The Eon Youth Program activism group, with the support of Every Voice in Action, engages youth in direct action, provides youth with education and training, and connects youth with the efforts of other community organizations.

Eon youth take action! Over the past year, youth have spread the word to their peers and to the community in so many ways. Youth activists started a monthly open mic event at Eon’s drop-in center. Throughout the night, youth facilitators educate the audience about a topic of the month (Proposition 107, transgender awareness, etc.). They also write letters and take part in call-in days to their representatives, spread the word to other youth through flyers and handouts, and march proudly in the streets to increase visibility.

Youth also get to learn skills to increase their impact. This past May, youth attended an LGBT media training facilitated by the national Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). Youth learned to effectively deliver messages of equality and freedom for the LGBT community. In September, 15 youth participated in an in-depth voter registration and Get Out The Vote (GOTV) training so that they could help get people active in the upcoming election.

While Eon is a program that primarily addresses the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their allies, youth activists join many struggles for respect and human rights. For example, this past Spring, Eon activists organized a Legal Observer Training to monitor vigilante activity on the border, facilitated by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and held at Wingspan.

Eon’s activism group is open to all youth ages 13-23. Contact Courtney Jones at 624-1779 or courtney@wingspan.org for more information. You can also visit the Wingspan website at www.wingspan.org.