Safe Schools Project

Resources for Queer Youth and Educators in Santa Cruz County

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

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

Click the link to take you to this section of the page:

All High School & Middle School LGBTQIA+, Questioning, & Allied Students Welcome!

The Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast is excited to be back in person for our Fall 2022 event on Saturday, October 8th from 9:30am to 2:00pm at Watsonville High School! This year our theme is “The Umbrella is Open for Everyone.” Join youth from Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties as we come together to celebrate all identities and work towards a safer and more inclusive future for everyone under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella!

A free summit that is led by youth leaders from the tri-county area. This upcoming summit will provide students the opportunity to:

  • Experience workshops created by fellow youth and community organizers.
  • Meet students from throughout Santa Cruz County, Monterey County, and San Benito County — from Watsonville, Salinas, Soledad, Monterey, San Juan Bautista to Scotts Valley — who are working to help create safer schools in their communities!
  • Have access to a resource fair which provides useful support for LGBTQIA+ youth, allies, and families.
  • Empower and liberate lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual, questioning, and allied youth.
  • Each student who registers will receive a personalized goodie bag and free t-shirt with a custom design!

Breakfast, Snacks, and Lunch Provided!

Rainbow masks provided at registration!

Fall 2022 Student Summit PSA — Special thank you to the Watsonville High School Video Academy, WHS student Derick Hernandez, and WHS Video Production Teacher, Val Mendoza. 

Find us on Facebook

For questions, contact:

  • Monterey County: Jacob Agamao / he/she/they / LGBTQ+ Services Coordinator, Our Gente, The Epicenter, Salinas / jacob@epicentermonterey.org or (831) 272-4295
  • Santa Cruz County: LGBTQIA+ Student Planning Committee, Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast / CoordinateSummit@gmail.com or (831) 427-4004

The Fall 2022 Summit theme is “The Umbrella is Open for Everyone”

About the Theme: Students from the Fall 2022 Student Summit Planning Committee have chosen the theme as “The Umbrella is Open for Everyone”

The umbrella of the Queer, Trans, & Allied Youth Summit is open for everyone: LGBTQIA+, questioning, and allied–out, in the closet, and anywhere in between. There are so many challenges that LGBTQIA+ youth face, from interpersonal interactions to global politics. Our goal is that the workshops and resources of the Summit will provide some shelter from those struggles and bring us together as a community in acceptance, celebration, and joy. Join us as we create a welcoming place for all identities and work towards a safer and more inclusive future for everyone under the umbrella.

  • Save your spot at the Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast – Fall 2022!
  • Registration helps us prepare food (breakfast, snacks, and lunch), goodie-bags, and more!
  • The first 150 students to register receive a free Summit t-shirt!
  • Registration from Oct 4-5 will be accepted.
  • Registration Oct 6-8 will be accepted as “Same-day Registration”

Registration Open — Sign up Today!

Schedule for Student Summit

  • 9:30-10:00 am: Check-in, Breakfast & Resource Fair with DJ Ayumi Please
  • 10:00-10:30 am: Welcome & Keynote speakers
  • 10:30-10:40 am: Break
  • 10:40-11:10 am: Caucuses
  • 11:10-11:20 am: Snack Break
  • 11:20 am – 12:10 pm: Workshop Session #1
  • 12:10-12:20 pm: Snack Break
  • 12:20-1:10 pm: Workshop Session #2
  • 1:10-1:30 pm: Closing Ceremony
  • 1:30-2:00 pm: Catered Lunch & Resource Fair with DJ Ayumi Please
  • 2:00 pm: End

Summit DJ Ayumi Please

Summit Emcee Announced

Luka Chavez Photo Credit: Rebecca Stark Photography

Luka Chavez, they/them/him, Watsonville Charter School of the Arts

Summit Keynote Speaker

Jeff Sheng, author of “FEARLESS: Portraits of LGBT Student Athletes”

Jeff Sheng

From the beginning, Jeff Sheng insisted on incorporating all 200 portraits in the book, including the stories of women, people of color, transgender people, and people of different body types.

