Thanks to your support, the True Colors Fund experienced significant growth in 2013!
Here’s a look at some of last year’s highlights:
WE DOUBLED OUR STAFF – AGAIN!
Now there are four of us! In March, Jama Shelton, LMSW, PhD joined the True Colors Fund as the organization’s Forty to None Project Director – the first position of its kind on a national level! Nicolas Seip later joined the team as our Program and Development Associate. Learn more about the team.
FORTY TO NONE NETWORK
At the end of the year, we launched the Forty to None Network, a collective of individuals who are working
to address lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth homelessness, or whose work has the potential to impact the issue.
FEDERAL ADVOCACY
We played a key role in drafting and introducing legislation that would add protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth when the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act is reauthorized.
‘STATE OF OUT YOUTH’ FORUM
In the fall, we facilitated State of Out Youth: A Town Hall, a panel discussion with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally youth from across the country about the most pressing issues facing them today. Nearly 400 people attended and hundreds more viewed it online!
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Our PSA, America’s Next Generation, began to air on television earlier this year and the making of the video was featured on Cyndi Lauper’s docu-series, Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual, on WE tv.
CAMP TRUE COLORS
Last summer, the Forty to None
Project partnered with One Heartland to hold the first Camp True Colors for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth in out of home care in New York City. The week-long camp provides young people with an
atmosphere of acceptance and a week of education and fun to help address issues facing their community and their future. In 2013, we launched two more camps; one in Minnesota and one in Texas.
Jama Shelton, LMSW, PhD joined the True Colors Fund in March as the organization’s Forty to None Project Director. The position is the first of its kind on a national level!
We maintain the most comprehensive resource online about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth homelessness. FortytoNone.org provides a broad range of information, ways to get involved, and resources for you to make a personal difference. On the website, you’ll find information on inclusive local service providers, personal stories from young people, online advocacy tools, and more! FortytoNone.org serves as a key resource in our work to bring an end to this epidemic.
RESEARCH & REPORTS
In partnership with The Palette Fund and the Williams Institute at UCLA, the Forty to None Project released Serving Our Youth, a comprehensive report about the level of services available to gay and transgender homeless youth based on findings from a national survey we conducted of youth service providers across the country. We distributed a new survey in late 2013 and will update this report every other year.
YOU UP’ PROGRAM
We partnered with Broadway’s Kinky Boots to create a youth program that empowers homeless and at-risk youth in NYC and around the country to learn about and immerse themselves into the career opportunities that
exist in the theatre industry. The ‘Raise You Up’ Community Youth Program provides young people with a holistic day of shadowing professionals in all areas of the theatre world.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
In 2013, we presented at numerous conferences across the country and provided training on the issue of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trangender youth homelessness. In addition,
our ongoing blogs with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and The Huffington Post provide up to date information about efforts to address the issue and action steps for getting involved.
WE’RE 100,000 STRONG – AND GROWING!
As you know, in order for us to achieve equality for all, it’s crucial that we inform as many people as possible about the issues facing the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. In 2013, the Give a Damn Campaign reached 100,000 members on wegiveadamn.org – and the number continues to climb! Stay tuned. We have more in store for 2014…
Remember, our website isn’t the only place where you can get informed about the issues. Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and watch our damn videos on YouTube!
As True Colors United’s Chief Creative Officer, Joe works at the intersection of communications, technology, and design. He leads the organization's communications and marketing strategies and heads up digital programs.
FORTY TO NONE NETWORK
YOU UP’ PROGRAM
