GLOW OUT! hosting youth conference April 19 at GCC

Press Release, GLOW OUT!

BATAVIA – The regional LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLOW OUT! is hosting a free, full-day conference focused on empowering and supporting youth.

At Genesee Community College in Batavia on April 19, community members and professionals who work with youth will gather for informative workshops, a panel discussion, and the keynote speaker, Ashton Daley.

The Youth/Young Adult Recovery Program Director for Youth Voices Matter NY, Daley holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in social work, and has volunteered for years in multiple roles supporting trans-identifying young people in the Capital Region of New York.

“We’re very excited to bring this event to Batavia,” said Sara Vacin, Executive Director of GLOW OUT! “This is helpful information for anyone working with youth, but especially important if those youth are LGBTQ+.”

Risk of mental health challenges and suicide ideation is a concern for all youth, but LGBTQ+ young adults are statistically more likely—more than four times as likely—to consider and attempt suicide than their heterosexual, cisgender peers. For transgender and/or nonbinary youth, mental health and suicide ideation can be particularly challenging – with many surveys reporting 40-50% of respondents seriously considering, or attempting, suicide. The Rainbow Resilience conference is sponsored by the New York State Office of Mental Health’s “Mental Illness Anti-Stigma Fund.”

Workshops focus on suicide risk factors and warning signs; dealing with difficult family members; knowing your rights and advocating for change; and understanding and overcoming mental health stigmas. The faith-based youth organization Beloved Arise will present, as well as Roger Rosen’s “Life on the Stage.” The panel discussion, titled “Envisioning Your Future,” features “LGBTQ+ inspirations” and aims to encourage youth to imagine life beyond their teen years.

“Showing the youth that we support them is so important,” Vacin said. “Just one adult – someone at home, someone at school, someone at church – that one supportive, caring adult can really help that child build a sense of resilience and strength.”

Self-care sessions will be offered throughout the conference on a variety of topics including art, yoga, spirituality, nature, journaling, mindfulness, and healthy eating.

Guests may still register (click here), although additional lunches will not be available. The conference is free to attend, and begins at 9:30 a.m. at GCC in Batavia.