There is a series of events for LGBTQ youth and supportive straight friends during Pride (June 25 to 27) that allows you to celebrate your identity and to meet new, fabulous folk!
Friday, June 25
Howard Brown Health Center will be celebrating SYNERGY's one-year anniversary! SYNERGY, Chicago's premiere drug-and-drama-free dance for LGBTQA youth, will be held at Ann Sather's Restaurant (929 W. Belmont—right off the Belmont L Stop) from 8-11:30 p.m. There's a $5 suggested donation, but the first 100 people will be let in free! They will also be hosting their first SYNERGY's Next Top Model Competition. The winners of Next Top Model will be crowned and will ride on the SYNERGY Float during the Chicago Pride Parade.
Saturday,
June 26
The first Pride Picnic at Stevenson Park (49 Lake Street, Oak Park) is noon-4 p.m. Youth from all over the city and burbs will be there for an afternoon of food and fun. Stevenson Park is only a few blocks from the Austin stop on the Green Line.
Chicago's Dyke March and Rally will also being going on Saturday afternoon, starting at 2 pm.. on the corner of Foster and Ashland in Chicago's Andersonville. This is a great chance to connect with and support the women's community. For more info, check out dykemarchicago.com .
Out in the Loop is a NEW variety show where young LGBTQ people can share their talent on stage during Pride. Performers will be showing off their words, rhymes, rhythms and beats or whatever mad talent they have. Out in the Loop will be held from 10-Midnight at the Loop Theatre (8 East Randolph) in Downtown Chicago. Seats are limited, so make sure you get there early! There is no cover for this event, but donations will be accepted and used to stipend the performers.
Sunday, June 27
March in Chicago's 35th Annual Pride Parade with Howard Brown's SYNERGY Pride Float.
There's no better feeling then cruising down Halsted with thousands of people cheering for you, so make sure you join Howard Brown or other youth-positive contingents. If you and your friends want to march, meet at the corner of Belmont and Clark at 10 a.m. The first 50 riders to show up will get a Youth Pride Weekend t-shirt.
If you don't want to march in the Parade, but still plan on going, join HBHC at the Pride Zone. The Pride Zone is a fun, safe, and informed spot for you to watch the Chicago Pride Parade with people your age. 'We'll have water, candy, sun screen, condoms (in case you meet a hottie), and other goodies that will make watching the Parade an awesome time,' organizers said. The Pride Zone will be held in front of the Brown Elephant Resale Store at 3651 N. Halsted from 11-3 p.m.
GLBT Scholarship for Latino/Latina High School Students
By Becky Raisman
High school seniors listen up! Are you GLBT, Latino/Latina? Do you want to go to college but don't know any GLBT Scholarships? Well, do I have news for you.
My two good friends Tony Alvarado-Rivera and Emmanuel Garcia are founders for The Alvarado/Garcia Scholarship for GLBT Latino/Latina high school seniors. Tony Alvarado works for About Face Youth Theatre and Emmanuel Garcia is an Arts/Media Management student at Columbia College Chicago.
I had the privilege of interviewing Alvarado and Garcia about the scholarship they founded. 'Emmanuel and I came up with the idea of the Alvarado/Garcia Scholarship some time before our 21st birthday,' Alvarado said with a smile.
'We both have the same birth date and based on our history of throwing fabulous events, we knew we wanted to have a huge event that would not only celebrate our day, but also give back to the community. Hence, we joined forces with the Association of Latino Men for Action (ALMA) to create the Alvarado/Garcia Scholarship.'
So the two held a fundraiser to kick off their dream.
'It was great because so many different types of people came together to fund the scholarship. We are not funded by the government or corporations. We are funded by the community that really believes in seeing LGBT Latino/Latina attend college. The scholarship is specifically for LGBT Latino/Latinas. When looking at the opportunities (scholarship wise) that exist for LGBT students, there is not much out there,' said Garcia. 'The same is true for Latino/Latina students. We wanted our scholarship to create more opportunities for young LGBT Latino/Latinas.'
A mentorship program is also part of the scholarship. 'The mentorship component to the Alvarado/Garcia Scholarship is really the most important. Emmanuel and I felt it important to not only assist a recipient with funds, but also with mentorship. Emmanuel and I have had some great mentors and role-models growing up,' said Alvarado.
The recipient will receive mentorship from ALMA as well as peer support from Garcia and Alvarado. They recognize that for many college students, their first year is the hardest. They need to adjust to a different set of people, course work, and academic independence. Part of the requirements upon receiving the scholarship will be that the individual must create a project based around social change in the Latino/Queer/or both communities. Through the scholarship the two hope to build successful leaders, activists, and role models for the future.
Alvarado and Garcia are planning a huge fundraiser for the scholarship, which will be presented at the end of August. Their goal is to have a national scholarship program in the future and they are well on their way.
To download the Alvarado/Garcia Scholarship or to find out more about ALMA visit www.almachicago.org . Also see www.emmanuelgarcia.com
