What is the Youth Activist Institute?

The Youth Activist Institute trains students to ‘speak truth to power’ and use their own voices to advocate for themselves and others around issues that interest them. 

The Youth Activist Institute trains students to ‘speak truth to power’ and use their own voices to advocate for themselves and others around issues that interest them. 
Beginning in the Fall of 2010, True Colors is taking the institute on the road to GSA’s across the state!

Interested in having True Colors bring our SIX WEEK training to your GSA?  Email us at GSA@ourtruecolors.org or call us at 960.232.0050, ext 306 to reserve your spot!

Some of what youth participants in the Institute have done so far:

In year one, the True Colors Youth Action Team participated in weekly leadership trainings and planned a press conference at the Connecticut Capitol to raise awareness about LGBT targeted bullying. They spoke with legislators and the Department of Education, recruited youth speakers, and had over 70 people attend their press conference.

WNPR even featured the press conference on their show “Where We Live,” you can hear the broadcast as well as excerpts from the press conference online at:  http://www.cpbn.org/program/where-we-live/episode/wwl-lgbt-bullying

In year two students met weekly during the first term from October to June in an exciting, interactive and demanding regimen of activities, workshops and discussions during the first half of the year. In the second half of the year, the team took on bullying and created a youth run website as well as an art exhibit (that will hang in the Capital Corridor in January of 2011!)