Mahoganie and Zak 2021
This year, Youth First’s annual talent show will combine with Resource Center’s back-to-school fundraiser benefiting students beginning their school year. The virtual event happens Thursday, Aug. 19, beginning at 6 p.m.
“LGBTQ youth need a community that tells them they are seen, valued, and matter,” said event co-chair Mahoganie Gaston. “They often don’t feel like they fit in today’s society. Whether it’s at school or at home, they often lose their voice.”
Youth First is one of the only LGBTQ-focused programs in North Texas that addresses the challenges LGBTQ teens, ages 12-18, face at home, school and in the community. The program equips them with the tools and resources they need to live an authentic life through year-round, free programming that decreases high-risk behaviors, reduces social isolation and increases self-esteem.
Co-chair Zachary Fountain-Metz said, “Supporting Youth First is a step in giving youth their power back. Often, LGBTQ teens are hindered by an unbearable anxiety as they come to terms with themselves and naturally seek validation and acceptance from family and peers. Youth First provides the communal love and support that is vital in childhood development. I believe in the mission of empowering our youth so they are able to build a life in which they can thrive.”
The virtual Back-To-School event, presented by Toyota, is free and will be held Thursday, August 19 at 6 p.m. More information can be found at MyResourceCenter.org/BackToSchool.
— From staff reports