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2024-2028 Grantee Overview
Click the grantee name below to go down to their section of the webpage to learn more:
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Chemeketa Community College
Chemeketa Community College will develop sustainable practices that holistically supports the needs and fosters an inclusive environment for LGBTQ2SIA+ students and employees. Our office will hire additional part-time staff and student staff to support the LGBTQ2SIA+ coordinator. Together, we will work collaboratively with Chemeketa departments throughout our district, and local CBO's, to live out the college’s value of promoting a sense of belonging for all students, faculty, and staff. We will do this by providing resources, promoting educational opportunities, and fostering meaningful relationships that will benefit our LGBTQ2SIA+ community.
Contact Chemeketa
Colombia Gorge ESD
Columbia Gorge Consortium supports 10 school districts in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Wheeler, and Gilliam counties. We support LGBTQ2SIA+ students, families, and adults through the following projects and activities:
- Professional Learning for School Staff and Administrators
- Community Building for Youth and Families (events, gatherings, and targeted support)
- Queer Youth Alliance Group (affinity and community space for youth)
- Youth Leadership Council
- School Staff Affinity Space
- GSA Support
Contact Columbia Gorge ESD
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Eastern Oregon for Independent Living
The Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living (EOCIL) LGBTQ2SIA+ Support and Success Program (SSP) aims to enhance support, engagement, and success for LGBTQ2SIA+ youth in Region 5. Key initiatives include LGBTQ2SIA+ Youth Drop-In Centers providing weekly mentorship and engagement, an Educator Peer Group for knowledge sharing, and Safe Zone Trainings to foster inclusive school and community environments. Additionally, a Rural Youth Awareness Campaign leverages social media, podcasts, and billboards to promote visibility, while the Rural Oregon LGBTQ2SIA+ School Climate Survey gathers crucial data to inform policies. Challenges such as limited participation and resistance to training are addressed through outreach and advocacy. The program aims to create lasting change by offering over 360 hours of engagement, monthly educator training, and increased awareness to support a more inclusive and supportive community for LGBTQ2SIA+ youth in Eastern Oregon.
Contact Eastern Oregon for Independent Living
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Gender Hive
Gender Hive will create comprehensive, collaborative, and culturally-responsive systems of care that promote positive identity development, encourage family engagement, and improve academic and mental health outcomes for 2SLGBTQIA+ students in Central Oregon and surrounding rural communities. Students will be empowered to advocate for safer, inclusive, and culturally-relevant learning environments; families will be equipped with the knowledge and resources to support 2SLGBTQIA+ youth; educators will be more prepared to create inclusive classrooms and curricula that are trauma-informed and support 2SLGBTQIA+ students’ social/emotional needs; and healthcare providers working in schools and communities will be equipped to provide culturally-responsive mental and physical healthcare to 2SLGBTQIA+ students.
Contact Gender Hive
GLSEN, Inc.
GLSEN Oregon Chapter is thrilled with the opportunity to use grant funds to:
- Hire a full-time Chapter Manager to lead this work effort.
- Initiate a Needs Assessment to identify gaps in resources/policies affecting LGBTQ2SIA+ students.
- Expand Rainbow Libraries to schools, prioritizing those in rural areas.
- Strengthen/expand support for Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) and other LGBTQ2SIA+ youth-led groups.
- Engage students, educators, families, community members, legislators, and corporate sponsors—to build broad-based support for LGBTQ2SIA+ inclusion across Oregon.
Contact Columbia Gorge Consortium
High Desert ESD (COREN Consortium)
The Central Oregon Regional Educator Network seeks partnership with regional school districts and community organizations in order to build a network of collective impact which will increase Central Oregon educators’ capacity to better support LGBTQ2SIA+ students, families, and communities through:
LGBTQ2SIA+ specific training for educators, families, and community
Support for school-based GSAs (Gender/Sexuality Alliances)
Improved actionable qualitative and quantitative data for this focal group.
Contact High Desert ESD (COREN Consortium)
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Lane ESD
Pride in Action Lane County: Student-Guided Belonging & Advocacy supports LGBTQ2SIA+ students across Lane County’s 16 school districts by creating schools as sites of belonging and safety. Through student-driven initiatives, professional learning, and community partnerships, the project fosters well-being, connection, and advocacy for our LGBTQ2SIA+ students and families in schools and beyond. We do this through the following areas of focus:
- Student-Led Change: Center LGBTQ2SIA+ students in the guiding of action planning, actions for strengthening GSAs, building and sustaining affinity spaces, and leading building and district level advocacy efforts.
