Center in a Box
A project to Equip churches and faith communities to connect
with LGBTQ youth and elders in their neighborhood
Center in a Box is a multifaceted program that combines resources, connections, and the power of churches and faith-based organizations with community organizing techniques (in person and internet-based) to form a powerful force for community transformation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and (especially) transgender people.
Background
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness (2017), about 550,000 youth experience an episode (longer than one week) of homelessness during a year. 20-40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQia (National Recommended Best Practices for Serving LGBT Homeless Youth, 2009). While living on the street, LGBTQia homeless youth, particularly trans youth, are at high risk of physical and sexual exploitation. They are also more likely to be involved in commercial sex work, and more likely to die by suicide. Suicide is also epidemic among housed LGBTQia youth, most notably among trans youth, half of which have seriously considered suicide, and one quarter having attempted (Grossman & D’Augelli, 2007).
Because LGBTQia youth experience family rejection, bulling, and discrimination, their stress levels are often high, resulting in physical, mental, and sexual health disparities. These health disparities are serious, and include disproportionate rates of depression, drug abuse and addiction, and HIV/AIDS. Aside from these outcomes, LGBTQia youth experience many of the same health disparities that other disadvantaged groups do, including high rates of tobacco use, higher rates of obesity, and lack of preventative health care access.
Center in a Box Summary
Center in a Box is a multifaceted program that combines resources, connections, and the power of churches and faith-based organizations with community organizing techniques (in person and internet-based) to form a powerful force for community transformation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and (especially) transgender people.
Establishing faith-based centers for LGBTQia youth and their allies is an efficient, practical way to create community-wide change that will benefit all LGBTQia community members. Through systematic community organizing and programs designed to improve outcomes among LGBTQia youth and elders, the Center in a Box project provides faith communities with guidance and support in building a strong LGBTQia and allied community and forging the feelings of connection that save lives.
Across a decade working with LGBTQia and marginalized youth, we have created and implemented several variations of Center in a Box, each designed to fit the needs, resources, culture, and climate of the community. Some centers have grown to see close to 100 youth each week. Others see fewer than 10 youth per week, but serve a crucial function in the lives of these youth and create the same supportive community, benefitting LGBTQia people of all ages. Some of these youth groups have been focused around art, others around the provision of basic needs supplies such as food and clothing. Regardless of program format or setting, these centers provide a perfect opportunity for equipping youth with information and tools to help them navigate their world in a healthy and positive way. Perhaps more importantly, every youth center, regardless of structure, provides youth (and all community members) with a supportive, affirming space in which they feel affirmed, supported, and confident.
The Center in a Box project aims to facilitate the creation of faith-based LGBTQ+ youth centers throughout the US, in both urban and rural areas, and throughout every region of the US. Using online platforms, materials, curricula, detailed how-to, and questions and answers are shared freely with anyone interested in starting a center in their community. Drawing on our experiences starting and overseeing youth centers, we share critical information about the process of starting a center and providing effective services and supports to youth on an ongoing basis.
Center in a Box Goals
Center in a Box encompasses three overarching goals for the communities adopting this model: community organizing, improving outcomes for LGBTQia youth, and improving outcomes for LGBTQia elders. Objectives for each of the goals are listed below. For some communities, the focus will be community organizing and youth only. For those who choose, serving elders and providing intergenerational LGBTQia programming can be a natural extension and valuable program, benefitting people of all ages, with target outcomes for elder’s paralleling target outcomes for youth.
Community Outcome Goals
Community Organizing
1.1.Improve broad community knowledge of issues faced by underserved youth, empower communities to meet the needs of youth
1.2.Increase family acceptance and support of LGBTQia children through educating and supporting parents and families
1.3.Increase in LGBTQia youths’ feelings of safety and support in their schools
Improving Outcomes for LGBTQia Youth
2.1.Ensure that youths’ basic needs are met (housing, food, clothing, etc.)
2.2.Increase youths’ self-efficacy and perception of support
2.3.Reduce incidence of youth suicide
2.4.Increase youths’ understanding of healthy relationships and reduce victimization
2.5.Reduce health disparities among LGBTQia youth
2.6.Improve youths’ education and employment outcomes
Improving Outcomes for LGBTQia Elders
Ensure that elder’s basic needs are met (housing, food, clothing, etc.)
Increase elder’s self-efficacy and perception of support
Reduce incidence of elder suicide
Provide mentoring opportunities to involve elders in contributing to the positive development of LGBTQ+ youth
Reduce health disparities among LGBTQia elders
Improve elder’s economic and employment outcomes
Parity provides free mentoring, webinars and in person training for churches and faith communities - email us for more information and let us know how we can help you!