This Tuesday was the 🌈 PRIDE Event hosted at College of Marin. It was well-organized and such a great opportunity to meet other like-minded people working to make Marin’s queer community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Two Spirit ( a term used by Indigenous Americans to describe those who hold multiple gender attributes within a person) individuals, and those still figuring out where they fall within or without those labels) feel heard, seen, and safe.

Meeting folks from other nonprofit organizations like Court Appointed Special Advocate for
Children (CASA), O.D. Free Marin, Foster the Future, and Lightfully Behavioral Health gave a sense of unity, strength and support that is available in Marin, and increasingly needed with the closing of The SPAHR Center of Marin in February 2024. In the 1980’s, Rev. Jane Spahr founded Spectrum LGBT Center which eventually was named the Spahr Center in 2016.

Getting to share what AHO does, and seeing other’s reactions to what we can offer, was a really wonderful experience as well. Specifically highlighting our quick response to youth in crisis that AHO provides. The highlight being that when a youth reaches out, they are responded to the same day, and, within 48 hours they are met in person with a hot meal. This approach facilitates the building of trust and a personal touch that immediately sets AHO apart from other organizations. This, and the fact that it is the youth themselves who decide what their main priorities are and the resources they want, when seeking AHO assistance.

Personal autonomy and agency in crisis management is something those seeking care are not always guaranteed, but this is something AHO prides themselves on being able to consistently provide. This is the beginning of building trust with a youth that is typically distrustful of adults and mainstream institutions from their past family history.

As for next steps in the coming weeks, I’ll be looking up alternative high schools within Marin
County to be able to reach out and see if we can book presentations to provide information about
the services AHO can offer its students. These AHO presentations in the schools are led by AHO youth who have lived experience with being unhoused, abused, abandoned, sex-trafficked or at-risk so the students can trust that there is hope and opportunity out there if they need it. AHO lets them know they are not alone and can have the unconditional support to reach their educational and life goals.

Cheers to a busy summer,
Kayla