Center for Human Development's Empowerment Program

                                                                                      

Will you make a donation to support our lifesaving programming for LGBTQIA2S+ youth? Your donation to Center for Human Development's Empowerment Program will provide safe, supportive spaces for queer youth in East Contra Costa County. 

We provide non-clinical prevention and early intervention support groups to LGBTQIA2S+ youth, ages 12-20, in the highly diverse and underserved area of East Contra Costa County. We are one of the only programs providing these youth with critically needed allyship, support and connection to culturally responsive resources in our area, at no cost. 

The Empowerment Program staff are devoted to creating safe, nurturing spaces at schools and throughout the community where youth can express themselves authentically, learn about the queer community and history, and develop life skills for positive wellbeing and lifelong resilience. Please support our work today.

With the federal government slashing funding for LGBTQIA+ serving programs, using hateful rhetoric and promoting policies aimed at stripping away rights and protections for the LGBTQIA2S+ community, programs like ours are disappearing, and our youth are seeing and experiencing the impact of this in their schools, their homes, and throughout their community. Most youth we work with do not feel safe to disclose their queer identity to their families or at their school, fearing rejection, bullying, physical violence, or becoming homeless. 

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.  

You can make sure our young people know they have a safe space, supportive community available to them.

Please show your support for our lifesaving programming for LGBTQIA2S+ youth by making a donation today.

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

Youth Testimonials:

"My experience in Empowerment is awesome! it is a great community that feels like a chosen family." ~AB

"I think Empowerment is amazing. It helped me realize that kids get bullied for so many different things, like how one of my friends was getting bullied for being gay even though she didn't do anything wrong. Empowerment taught me not to judge someone until I get to know them, and not to care about what other kids say." ~MB

"Empowerment has helped me in a lot of ways. Before Empowerment I barely knew anything about pronouns, and much more. It has helped me make new friends and learn about them. Before Empowerment I sometimes doubted my identity, but because of Empowerment I have become more confident telling people my chosen name." ~AV

"Empowerment is a great outlet to go to whenever you are having internal issues or just issues in general, it is a very safe space!" ~RK

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

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

"As an Asian and biromantic trans guy, I didn’t have courage until I joined Empowerment. I was too scared to take any step towards affirming my queer identity. After conforming to gender roles and stereotypes for most of my life, this program could not have helped any more in my journey to breaking old habits. I feel more connected to myself and find that I strive for individuality every-day, regardless of what people think. Empowerment’s truly wonderful." ~CS 

"Very relaxing and so encouraging!" ~DE 

"IT HELPS ALOT WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND BEING ABLE TO SPEAK OUT!! It did help take me out of a dark place🩷" ~MA

"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

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

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

"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

"It’s definitely a healthy effect, I first joined with a friend that introduce me into the Empowerment group. It's been great for my mental!" ~MA

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

"Empowerment has made me feel safe, I know if something were to happen in my life I will always have the Empowerment Program to support me." ~KG