The book begins with Jeff’s own story about growing up in an Asian American household in California, his first relationship, and his journey to become an artist. It weaves portraits and stories from the athletes, both poignant and heroic.

Click here to learn more about Mr. Sheng and his work connecting creativity, art, and social change.

The Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast is proud to announce the workshops & caucuses for the Fall 2022 summit taking place on October 8th:

Caucuses

10:40-11:10 am: To be announced soon!

Workshops

Session 1: 11:20 am – 12:10 pm

Session 2: 12:20-1:10 pm

Students and community members under 18 were encouraged to submit a design for the upcoming Queer, Trans, and Allied Student Virtual Summit of the Central Coast — Fall 2022.

The design contest was open to all currently enrolled high school and middle school students located in Santa Cruz, San Benito, or Monterey county. All entries needed to incorporate the summit theme “The Umbrella is Open for Everyone.”

Congratulations!

We are pleased to announce the winner of the Fall 2022 t-shirt design contest and offer a warm congratulations to Sophia Kemmerly and Cosmo Stephens! Scroll down to meet the artist behind the wonderful winning t-shirt design for our upcoming Queer, Trans, and Allied Student Virtual Summit of the Central Coast!

The winning designers will receive a hoodie with the design and a $25 gift card.

About the Artists

Sophia Kemmerly, she/her,

Sophia Kemmerly, she/her, is a 15-year-old student at Carmel High as well as the vice president of her school’s Be Yourself Club. She enjoys creating art that spreads a message and participating in as many art classes as she can cram into her busy schedule! Sophia designed the front of the Summit T-shirt.

Cosmo Stephens, he/they

Cosmo Stephens, he/they, is a queer, trans artist from Rancho San Juan’s Be Yourself Club. He’s a senior in high school and his biggest inspiration is his dog. Cosmo designed the back of the Summit T-shirt.

Community Service Hours for Students

Accessibility Information

If you require anything accessibility-related (e.g.: sign language interpretation, captioning, or any other accommodations) please contact us at CoordinateSummit@gmail.com

Specific accommodation requests should be made by September 28, 2022.

The Safe Schools Project, a program of the Queer Youth Task Force, is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. Please contact us to request accessibility accommodations. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.

Learn About the Summit Organizers

Fall 2022 Student Summit Planning Committee — Students from Monterey County and Santa Cruz County, including students from Watsonville High School, Aptos High School, Scotts Valley High School, Soquel High School, and Carmel High School, are part of the planning committee. We thank them for their commitment, leadership, and work in planning the Summit during their weekly meetings!

  • Aaron Gonzales, any pronouns, Watsonville High School, Santa Cruz County — Aaron is a student at Watsonville High School who uses any pronouns and is Non-binary. He enjoys baking and cooking, and they also like helping others learn more about the LGBTQIA+ youth community.
  • Cassie Frahm, she/her/hers they/them/theirs, Carmel High School, Monterey County — Cassie is a senior with long-time enthusiasm for the LGBTQ+ community. She is deeply interested in social justice and ethics and ultimately hopes to pursue a career in communications, and possibly own a small army of cats.
  • Hector Torres-Perez, he/him/his, Watsonville High School, Santa Cruz County — Hector is a slightly above average student who does his best to make his world safer. He has been working as hard as he can to make sure everyone has a spot where they can feel welcome.
  • Orla Cook, any pronouns, Carmel High School, Monterey County — Orla Cook is a bisexual sophomore from Carmel High school, she moved here from the UK, and they have an interest in writing, art, and drama.
  • Q Licht, he/him/his, Scotts Valley High School, Santa Cruz County — Q is a senior at Scotts Valley High School, the founder and director of the Purple Sticker Project, a Girl Scout Gold Awardee, and a member of the 2021-2022 Queer & Trans Youth Council. Cats are his favorite animal.
  • Teagan, he/him/his, Carmel High School, Monterey County — Teagan is a senior who is passionate about academics, specifically the sciences. He hopes to continue pursuing activism and working towards making schools safer when he goes to college.
  • Victoria Weiss, she/her/hers, Soquel High School, Santa Cruz County — Victoria is a junior at Soquel High School. Her hobbies include soccer, climbing, and art. She loves coaching and tutoring, as well as volunteer work with the Queer Youth Task Force. She hopes to continue working to bring positive change to Santa Cruz.
  • Zahir Sabbah, he/him/his, Aptos High School, Santa Cruz County — Zahir Sabbah is a junior at Aptos High School. He enjoys traveling, learning about history, and enjoys playing basketball. He plans to major in Political Science. He is passionate about environmental justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion for all.

