Safe Schools Project

Resources for Queer Youth and Educators in Santa Cruz County

Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast — October 8, 2022

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The Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County, Safe Schools Project, and Our Gente (a program of the Epicenter of Monterey County) are proud to present a supportive space for LGBTQIA+ and allied youth in Monterey, San Benito, & Santa Cruz Counties.

The Umbrella is Open for Everyone

Saturday, October 8, 2022
9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Watsonville High School, Watsonville

Learn more about the student summit at Fall 2022 Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast

In 2022, the Safe Schools Project is proud launch…

Glitter Kids Corner — October 8, 2022

The Safe Schools Project, with the support of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education (SCCOE) and the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County (CFSCC), is proud to launch Glitter Kids Corner — A day of learning, pride, and celebration especially for elementary school students and their families.

This track of the Queer Youth Summit is for 3rd- 5th graders and their families.

Saturday, October 8, 2022
9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Watsonville High School, Watsonville

Learn more at Glitter Kids Corner

Additionally, the Safe Schools Project is proud to present…

Parent/Guardian & Adult Allies Summit “Understanding Gender” — October 8, 2022

The Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County, the Safe Schools Project, TransFamilies of Santa Cruz County and Gender Spectrum is proud to present a free bilingual conference for parents, guardians, adult allies, and educators who want a deeper understanding of gender and youth in Monterey, San Benito, & Santa Cruz Counties.

Saturday, October 8, 2022
9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Watsonville High School, Watsonville

Learn more about the adult allies summit at Fall 2022 Parent/Guardian & Adult Allies Summit “Understanding Gender” / otoño 2022 taller para padres y aliados adultos

SSP Supports Spreckels School District LGBTQ+ Students

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June 23, 2022 For Immediate Release:

The Safe Schools Project joined other local and state organizations in responding to a recent lawsuit filed against the Spreckels Unified School District and in support of LGBTQ+ students. Below is the joint statement.

Joint Statement in Support of LGBTQ+ Students in Response to Lawsuit Filed Against Spreckels Union School District

We are a group of local and state organizations working to support and advance the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Last week, a lawsuit was filed against Spreckels Union School District challenging District policies that protect LGBTQ+ students. We condemn the divisive efforts behind this lawsuit and express our strong support for LGBTQ+ youth in Spreckels and surrounding communities.

Students need policies that protect their well-being and safety and that ensure that they can be their authentic selves at school without fear of discrimination or harassment. They need policies that safeguard their right to privacy and create an environment where they feel safe to be themselves so that they can express who they are on their own terms and at their own pace. Not only are these policies guaranteed by California law–they save lives.

This is a critical moment to take a stand against the hate we are seeing across the country against trans and gender diverse people. We need to be clear that is not who we are.

To the young LGBTQ+ people in our communities–you are not alone. Your voices matter and your needs matter.

  • Epicenter
  • Equality California
  • Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network
  • Monterey Peninsula Pride
  • ONE Archives Foundation
  • Our Family Coalition
  • Pajaro Valley Pride
  • Planned Parenthood Mar Monte
  • Rainbow Speakers and Friends
  • Safe Schools Project Santa Cruz County
  • Salinas Valley Pride Celebrations
  • Santa Cruz Pride

3rd Annual Celebration of LGBTQIA+ High School and Middle School Graduates May 14, 2022

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The Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County is proud to announce the 3rd Annual Celebration of LGBTQIA+ High School, Junior High, and Middle School Graduates, this year in-person at Watsonville High School.

Saturday, May 14, 2022

4:30-5:45 PM

Watsonville High School, Watsonville

Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Graduates right before the 25th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards at Watsonville High School

Find us on Facebook

The Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County is proud to announce the 3rd Annual Graduation Ceremony to honor LGBTQIA+ High School, Junior High & Middle School Students. Through this LGBTQIA+ graduation, we wish to acknowledge the amazing achievements and contributions many students have made towards their campuses across Santa Cruz County. We are honored to continue this celebration and commencement of LGBTQIA+ and allied students who are graduating and acknowledge the unique struggles many have faced on their path to graduation. We encourage all graduating students to register and participate in this meaningful event.

