June is full of reasons to celebrate. By now, summer has arrived in all of its glory, allowing unfettered access to our high county and abundant recreation opportunities. Schools are no longer in session, giving families some much-needed time to reconnect and spend quality time together.

While these things are all amazing, we are particularly excited to celebrate something else this month at YouthZone – PRIDE! Every June, members of the LGBTQ+ community from all around the world come together to celebrate the inherent beauty of diversity and ensure the discrimination and oppression of years past is not forgotten. What originally began as a protest against systematic mistreatment of a minority group has now become an opportunity for people around the world to celebrate the vibrancy of their communities. YouthZone is proud to join the LGBTQ+ community in this celebration each June, but we also want you to know that our advocacy for this group continues year-round.

We serve almost 500 youth clients between the ages of 12 and 18 each year, and an astonishing 19% of these kiddos self-identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community in some way. On top of the standard challenges that adolescents face today, these youth face increased levels of discrimination, additional burdens on their mental health, and struggle to find inclusive communities. That’s why we’ve been offering The Space – our LGBTQ+ peer-support group – since 2022.

Funded wholly by a generous two-year grant from the Colorado Health Foundation, The Space provides a positive environment for LGBTQ+ youth to come together and support one another. These weekly meetings help reduce feelings of isolation and alienation for participants and provide much-needed opportunities for them to involved in advocacy work. They can also help to promote healthier attitudes towards gender and sexuality in the wider community.

We’re proud to offer a safe, comfortable space for LGBTQIA+ youth to come together and share their experiences and feelings with other youth that may be in similar situations. With the support of facilitator (a licensed counselor with specialties in LGBTQ+ youth and trauma) and an evidence-based program, we aim to create a sense of community and understanding among the youth that attend. We believe in a strength-based approach to therapy and in teaching practical life skills and coping mechanisms that can be used every day. At The Space, we want to promote empowerment and acceptance, while working to reduce the stigma associated with the LGBTQIA+ community. Ultimately, our goal is to create a spot where youth can be themselves and feel accepted.

If you or a loved one is interested in joining The Space, we encourage you to stop by. All youth, regardless of how they identify, are welcome. The Space takes place every Tuesday from 4-5pm at the Glenwood Springs CMC Campus, 1402 Blake Ave, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601. No registration is necessary, it’s always free to attend, and food and drink are provided. You can learn more about The Space by calling us at 970-945-9300. If you’d like to support our work by making a financial contribution, please visit http://www.YouthZone.com/Give.

YouthZone Deputy Development Director Ali Naaseh-Shahry is a Colorado native who holds degrees in international public policy from the University of Colorado (BA) and University College London (MSc). He moved to western Colorado in 2015 to teach six-and-under ski school at the Aspen Skiing Company. Ali has taught a wide variety of academic and experiential subjects to people of all ages. Most recently, he worked as a special education teacher with the Roaring Fork School District, where he used data-driven decision making to improve his delivery of specialized instruction. Ali enjoys lift-access powder skiing, raft-access fly fishing, and spending time with his cats.