LGBTQIA+ Youth Programs in Monterey, San Benito & Santa Cruz Counties

Diversity Center Youth Program — Watsonville & Santa Cruz

  • Website
  • Instagram — DM @diversity.youth

Our Gente, a program of the Epicenter — Salinas

Queer Trans Health 831+

Queer Youth Updates – Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties

LGBTQIA+ & Ally Youth Calendar — 2022-2023

Check out the 2022-2023 LGBTQIA+ Youth Calendar

Additionally, the Safe Schools Project is proud to present…

Parent/Guardian & Adult Allies Workshops

Understanding Gender

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

Find us on Facebook

Simultaneous Spanish Translation provided

Información en Español

About the Parent/Guardian & Adult Allies Summit

Understandings of gender are changing rapidly and it can be challenging to keep up! Parents might believe that they only have to pay attention to their child’s gender if it falls outside of traditional gender norms. While it is true that transgender, non-binary, and otherwise gender-expansive children are particularly at risk, every child is limited by traditional gender roles and stereotypes. Parents and allied adults play a crucial role in creating a safe and supportive environment for all young people around their gender.

We hope you’ll join us for a day of learning, conversation, and reflection about youth and gender.

Learn more about the Parent/Guardian Summit

Registration Open!

Questions? Contact the Parent/Guardian Summit organizers at Gendersummitsc@gmail.com or call (831) 427-4004.

Presented by Gender Spectrum, TransFamilies of Santa Cruz County, and the Safe Schools Project of Santa Cruz County

Creating gender sensitive and inclusive environments for all children and teens

Summit Partners, Supporters, & Sponsors

Sponsored, in part, by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education (SCCOE), Gender Spectrum, and additional community organizations in Monterey, San Benito, & Santa Cruz Counties. Please check our complete list of partners, supporters, and sponsors — thank you!

Our Gente

Monterey County

San Benito County

Santa Clara County

Santa Cruz County

National LGBTQIA+ Organizations

Sponsorship Opportunities

For information on how to become a sponsor at the Fall 2022 Summit, please email us at CoordinateSummit@gmail.com or call (831) 427-4004

Thank you Bay Federal Credit Union!

Bay Federal Credit Union volunteering at the Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit — Fall 2019
  • Special thank you to Bay Federal Credit Union who has volunteered for the Summit since 2019. In 2021, Bay Federal assembled and distributed over 160 summit goodie bags for the Fall 2021 Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Virtual Summit of the Central Coast! Their continued support of the Summit, both in person helping with registration in 2019 and with the virtual summit in 2020 and 2021, is a tremendous boost and support. 

Student Summit Flyer Download

Please help spread the word by sharing via social media to your followers and fellow community members — help us reach students in Monterey, San Benito, & Santa Cruz Counties! Thank you.

  • Infographic Summit Poster for Instagram — JPG & PDF

Volunteer at the Summit

Please help us make the Summit run smoothly. We are looking for volunteers to help with a few aspects of the event and if you have an hour or two to spare during the day of the event between 7:15 am – 3:00 pm on Saturday, October 8, 2019 at Watsonville High School in Watsonville, please contact contact the Fall 2022 Summit Volunteer Coordinator at CoordinateSummit@gmail.com or (831) 427-4004.

The Summit is providing transportation or arranging carpools for volunteers who sign up for multiple volunteer shifts. Please let us know in the sign up form if you need a ride or can offer a ride. Thank you!

—> Check out the volunteer opportunities & Sign Up Now HERE!

Archives of Past Summits

Thank you to school and elected officials from Monterey, Santa Clara & Santa Cruz Counties for supporting LGBTQIA+ students!

Student Summits

Parent/Guardian & Adult Allies Summits

The Safe Schools Project is a program of the Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County.

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