Youth Programming! Now, All Over the County!
Future Youth Groups in cities around the county!
No Vacaville Youth Group, which would normally be Feb. 17th this month.
Rio Vista Teen Pride meets the 4th Fridays of each month from 3:30-5:30 pm at Rio Vista CARE in Rio Vista! There’s always Pizza! They sometimes combine the November and December Rio Vista Teen Pride meetings since they conflict with Thanksgiving and Christmas. Look for more info soon.
Led by Judy Serafini and Zaida Mungaray.
SAVE THE DATE! 1st Solano Pride Center Youth Lock-in.
Saturday, March 14, 2026 from 10:00 pm – Sunday, March 15th at 6:00 am. We are still looking for sponsors for the event, but we need 3-5 teens to be on the planning team for the day! Let Trystan know if you are interested in helping in that way.
| Hey Will, We’re excited to announce an incredible opportunity for student leaders across the country – applications are now open for the 2025-2026 GLSEN National Student Council (NSC)! The NSC is a place for LGBTQ+ high school students to cultivate their leadership potential, amplify their voices, and actively contribute to creating more inclusive and equitable environments for all students. |
| Who can apply: Open to LGBTQ+ and ally high school students in grades 9–12 Application deadline: November 09, 2025 Learn more: glsen.org/nsc We strongly encourage all interested students to consider applying — whether you’ve held leadership roles before or are just starting your journey. This is a fantastic chance to grow, lead, and make your voice heard. If you have any questions or need help with your application, feel free to reach out to students@glsen.org. APPLY HERE |
More from our Partners at the Dixon Library!
Dixon Library always has fun youth after school events at the Library!
You can always reach out to Ricky Gjertsen at rdgjertsen@solanocounty.gov for more info.
Hey Will & Solano Pride Center,
Hope you are having a jovial January thus far! 🤩
For the month of February, we are having several sensational teen & tween events take place.
On Wednesday, February 4th we are doing a Teen Valentine’s Day Cookie Decorating event from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
On Wednesday, February 11th we are doing a Teen Dating Violence Awareness with Solano Family Justice Center event from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
We will be having Nintendo Switch Gamedays on Tuesdays from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm from Tuesday, January 20th to Tuesday, May 26th. All 3 of these events are geared towards tweens & teens ages 10 to 18.
We will also be having Kids Homework Help on Mondays from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm from Monday, February 2nd to Monday, May 4th for students in grades kindergarten through 6th grade.
Attached are the flyers for each event in both Spanish & English. Take care & have a fierce Friday! 🕺💃
Sincerely,
Ricky Gjertsen (He/Him)
Library Associate – Teen Services
Dixon Library
230 N 1st Street
Dixon, CA 95620-3028
Direct: 707-784-1836
Email: rdgjertsen@solanocounty.gov
Here’s a write up by Izzy Krumenacker (on the left) about our trip to the Castro and Tenderloin to learn about LGBTQIA2S+ history in the city.
A report back from Izzy (left of picture) after our trip to the Castro & Tenderloin
Going into San Francisco with Solano Pride Center was a truly wonderful and informative experience. Executive Director Will’s knowledge of and experience with the city made it easy to learn about the city’s history and current relevance in the world (with emphasis on, but not limited to, the LGBTQ+ aspects). While I personally have always felt at home in SF, I can recognize that safety is always a concern, and I can confidently say that awareness exists in the Solano Pride staff and that there was not one moment where I felt unsafe on that trip. From the GLBT Historical Society Museum in the Castro giving direct and interesting information, to walking along Market getting a verbal history of queer life beyond what we see as the gay neighborhoods of SF, I gained a new kind of knowledge from this experience that all my time spent studying researching have not given me previously. My personal favorite part was going to the Tenderloin Museum. The museum gave an interactive history of a neighborhood that is so significant to the history of San Francisco, queer forks across the US, and various forms of media. It gives perspectives and info that school systems almost always fail to provide. Ultimately, it was a great experience that I look forward to helping give to anyone who attends in November.
Izzy Krumenacker
Castro District tour for 9-12th graders is an opportunity to go to the city on the Ferry, learn to use Bart/Muni/Ferry, learn about Queer History, and have a fun time together.
We did another tour of the Castro and Tenderoin’s Queer history in January. If you’d like to do another one after Pride month, let Trystan McReynolds, our Youth Coordinator, know.
9-12th Grade Queer History Field Trip to the City, learning how to use public transit, from Ferry, BART & Muni!
PFLAG Youth Camps Link: https://pflag.org/resource/camps-for-youth/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=b2e0b9bc-c3a3-4f74-81fe-340a603112fe
Trans Camp: Because every body deserves to spend time in nature.
We’re thrilled to announce that registration is now open for ASPYRE 2025, our annual LGBTQ+ Youth Leadership Camp! We’d love your help spreading the word to young people in your community who might benefit from this empowering and transformative experience.
This year, ASPYRE will take place at the beautiful Camp Rockfish and Retreat Center in Hoke County, NC. Over the course of four days and three nights, youth will participate in a dynamic mix of workshops, team-building activities, and outdoor fun. Rooted in social justice and community care, ASPYRE empowers participants to explore themes of leadership, education, activism, and mindfulness—while forming strong bonds with their peers.
This year’s workshops will include; sex-ed, drag history, QPR training for teens, disability justice and more!
Camp Details:
Dates: October 9–12, 2025
Arrival: Thursday, October 9th, 5–8 PM
Departure: Sunday, October 12th, by 3 PM
Location: Camp Rockfish, 226 Camp Rockfish Road, Parkton, NC 28371
Registration Costs:
• Individual: $150
• Sibling Pair: $250
• Limited partial scholarships available
We welcome LGBTQ+ youth from across the region to apply. Please share this opportunity widely with your networks, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions. I’ve linked printable materials to help promote the camp.
