by BTL Staff
HIGHLAND PARK –
The Ruth Ellis Center, one of the nation's three agencies solely dedicated to homeless, runaway and at-risk youth who are lesbian, gay, bi-attractional, transgender or questioning, has been granted $100,000 from the Arcus Foundation. The grant will be used to launch a curriculum that uses experiential and mentor-based learning tools to train LGBTQ youth to advocate for anti-bullying policies.
"Almost all of the young people who come to the Ruth Ellis Center are harassed and bullied, not only in their schools, but even in their homes and as they walk down the streets," said Laura Hughes, REC's executive director.
The new project, Out and Upfront: Youth Leadership & Advocacy, was created to meet the need for local anti-bullying protection and representation to include LGBTQ youth in developing current advocacy policies and leadership. The 12-month project will train youth to develop blueprint recommendations for remediation of offenders and education for policy leaders, including the Detroit and Highland Park School Boards. The youth will be trained through experiential learning, intergenerational mentorship, civic engagement, social action, advocacy training and peer opinion leadership.
"The Ruth Ellis Center recognizes that it is our youth's voices that are the most powerful for shaping future legislation, community engagement and LGBTQ rights in Michigan. This program gives our youth the tools to get their voices heard and we couldn't be more appreciative to the Arcus Foundation for their support," said Hughes.
REC is partnering with national organizations to implement the program including Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, the National Alliance to End Homelessness as well as local partners such as the ACLU of Michigan, Detroit Summer, Equality Michigan and the NAACP.
"The Ruth Ellis Center's focus on at-risk LGBT youth provides a unique opportunity to cultivate strong leaders with diverse experiences," said Johnny Jenkins, Michigan LGBT Rights program officer at the Arcus Foundation. "Advancing equality in Michigan requires investing in tomorrow's leaders."
