QYTF

Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County

Queer Youth Updates of Santa Cruz County

Keynote Speaker, T-shirt Design, and Co-emcees Announced for the Fall 2024 Queer, Trans, and Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast.

“Corals and Queerness: Resilience in the Face of Adversity”

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, non-binary, 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!

When:  Saturday, September 28, 2024 @ 9:30am – 2:00pm
Where: Watsonville High School

Registration extended to Wednesday, September 25th, at 5:00 pm

Workshops Announced Soon!
Keynote Speaker Announced
The Fall 2024 Student Summit Planning Committee is thrilled and honored to announce the keynote speaker during the Summit Opening Ceremony is acclaimed Trans activist Sandy Stone.
Sandy Stone is an author, artist, performer, engineer, theoretician, Professor Emerita, University of California Humanities Institute Fellow, Banff Centre Senior Artist, State of California Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, National Women’s Hall of Fame inductee, and debonair trans-about-town.  She, or one of her evil clones, is the subject of the Marji Vecchio film “Girl Island: The Sandy Stone Story”.  Her favorite activities are writing, seeking the best chocolate, and raising hell.
Meet the Artists
Front T-shirt Design
Milo Wecker, they/he, Student, Carmel High School
About Milo: I am a queer, trans masc artist who is a sophomore at Carmel High School. This will be my second year attending the summit with my partner of three years!
Back T-shirt Design
scar, he/she/they, Student, Santa Cruz High School
About scar: I like to draw and love theater tech, graphic novels, Voltron and dinosaurs.
Co-Emcees Announced
Analise Pagan, she/her, student, Seaside High School
This is Analise Pagan! Pronouns are She/Her! Born in the Monterey Peninsula she is a junior and attends Seaside High School in Monterey County! She actively participates in her schools GSA (Gay Sexuality Alliance) club as an ally and her schools Drama program performing every spring. She is so excited to be representing her county at the conference!

Carlos Joel González, he/him, student, Watsonville High SchoolCarlos Joel González is a queer youth leader and actor/singer in Santa Cruz county who has performed at the 2024 Queer Youth Leadership Awards as well as several musicals at Cabrillo Stage. He’s done research/internships on cultural identity and mental health and is currently a junior at Watsonville High school.

Call for Volunteers

Fall 2024 Student Summit Volunteer PSA

Student Summit: Student Summit: We are looking for volunteers to help make the student summit run smoothly. Even an hour or two of your time between 7 am – 3 pm can make a big difference. Community Service Hours Available!

Volunteer shifts include: Breakfast & Lunch Set up, Registration, Volunteer Check-in, Greeters, Goodie Bags Distribution, Set up & Take Down, Parking Assistants, and Directional Guides.

Learn more and sign up here

Understanding Gender Conference: In addition to the Student Summit, we’re looking for volunteers to help with the Parent/Guardian, Educators, and Adult Allied “Understanding Gender” Conference.

Volunteer shifts include: Volunteer Host/Greeter, Morning Set up, Breakfast & Snack Table Monitors, Lunch Table Monitors, and Post Event Cleanup Crew.

Learn more and sign up here

In the media — Learn more about the Rainbow Conference!

Questions?

Monterey County: Angela Soto-Cerros (they/them), Rainbow Connections Wellness Outreach and Engagement Coordinator of The Epicenter / angela@epicentermonterey.org or (831) 998-7291

Santa Cruz County: LGBTQIA+ Student Planning Committee, Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast / CoordinateSummit@gmail.com or (831) 427-4004

Rainbow Conference

The Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast is part of the Rainbow Conference – a day of celebration, community, and learning for young people and the adults who support them

Learn more about the adult track and elementary student track below:

Facebook Event Page

Facebook Event Page

Parents/Guardians, Educators, and Adult Allies 

“Understanding Gender”

A free bilingual conference for parents, guardians, adult allies, and educators who want a deeper understanding of gender and youth.

Simultaneous Spanish Translation Provided
Haga clic aquí para información en español

When:  Saturday, September 28 @ 9:30am – 2:00pm
Where:  Watsonville High School

Registration Open — Sign up today!

For more information visit safeschoolsproject.org/adultsummit

Questions? Reach out to gendersummitsc@gmail.com or call (831) 427-4004

Facebook Event Page

Facebook Event Page

Elementary Students and Their Families
Rainbow Glitter Kids
A day of learning, pride, and celebration especially for elementary school students and their families.
When:  Saturday, September 28 @ 9:30am – 2:00pm
Where:  Watsonville High School

Pre Registration Required — Sign up Now!

For more information please visit safeschoolsproject.org/glitter

*Please email summit@safeschoolsproject.org to request special exceptions and parent/guardian permission slip if caregivers cannot attend.*

Questions?  Reach out to CoordinateSummit@gmail.com or (831) 427-4004.

Facebook Event Page

Facebook Event Page

Queer Youth Updates is a program of the Safe Schools Project

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