Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League

SMYAL'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND QUESTIONING (LGBTQ) YOUTH IN THE WASHINGTON, DC METROPOLITAN REGION. THROUGH YOUTH LEADERSHIP, SMYAL CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR LGBTQ YOUTH TO BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE, DEVELOP CRITICAL LIFE SKILLS, AND ENGAGE THEIR PEERS AND COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE AND ADVOCACY. COMMITTED TO SOCIAL CHANGE, SMYAL BUILDS, SUSTAINS AND ADVOCATES FOR PROGRAMS, POLICIES AND SERVICES THAT LGBTQ YOUTH NEED AS THEY GROW INTO ADULTHOOD.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION: THE DC REGIONAL GSA (GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE/ GENDER AND SEXUALITIES ALLIANCE) NETWORK HARNESSES THE POWER OF GSAS AND LGBTQ STUDENTS TO MAKE SCHOOLS SAFER FOR ALL. THE GSA NETWORK IS MADE UP OF HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND, COLLEGE GSA MEMBERS AND STUDENT LEADERS, AS WELL AS LGBTQ AND ALLY STUDENTS. WE ALSO CONNECT WITH AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO TEACHERS, STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARTNERS TO START AND GROW LOCAL GSAS.

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING: THE YOUTH HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDES SAFE AND STABLE SHELTER, FOOD, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR ITS RESIDENTS. OUR GOAL IS TO SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS AS THEY ACCOMPLISH THEIR INDIVIDUAL GOALS AND MOVE THROUGH OUR THREE-TIERED PROGRESS SYSTEM TOWARD INDEPENDENT LIVING.

(HEALTH AND WELLNESS) PEER HEALTH FELLOWSHIP: THE PEER HEALTH FELLOWSHIP OFFERS YOUTH AGES 13-24 THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE LEADERS IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES AS HEALTH EDUCATORS. FELLOWS SERVE THEIR THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES AS HEALTH EDUCATORS. FELLOWS SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY AS ROLE MODELS, LEADERS, AND TRUSTED FRIENDS BY DISTRIBUTING CONDOMS AND SAFER-SEX INFORMATION, PROMOTING HIV TESTING, AND ORGANIZING YOUTH-LED WORKSHOPS FOR PEERS AND PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. CLINICAL SERVICES: SMYAL OFFERS CLINICAL SERVICES TO LGBTQ YOUTH AGES 6-24 WHICH INCLUDES INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, GROUP SESSIONS, TRAUMA-ENFORCED YOGA, SOUND HEALING AND MINDFULNESS.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: THROUGH LEADING WORKSHOPS AT SMYAL AND IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE DMV, THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDE TRAININGS TO YOUTH LEADERS, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS THAT COVER A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS FROM ALLYSHIP TO HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS TO GENDER AND SEXUALITY 101. THROUGH THESE WORKSHOPS, PARTICIPANTS LEARN THE STRATEGIES TO CREATE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR LGBTQ YOUTH. WORKSHOPS FOR YOUTH PROVIDE THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO BECOME LEADERS WITHIN THEIR PEER GROUPS. IN ADDITION TO WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY, SMYAL CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG LEADERS THROUGH OUR ANNUAL ACTIVIST CAMP AS WELL AS PAID YOUTH FELLOWSHIPS.