There Is Strength In Unity

We all know the importance of joining hands and coming together as a community to lift each other up. Unity teaches us that community support and togetherness are vital to the lives, wellbeing, and health of LGBTQIA+ students and people. Throughout the pandemic, when many social issues have been exacerbated, we have discovered that together, we are stronger. Thus, we believe there is strength in unity.

Registration

Sign Up Now!

Registration Extended! Students graduating can sign up today to be part of the 3rd Annual Celebration of LGBTQIA+ High School and Middle School Students and secure their Rainbow, Bi, or Trans Tassels, a Santa Cruz County tradition.

Visit 2022 Celebration of LGBTQIA+ Graduates

2021 Celebration of LGBTQIA+ Graduates

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Santa Cruz County LGBTQIA+ High School, Junior High, and Middle School Students

The Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Celebration of LGBTQIA+ High School, Junior High, and Middle School Graduates via streaming.

July 11, 2021

2:00 PM

Find us on Facebook

Watch the LGBTQIA+ Celebration >>

The event is planned as a celebration to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) and ally students, and to acknowledge their achievements and contributions to their campuses across Santa Cruz County. We honor our LGBTQIA+ and ally students who are graduating, and acknowledge the unique struggles many have faced on their path to graduation.

Creating Safer Spaces in Our Local Universe

Our local communities have been strongly affected by the global pandemic we have been living through the past year. Many youth have been struggling due to unsafe or unaccepting homes. This year we chose the theme “Safer Spaces” to highlight how we as a community have persevered through these trying times. It has been important for everyone to find spaces that give them peace and allow them to express themselves freely and openly while stuck at home with their families. — 2021 Student Planning Committee

Host

  • Lucia Umeki-Martinez, they/them, she/her, he/him, Student, Watsonville High School

LGBTQIA+ Keynote Speaker

  • Jorge Pacheco Jr.
    • he/him/his
    • Indigenous Native Studies Teacher, President at California Latino School Boards Association, President at Oak Grove School District Board of Education, and Co-founder of the Digital Equity Coalition 
    • Read Jorge Pacheco Jr’s op-Ed in the May 2021 National Geographic Creating space to explore identity with students

LGBTQIA+ Guest Speakers

  • Adrian Elizalde, he/him/his, Watsonville High School Class of 2021, Yale Class of 2025, Poet
  • Dr. Brian Arao, he/him/his, Associate Dean of Students at UC Santa Cruz
  • Gaby Preciado M.S., she/her/hers, Program Coordinator, Lionel Cantú Queer Resource Center at UC Santa Cruz
  • Jen Salinas-Holz, she/her/ella, Site Technology Support Technician, Pájaro Valley Unified School District | GSA/QSA Advisor | PVUSD LGBTQ Task Force
  • Marie Harrison, she/her, they/them, Soquel High School Class of 2021, SHS QSA Vice President, member, Queer and Trans Youth Council
  • Melissa S. Bernstein, she/her/ella, Member of the Santa Cruz Dyke Trans March Collective
  • Michael Vargas, he/him/his, Senior Associate Attorney, Rimon, P.C. and Lecturer, Santa Clara University School of Law
  • Vnes, they/them/she/her, Concierge, Santa Cruz Downtown Association

Performers

  • Blue Distefano, they, them, he/him, 10th grade Student, Kirby School
  • Gaby Preciado M.S., she/her/hers, Program Coordinator, Lionel Cantú Queer Resource Center at UC Santa Cruz

