Blog Post
50 States. 50 Grants. – 2024 Grantee Reveals
By Ariella Assouline
We’re just a few weeks away from introducing you to the incredible recipients of 50 States. 50 Grants. 5000 Voices for the 2024-2025 school year. But before we do, we wanted to share with you some of the incredible projects our grantees delivered across the United States and Canada during the 2023-2024 season of 50 States. 50 Grants. 5000 Voices. and It Gets Better – Youth Grants.
Join us for a heartwarming roadtrip across the United States, where the power of LGBTQ+ student-led initiatives is transforming communities and schools.
You’ll meet the unbelievable members of A.R.C.H. in Arizona, the proud marchers of Honolulu Pride in Hawaii, and the innovative leaders bringing LGBTQ+ education to Texas classrooms. We’ll also spotlight the educators in Seattle and Milwaukee who orchestrated monumental conferences for LGBTQ+ youth across their districts.
These young changemakers are redefining what it means to build community and champion inclusivity. Their stories are not just about creating safe spaces—they’re about lighting the way for a future where everyone can shine. Ready to see what change looks like? Let’s dive in! 🌈✨
P.S. You can meet the rest of our incredible S2 grant class here! And check back in September, 2024 to meet the next round of grantees.
These students in Arizona founded a student/teacher/parent ally group! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ With the help of one of our 50 States, 50 Grants, students in Phoenix, Arizona founded a group called A.R.C.H. (Accept. Respect. Connect. Hear). It’s a group of students, parents, community members, and education professionals that meet regularly at a public school in the K-8 district in downtown Phoenix to create brave, safe, inclusive spaces for all. THIS is what building community looks like in action.
Students accomplished a lot this year to grow the program, and even created their own A.R.C.H. mural!
One 7th grade student said, “A.R.C.H. is a fast growing foundation that helps LGBTQ+ kids feel safe around adults and other students.”
These students in Ewa Beach, Hawai’i got to go to Honolulu Pride! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ With the help of one of our 50 States, 50 Grants, over 50 6th-12th grade students got to march in the 2023 Honolulu Pride Parade last year. Students from various schools got to network in or on their way to high school. Three middle school GSAs got to meet each other…and they even met Bretman Rock too!
One student said, “Our GSA is mostly allies – and that is great – but I feel like the only gay kid at our school. At Honolulu Pride there were so many more of us, and now I talk to some other kids my age on IG and Tiktok. I feel less alone.”
And a teacher said, “I will never forget what one student said when they got off the bus to join the Honolulu Pride festivities. ‘Miss,’ they gasped, ‘There’s sooooo many of us!’ Nothing replaces the power of visibility and community for our youth.”
These students in Texas taught teachers about LGBTQ+ issues!! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ Using one of our 50 States 50 Grants, these students in Texas reestablished their dormant GSA club and organized student-led teacher training sessions so that teachers can learn how to better support their LGBTQ+ students! THAT’S how we make it better on the ground for students at school every day.
One student said, “The GSA gave me a place to feel like I am part of a greater community.”
Another said, “Seeing how our school’s community supported us was truly inspiring. I really felt like we were able to make a difference, especially when we did teacher training at some of the high schools. Teachers would come up to us with all sorts of questions on how to support their LGBTQ+ students. We had genuine conversations that I believe will have a lasting impact on our teachers and students.”
These students in Seattle hosted a whole conference for LGBTQ+ students! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ With the help of one of our 50 States, 50 Grants, they held their first “Community and Culture Conference,” a huge summit for LGBTQIA+ students across all Seattle Public high schools featuring over 20 different workshops from queer and trans artists, cultural workers, community members, and healthcare professionals, plus queer performances. The conference brought together nearly 200 youth from nearly every high school in their district!
When asked how it felt to be at the conference, students said:
🟣 “I haven’t really been to many queer events so thank you for showing me how incredible they can be. It felt like joy, understanding, and strength.”
🟣 “This made me wish I wasn’t a senior so I could go to this again.”
🟣 “What I really enjoyed was the community and the atmosphere in the workshops that connected everyone to everything and also gave some good advice and experience.”
🟣 “It was amazing to be near so many people like me. I could be vulnerable and talk with people who had the same life experiences as me. I was so happy!”
🟣 “I have sometimes felt like I’m not queer enough, or I don’t seem as queer as others, but being able to come here and being accepted has meant a lot.”
These students in Milwaukee, WI hosted a Pride conference across 15 different schools! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ With the help of a “50 States, 50 Grants, 5,000 Voices” grant from It Gets Better, Milwaukee Public Schools was able to host their first ever GSA/LGBTQ+ High School Leadership Summit.
They hosted 150 high school students across 15 different GSA clubs/High Schools, where students received LGBTQ+ community resources, learned leadership skills for their home GSAs, listened to a keynote speaker, saw drag performances, and networked with other LGBTQ+ students.
A sophomore GSA student reflected, “Wow. I just moved to Milwaukee a month ago and I am from Texas. If I had an event like this, this would’ve saved my life in so many ways.”
And one of the staff members/GSA club advisors said, “I am CRYING! This is so beautiful to witness my kids seeing drag for the first time, their expression on their faces has me so emotional right now.”