Registration link: https://aspyre-2025.cheddarup.com
Thank you for continuing to uplift queer and trans youth—we can’t wait to gather in community this fall!
With gratitude,
Gwendolyn
Gwendolyn D. Love (She/They)
Program Manager
| We’re excited to share a series of national opportunities launching this November 2025 through Maven Youth, designed to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ youth and young adults across the country. These free, virtual programs center youth leadership and offer creative, activist, and community-building experiences — making them an excellent resource for the youth you serve. We would love your support in sharing these opportunities with your youth, youth leaders, and volunteers so they can take part in shaping the future of queer youth leadership on a national scale.Below is an overview of the upcoming programs and National Leadership Opportunities: |
| National Program Enrollment |
| Video Game Competition: Are you passionate about video games—whether as a player, writer, or artist? This 5-month program invites LGBTQ+ youth to learn game design, collaborate in teams, and develop an original video game that will be showcased nationally. Participants will receive mentorship, gain real creative and technical skills, and compete for a chance to win $10,000. No experience needed — all levels welcome! 2 hours per week (flexible schedule) Open to high school & college-aged youth Held entirely on Zoom A safe and affirming space to learn and create with other LGBT+ Youth and allies Apply here: https://www.mavenyouth.org/games-for-change |
| Build a Queer Youth Mobile App: Enough is Enough. We’re taking queer youth activism into the digital age! Maven Youth is developing a national mobile app designed to give LGBTQ+ youth digital tools to organize for change, both locally and nationally.We’re forming a Youth Leadership Committee to shape this innovative platform, and we’re looking for coders, designers, artists, and activists to join us.Build a digital tool to support GSAs, queer networking, and collective actionNo experience required — just creativity and passionBe part of something groundbreaking, built by queer youth, for queer youth (ALL Ages – Adults are welcome to support youth) Learn more and apply: Enough is Enough National Committee |
| Leadership Opportunities |
| Maven Youth is seeking national committee members to help bring several youth-driven programs to life. All ages are welcome to participate in supporting the development of these national initiatives, with the understanding that youth voice and leadership come first. Adult volunteers are invited to serve in a supportive and mentorship role, helping youth committee members shape and launch these impactful national programs. |
| Hall Pass – Social Media Influencers & LGBT+ Youth ActivistStep into the national spotlight and help launch a groundbreaking YouTube and TikTok channel created by and for queer youth. This program will support GSAs and LGBTQ+ student groups nationwide by providing tips, tools, and legal insights to strengthen activism in schools. You’ll work with other passionate youth to develop content, build your leadership skills, and amplify youth voices on a national platform.Knights of Stonewall – National LGBT+ Youth D&D Love storytelling, roleplaying, or building imaginative worlds? Join our national Dungeons & Dragons cohort designed to support LGBTQ+ youth in creating safe and affirming spaces through collaborative storytelling. You’ll be part of a team that builds inclusive adventures, fosters belonging, and creates a national queer D&D community where everyone can be their authentic selves.Online GAYming Spaces Help us build safe queer spaces across online gaming platforms like Fortnite, Rec Room, Minecraft, and more. As part of this initiative, you’ll collaborate with other youth to host weekly online gaming events, strengthen community ties, and make online spaces more inclusive for LGBTQ+ players. Whether you’re a gamer, organizer, or community-builder, your role will help shape how queer youth connect in digital worlds.National LGBT+ Youth Esports TournamentAre you passionate about competitive gaming and LGBTQ+ representation in esports? Join a team of youth leaders planning the 2026 National LGBTQ+ Esports Tournament — an event created by and for queer youth. This is your chance to help design a national gaming competition that celebrates identity, community, and competitive spirit, bringing queer gamers together from across the country. Apply Here for any of the above national committees. |
| How You Can SupportWe invite you to:Share this information with your youth, youth leaders, and alumni — via email, flyers, or announcements at your meetings. Encourage LGBTQ+ youth in your programs to apply and get involved. Direct them to www.mavenyouth.org for more information and applications.Programs launch in November 2025, so now is the perfect time to get the word out.If you have any questions or would like promotional materials (flyers, blurbs, or images) to make sharing easier, please don’t hesitate to reach out.Thank you for your continued work supporting LGBTQ+ youth — and for helping us connect them with these exciting national opportunities.With Pride,Maven Youth Team |
| Maven Youth wwww.mavenyouth.org |
Want to learn more about SOGIE? Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression?
Here’s the handbook!
https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/sexual_violence/docs/sogie_handbook.pdf
GRGRF just completed its 4th year of the We Rise Scholarship Program! You can find information on the scholarship program and its impact thus far HERE. We are preparing for our 2026 We Rise Scholarship program and would like to gather your insights on how to expand our reach for prospective students and career changers. To make it easier to gather your thoughts, we’ve put together a brief survey HERE. We would welcome any feedback you have. If you’d like to connect via phone, there is an opportunity to leave contact information for someone to reach out.
BR
Peter Kuebler
GRGRF Board Member and Sponsorship Committee Chair
peter@grassrootsgayrights.org • 415-425-3413
The Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation has raised and granted more than $4.2 million to promote a happy, healthy, and connected Bay Area LGBTQ community since 1989.
To see all of the other programs, go under the home button in the menu or go to this link: https://www.solanopride.org/social-and-support-groups
Senior Programs: https://www.solanopride.org/senior-programs/
Youth Programs: https://www.solanopride.org/youth-programs/