Meet the 2021 Student Planning Committee

  • Camila Snyder-Alaniz
    • Pronouns: she/her, they/them
    • Student, Santa Cruz High School, class of 2022
    • About Camila: Hi my name is Camila, I’m the current president of my schools GSA, and I’m a rising senior. I love making art and playing music!
    • Favorite dinosaur: Brontosaurus
  • Lucia Umeki-Martinez
    • Pronouns: they/them, she/her, he/him
    • Student, Watsonville High School, Class of 2022
    • About Lucia: As an intern of the Safe Schools Project and ASB Co-President of Watsonville High School, Lucia is passionate about serving their community, they also enjoy playing on their school’s volleyball team as well as a defense attorney on their Mock Trial Team. In their free time they like to make art.
    • Favorite dinosaur: Brachiosaurus
  • Marie Harrison
    • Pronouns: she/her, they/them
    • Student, Soquel High School Class of 2021
    • About Marie: Marie Harrison is a Soquel High School graduate who participated as the school’s QSA Vice President and a member of the Queer and Trans Youth Council.
    • Favorite dinosaur: Brontosaurus
  • Reyes Morales Warne
    • Pronouns: he/him, they/them
    • Student, San Lorenzo Valley High School, Class of 2022
    • About Reyes: Two spirit student at San Lorenzo Valley High School, SLVHS Activist, The GSA Network, and Queer and Trans Youth Council of Santa Cruz County (QTYC).
    • Favorite dinosaur: Chicken

Video Designer/Editor

  • Cho Rae Adolfo
    • they/them/theirs
    • Student, University of California, Berkeley, 2020 Soquel High School Graduate

The class of 2021 has started and ended their senior year in one of the most difficult circumstances they may ever face. Wildfires, political unrest, and a pandemic that took away proms, senior trips, and so much more.

Thankfully, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our 2021 graduates have persevered under extraordinary circumstances these past fourteen months.

We want to commend all the hard work of our LGBTQIA+ students who have been out, proud, and working for safer campuses in our community, and take time to honor them as graduates. While we are seeing the lifting of many restrictions and the reunion of our community, we must also protect our youth who may not have had the opportunity to be vaccinated yet.

With that in mind, we have planned a virtual celebration to honor our 2021 graduates together and allow for all of their family and friends to join us in watching the celebration.

LGBTQIA+ Graduation Ceremony History

Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County

Find us on Facebook

Questions? Contact us at +1 (831) 427-4004 or email us.

Sponsored, in part, by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education (SCCOE) — thank you!

Call for Workshops & T-shirt Design — Queer, Trans & Allied Student Virtual Summit of the Central Coast — Fall 2020

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The Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County, the Safe Schools Project, & the LGBT Collaborative of Monterey County are proud to present a supportive space for LGBTQIA+ and allied youth in Monterey, San Benito, & Santa Cruz Counties.

Self-care and Sustainable Activism

Saturday, October 10, 2020
12:00 – 3:15 pm
A Live Stream Event

Call for Workshops!

Call for T-shirt Design Submissions!

Register Now!

For questions, contact:

  • Monterey County: Jacob Agamao / he/she/they / LGBTQ+ Services Coordinator, Our Gente, The Epicenter, Salinas / email or (831) 272-4295
  • Santa Cruz County: Trisha Herrera / she/her/hers / Co-coordinator, Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast / email or (831) 427-4004

Queer, Trans & Allied Student Virtual Summit of the Central Coast — Fall 2020

LGBTQIA+ Graduation Ceremony 2020

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The Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County is proud to announce the 1st Annual Celebration of LGBTQIA+ High School, Junior High, and Middle School Graduates via live streaming.

June 7, 2020
2:00 pm

The graduation celebration is planned as a celebration to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) and ally students, and to acknowledge their achievements and contributions to their campuses across Santa Cruz County. We honor our LGBTQIA+ and ally graduates who are graduating, and acknowledge the unique struggles many have faced on their path to graduation.

Live Streaming at: LGBTQIA+ Graduation Celebration

Find us on Facebook

Register Today: Queer, Trans and Allied Summit – October 5, 2019

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Join other Santa Cruz County youth and parents to attend the Spring 2019 Queer, Trans and Allied Summit
– Saturday, October 5, 2019, 9:30am – 2:00pm
– Watsonville High School (250 E Beach St, Watsonville, CA 95076)
– All middle and high school youth welcome
– Youth to youth workshops
– Meet other students across Santa Cruz County and beyond

– Sign up to do a workshop

– Parent/Guardian Registration (no cost) for the event – Espanol

– Student Registration (no cost) for the event