This artwork was created through a collaborative process with RYSE youth members and Webster Nguyen, RYSE’s Visual Arts Coordinator. Learn more about this project below.
RYSE lives and leads in the legacies and present day leadership of Black queer revolutionaries, in the power of Black and Brown queer and trans solidarity, and in protest and persistence to abolish the false and oppressive gender binary.
RYSE lives and leads in the legacy of Richmond and West Contra Costa County’s Black and Brown queer youth and their ally accomplices who affirmed the fluidity of identity, who said the names of those they lost too soon, who understood that it is a birthright to be safe, loved, and seen and who channeled their love, rage, pain, and brilliance into creating RYSE.
RYSE lives and leads in this moment of pandemic, of uprising and resistance, of defunding our dehumanization, and refunding our liberation. We insist that All Black Lives Matter, that our Black Trans kin must be free, that we all must be free, without condition or apology.
RYSE lives and leads as we always have, centering and lifting up our LGBTQ+ young people; queering our programs; celebrating, affirming, bearing witness and listening to them with love. This Pride Month, RYSE takes pride in our survival, resistance, and insistence on beloved community, in young people’s courage to make the way for themselves, for each other, and for all of us.
Earlier this month, RYSE also released a statement in support of Black youth organizers as they stand in their power and speak out against white supremacy and state-sanctioned violence. Our statement included a list of how, as adult allies, we can all center and support Black youth organizers. Read more here→
“This is the generation that can make a change for a better future. Youth voices are powerful and will always be powerful because we know what we want and we know what we need.
We are the future of this world, this beautiful planet we call home. It’s up to us to make our voices be heard. RYSE’s Alphabet Group stands in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ community, peers and allies of all backgrounds. Our arms are wide open, welcoming, and full of love.”
Pride Month at RYSE
This month, youth members as part of RYSE’s Alphabet Group, a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth and allies, organized three virtual events celebrating the power and joy in their communities that persists in spite of the ongoing pandemics of COVID-19, racism, and hate. One event included collaborating with Drag Queen Die Anna who provided a glam tutorial to share about make-up, performance, and daily care practices.
Alphabet Group has also been researching and sharing health resources for the community, focusing on supports for LGBTQ+ youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 23rd, they held a virtual panel discussion on their findings and reflections.
Coming up on June 26th, Alphabet Group will be hosting a Dance Fest on Instagram Live with local DJ Yolibel.
Support our queer youth programming by giving to our Give OUT Day campaign! Learn more here.
Virtual Summer Programs
RYSE is open to new youth members. If you are, or know of, a young person between the ages of 13-21 who would like to sign up to become a youth member, email Dalia@rysecenter.org.
If you are already a RYSE youth member and want to sign-up for one of the following workshops, email Marques@rysecenter.org.
Resources for Queer and Trans Black People
The Trevor Project Support Lines for Youth:
TrevorLifeline (Phone): 1-866-488-7386
TrevorChat (Online): Click here
TrevorText: Text START to 679-678
Follow Black Trans Media for social support and creative spaces
Resources for Addressing Harm, Accountability, and Healing - Critical Resistance
Pods and Pod Mapping Worksheet (making your own safety team) - Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective
Know Your Rights Info & Resources - Sylvia Rivera Law Project
[Podcast] Marsha’s Plate: Black Trans Podcast
RYSE shares additional wellness resources by Black people for Black people on our website here.
Organizations and Funds for Allies to Support
Education for Allies
Revealing White Privilege and Healing Racial Trauma with Dr. Kenneth Hardy
On June 10, RYSE and Trauma Transformed organized a presentation by Dr. Kenneth Hardy as part of a regular West Contra Costa COVID Community Care call. This recording features the full talk by Dr. Hardy, as well as words from Rev. Kamal Hassan, and a poem by RYSE staff Tj Sykes. West Contra Costa COVID Community Care is a rapid response coalition comprised of city and public systems partners, health and social services providers, and school district.
Some of the following resources are from the “#BlackTransLivesMatter: Actions & Resources for Solidarity” community document. View their comprehensive list here.
When Black lives matter, Black trans people must be freed from discrimination and violence - NBC News
Black Trans Women and Black Trans Femmes: Leading & Living Fiercely (English and Spanish) - Transgender Law Center (as part of the Trans Agenda for Liberation)
The First Pride Was A Riot: The Queer Black History of Rioting - Refinery29
Supporting Black LGBTQ Youth Mental Health - The Trevor Project
[Podcast] As Pride Month kicks off, black trans activists want their stories centered - PBS News Hour
[Podcast] Let’s Talk Black LGBTQ History and Pride - KUNM, University of New Mexico
[Podcast] Black Trans Lives Matter - Nancy
[Video] She Safe, We Safe: a Webinar on State & Gender Violence in Black Communities - Black Youth Project 100
[Video] Don't be a Bystander: 6 Tips for Responding to Racist Attacks - Barnard Center for Research on Women and Project NIA
The Census is about resources, representation & inclusion.
It’s an opportunity for everyone—no matter their age, race, citizenship or immigration status—to make sure their community is fairly funded & represented for the next 10 years.
Respond confidentially online or by phone (844-330- 2020) today to make sure YOUR community counts!
Still have questions about how to respond to Census 2020? Click here to check out answers to frequently asked questions.
For more information about Census 2020 and Contra Costa County’s efforts visit cococensus.org.
El Censo de 2020 es sobre recursos, representación e inclusión. Es una oportunidad para todos, sin importar su edad, raza, ciudadanía o estado migratorio, para asegurarse de que su comunidad esté justamente financiada y representada durante los próximos 10 años.
¡Responda confidencialmente en línea (my2020census.gov) o por teléfono (844-468-2020) hoy para asegurarse de que SU comunidad cuente!
¿Todavía tiene preguntas sobre cómo responder al Censo 2020? Haga clic aquí para ver una hoja informativa.
Para obtener más información sobre el Censo 2020 y los esfuerzos del Condado de Contra Costa, visite cococensus.org.
About the Artwork:
Healing and Liberation for All Black Lives
This artwork was created through a collaborative process with RYSE youth members and Webster Nguyen, RYSE’s Visual Arts Coordinator. Youth engaged in conversations that were sometimes very difficult, processing the personal and collective pain, joy, power, and movement building taking place in the Bay and globally.
The final artwork is meant to evoke the current energy during rallies and marches in a way that is brighter and uplifting. The Panther evokes the Black Panther Party in Oakland, as a way to honor past movements while contextualizing our youth’s struggles as a continuation of their ongoing work.
Highlights & Wins
It’s during extreme and difficult times like these—while we balance working to support youth and their families, while also taking care of ourselves—that we need to ground ourselves in what deserves celebration. It is what we hold onto through all of our joy, rage, grief, and hope that keeps us going until we emerge on the other side. Here are a few things that we’re holding onto in this moment.
Performing Arts Coordinator Nyabingha organized and collaborated with the community on “I Love Myself” a series of self-care workshops for Black and Brown youth.
Members Dulce and Mónica participated in the Black & Brown Solidarity action in Oakland.
Congratulations to RYSE Alum Kira who was accepted into Clark Atlanta University.
Congratulations to our youth organizing interns who worked on and submitted their first grant focusing on a virtual youth campaign that will lead to funding for students in special education in West Contra County.
Youth Poet Adriana Avalos performed her poetry at the Black Lives Matter action led by labor unions at UC Berkeley.
Youth Poet Mahogany, who started writing this year, has a poem featured on a Black Lives Matter mural in Oakland.
RYSing Professional interns completed an interview project with community members on their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.