The Next Door and The Gorge Pride Alliance Partner to form LGBT+ Youth Leadership Group
The Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance and The Next Door have partnered to start a LGBTQ+ Youth Leadership Cohort and are looking for 10 LGBTQIA+ youth to sit on a LGBTQ+ youth council in Hood River and Wasco Counties. LGBTQ+ youth ages 16-20 are encouraged to apply.
The youth council will work together with the CGPA and The Next Door to promote equity, develop leadership and advocacy skills, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) components and trainings and determine ways to make our counties more queer friendly. Additionally, the cohort will perform a community needs assessment to determine local LGBTQ+ needs in Hood River and Wasco Counties and how to address them in the Columbia Gorge. The project is scheduled to run through June of 2021 with hopes to continue into the future.
A $20,000 grant from the Oregon Alliance to Prevent Suicide will help fund the LGBTQ+ Youth Leadership Cohort.
“Youth are at a higher risk of suicide, and LGBTQ+ youth are historically at a higher risk. These funds and the Youth Leadership Cohort will help curb the risk in our rural community where there aren’t as many supports,” said Nik Portela, Program Manager for The Next Door, Inc.
If you are a LGBTQ+ youth, between the ages of 16-20, and is interested in joining the Youth Leadership Cohort, you can reach out directly to The Gorge Pride Alliance at gorgeprideinfo@gmail.com, call 541-645-3166, or click here to apply now.
