District 202

In 1991, a group of concerned adults and youth gathered around a kitchen table to discuss a concern. There were no safe and supportive, sober and drug-free placesor safe spacesfor lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. Through a unique youth/adult partnership, District 202 opened its doors less than a year later. Then something remarkable happened in this newly created safe space. LGBT youth created a new community of their own design, without the daily isolation or pressures of those times. And with it, these youth found their voices, built their self-confidence and mentored their peers. They became empowered. Now 18 years later, this pioneering safe space, which gave birth to six LGBT youth-serving organizations and became a model for many more, is evolving. District 202s mission has not changed, but how it delivers on that mission has changed. This change is the culmination of three years research, a community roundtable/assessment, youth surveys, and discuss...