44 and 45-59 year-olds, and 54% of those 60 and older. ( National Election Pool, exit poll. )
'As policymakers and politicians consider this voting bloc, they should recognize the differences between them and previous generations,' said William Galston, Director of CIRCLE. 'Our analysis shows that today's young adults are more socially tolerant than any previous generation of Americans since polling began.'
This and other data and analysis is from a new CIRCLE fact sheet, 'Attitudes of Young People Toward Diversity.' Additional information on youth attitudes on gay and lesbian issues can be found in the National Youth Survey 2004, funded by the Council for Excellence in Government and CIRCLE.
A copy of the fact sheet and analysis of the National Youth Survey are available at CIRCLE's Web site: www.civicyouth.org .
Gay Spring Break
Chicago gay youth groups are putting their own twist on spring break with assorted events being held around the city over the next two weeks. For more information, call ( 877 ) 286-1939. Events include:
March 23: Free HIV Testing.
Girls Movie Night at 6 p.m. at Gerber/Hart Library, 1127 W. Granville.
Party: 9 p.m. at Eyecathers Loft, 1520 W. Fulton Ladies get in free, men $5.
March 24: Project Vida Latin Luncheon at 1 p.m. at CGY, 1218 W. Addison
Center on Halsted Youth Drop-in at 961 W. Montana Ages 13-24.
Project Vida Latin Movie Night at 6 p.m.
March 25: Party: 'Curiosity' Youth Jam Hip Hop Night! 9 p.m., High Risk Gallery, 1113 W Belmont, 23 and under.
March 26: Shop 'Til You Drop.
Call for more events.
Illinois LGBTQA Student Summit
Join other lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and ally youth ( ages 12 to 20 ) from across Illinois to discuss and learn about:
LGBT Students' Rights, How to Start a Gay / Straight Alliance Club, National Day of Silence, Story Telling w/ About Face Youth Theatre, What's Happening Around Illinois.
Saturday, March 26, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Renaissance Hotel, 701 E. Adams in Springfield, Ill. Food and snacks will be provided.
All youth who want to attend this event must RSVP to Shannon by at either ( 312 ) 368-9070 x 12 or CESOCoalition@aol.com .
The Illinois LGBTQA Summit is presented by the Coaltion for Education on Sexual Orienation and its member organizations, including About Face Theatre, Howard Brown Health Center, Lambda Legal, and Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health.
V-Day at Roosevelt University
Since 2004 Bethany Baratt has been directing/coordinating the Vagina Monologues production at Roosevelt University for V-Day. Baratt is a political science teacher who also teaches sexuality, gender and human rights, international human rights law, research methods ( Graduate ) , international relations and comparative politics ( Grad and Undergrad ) . 'I see as the important issues in politics today—whether it's war, hate crimes, the impact of religion and politics, etc.—are, at their heart, human-rights issues,' said Barratt.
The Vagina Monologues were performed in the Ganz Hall this year. 'Well, the setting in the Ganz was just amazing this year. This is a show that deserves to be honored in a gorgeous space,' said Barratt. 'The show really reaches people on a personal level and is also very honest work because it is drawn from actual interviews. All the women we meet in the play from the perspective of the audience, they are getting real people, rather than purely created ones, which I think is very important when we are trying to present quite serious social problems. At the same time the audience is more likely to respond and identify with the women in the monologues because they are real.'
Every year the 'Vagina Monologues' at RU raises money for Chicago Abused Women's Coalition ( CAWC ) . Last year RU raised around $1,500. CAWC was chosen for two reasons: It is an umbrella organization, that aids women in domestic-violence situations throughout the Chicagoland Area ( rather than a single location ) , and RU already had established connections to CAWC with various volunteer/service activities.
Synergy—LGBTQ
Youth Dance Party
Chicago's drug and drama-free party for LGBTQ youth and friends is back. Howard Brown Health Center is proud to announce its SYNERGY 2005 dates and a new location. SYNERGY will now be held at the University Center in downtown Chicago, right off the Harrison Red Line Stop and near the Library stop on the Purple, Brown, and Orange lines.
Mark your calendars for these dates: Saturday, April 16, Saturday, May 14, Saturday, June 25; 8- 11:30 p.m. ( music will be cut at 11:15 ) . University Center, 525 S. State Street. There's a suggested $5 donation to help support SYNERGY.
E-mail SYNERGY@howardbrown.org or call 773-388-1600 x 3367.
