Youth

Bird Street Community Center is the "hub" for children and youth who seek intellectual, physical, emotional, and personal growth and well being. Courts, social service agencies, schools and families trust Bird Street to help the community's low income/high risk children achieve important life goals and grow into young adults who are community change makers and leaders. Bird Street is the major provider of intentional programming for out-of-school and after school activities. Generations of children and then their children find a safe and caring place for growing and developing character and skills.

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) is a national organization making schools safer for ALL students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

GLSEN strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. We believe that such an atmosphere engenders a positive sense of self, which is the basis of educational achievement and personal growth. Since homophobia and heterosexism undermine a healthy school climate, we work to educate teachers, students, and the public at large about the damaging effects these forces have on youth and adults alike.

We recognize that forces such as racism and sexism have similarly adverse impacts on communities, and we support schools in seeking to redress all such inequities. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community.

We welcome as members any and all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or occupation, who are committed to seeing this philosophy realized in K-12 schools.

GLSEN Massachusetts (formerly GLSEN Boston) has been serving Eastern Massachusetts for over 15 years. In the past three years alone, we have trained 1100 youth, 1200 teachers, and 45 schools whose classrooms include more than 13,000 students. Our work focuses on three overarching goals: programming, advocacy, and community organizing.

The Theater Offensive’s mission is to form and present the diverse realities of queer lives in art so bold it breaks through personal isolation and political orthodoxy to help build an honest, progressive community.

Our work provokes vibrant discussion about the realities of being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Through social gatherings, soirees, workshops, and post-show discussions, the organization transcends traditional theater boundaries and opens new avenues of understanding, awareness and inclusion within queer communities as well as outside of them.