Center for Human Development's Empowerment Program

Will you make a donation to support our lifesaving programming for LGBTQIA+ youth in East Contra Costa County today? Your donation to Center for Human Development's Empowerment Program will help us provide safe, supportive spaces and services to more of our youth in need. 

Center for Human Development's (CHD's) Empowerment Program provides non-clinical group support to LGBTQIA2S+ youth, ages 12-20, in the highly diverse and underserved area of East Contra Costa County. We are one of the few programs providing LGBTQIA2S+ youth with critically needed support and connection to culturally responsive resources in our area, at no cost. 

Empowerment's staff are devoted to developing safe, confidential spaces at schools and in the community where youth can express themselves authentically, learn about the queer community and history, and develop important skills for positive wellbeing and lifelong resilience. Will you support our work today?

As we see a rise in hateful rhetoric and policies to strip the rights and protections away from the LGBTQIA2S+ community around the country, the youth in our community are seeing, hearing, and experiencing the impact in their homes, their schools, and throughout their community. Most of the youth we work with do not feel safe to disclose their queer identity to their families or at school, fearing rejection, bullying, and physical violence. 

A 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, by The Trevor Project found that 90% of LGBTQ+ young people said their well-being has been negatively impacted by recent politics. Nearly 40% of LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-17 seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. More than 1 in 10 attempted suicide.  

Given the discriminatory rhetoric targeting our transgender youth, we know it is going to get worse. Making our work to provide support and offer safe spaces even more critical.

Show your support for our lifesaving programming for LGBTQIA+ youth in East Contra Costa County by making a donation today.

Thank you, on behalf of Center for Human Development and the youth we serve.

Youth Testimonials:

"Empowerment will help you be the best you you can be!" ~AM

"It helps getting people to connect with others who have the same situations as you. "~RK

"A very safe place, welcome to all." ~ZC

"You can be comfortable and express yourself freely!" ~RK

"I love to come to this group because I know there are people here who understand what I am going through." ~AB 

"You learn a lot of new things about the LGBTQ+ community in a safe space." ~CB

"My experience in Empowerment was wonderful. I love it." ~FA

"Don't be embarrassed about sharing, it honestly helps a lot." ~EA

"Empowerment is such a safe space to get things off your chest and to connect with other people!" ~RK

"You get to meet new people that are like you." ~MA

"In Empowerment you don't have to be afraid to be yourself." ~MD

"Empowerment empowers the soul!" ~MA

"If I didn't have Empowerment I'm not sure who or where I would be today. This program had helped me more than I can say." ~JP

"I got to hear more 'about' other's problems and it helped me realize I'm not alone!" ~DJ

"It's a fun, safe place." ~SL

"It helped me be aware of some specifics of my own identity and made me feel less alone in my identity at school." ~JP

"I got to know new people and talk about my problem. I talk about what is happening in my life easier." ~AG

"I felt more relieved and supported than ever before. I loved it." ~AN

"I want others to know that Empowerment helped me like me for me and that it's okay to be gay." ~MA

"Empowerment has helped me to know more about my community and discover more about myself." ~AA