- Educator & District Capacity Building for Support: Support student-led professional development, intervention strategies, and affinity group connections to build capacity of staff and peers to foster inclusive learning environments.
- Community & Safety Networks: Expand access to events like Pride Fest, Pink Prom and GSA Student Summits to strengthen community and cross-school student networks.
- Available & Meaningful Resources: Develop district-specific referral networks, resource guides, and culturally responsive curricula to ensure long-term, meaningful support existing across school buildings in Lane County.
Contact Lane ESD
Looking Glass Community Services
Looking Glass Community Services will allocate grant funding and programming efforts toward the following priorities: providing direct support to students; expanding our Rainbow Library and enhancing the availability of LGBTQ+ literature in classrooms; developing and implementing curriculum centered on the history of LGBTQ+ individuals and key historical events; advancing staff education and professional development; and inviting local guest speakers to present at staff meetings and in classrooms to share their experiences and perspectives. Furthermore, the education team will engage in GLSEN’s Intentional Inclusion professional development series, a program designed to foster safe and affirming educational environments for LGBTQ+ students. Looking Glass Community Services also anticipates planning and hosting several Pride events open to students, their families and friends, and the broader community.
Contact Looking Glass Community Services
New Avenues for Youth
New Avenues for Youth will support teachers and school staff statewide, and LGBTQIA2S+ students in East Multnomah County via two projects:
1) Piloting a program of community partner staff serving as the GSA advisor for schools unable to provide a teacher-advisor, mentor and coach cis/straight teacher-advisors, and support school administration in developing and implementing affirming policies
2) Expanding our existing teacher/staff training program to operate statewide. Trainings include: "Foundations of Creating Affirming Spaces for LGBQIA2S+ Youth", "Intersections of I/DD and LGBTQIA2S+ Identity", "Inclusive Forms and Data Collection", "Supportive Communication for Families", and ongoing customized consultation services.
Contact New Avenues for Youth
Portland Community College
The Portland Community College (PCC)’s Bridge to Queer & Trans Student Success (BQTSS) Project helps LGBTQIA2S+ students make the transition to college and succeed during their first year. The Project includes outreach and support for current Portland Public high school students, a peer mentorship program centering LGBTQIA2S+ first-year PCC students, and cultural responsiveness professional development training for Portland Community College faculty & staff.
Contact Portland Community College
Rainbow Youth, Inc.
SOGIE Youth Community Empowerment (SYCE) Project
The SOGIE Youth Community Empowerment (SYCE) Project is a groundbreaking initiative by Rainbow Youth aimed at breaking down barriers to education, fostering leadership, and creating sustainable support systems for LGBTQIA+ youth in Marion and Polk Counties, Oregon. This project is designed to ensure that Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) youth have access to safe spaces, mentorship, and community-driven resources that promote academic success, personal growth, and overall well-being.
Contact Rainbow Youth, Inc.
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Southern Oregon ESD
The Southern Oregon Education Service District's LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success grant program is dedicated to fostering inclusive, supportive educational environments for LGBTQ2SIA+ students in Klamath, Josephine, and Jackson Counties. The program provides schools with resources to create safe spaces where LGBTQ2SIA+ students can thrive, ensuring that they feel respected, valued, and connected. Key initiatives include professional development opportunities for educators to build inclusive educational practices, as well as support for mental health and well-being programs aimed at addressing the unique needs of LGBTQ2SIA+ youth. A hallmark of the program is the Unity Conference, an annual event that brings together students from across the region for a day of learning, community-building, and fostering a sense of belonging. The program also emphasizes family engagement, offering resources and opportunities for families to get involved and support their children's success in a welcoming environment. Through these efforts, the grant program aims to reduce disparities and enhance the overall academic and personal growth of LGBTQ2SIA+ students.
Contact Southern Oregon ESD
University of Oregon, Sapsik’ʷałá Program
"Our project, Átaw pawá niimí skuuliɬáma niimíyaw (Our students are very important to us), is an intersectional vision that honors the strengths of key partners to create safe spaces and culturally sustaining curricula for LGBTQ2SIA+ students. American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) LGBTQ2SIA+ students, educators, and Tribal communities will benefit from accessible resources and culturally aligned training that bridge traditional cultural values with the needs/realities LGBTQ2SIA+ students face in their schools and communities through educator/mentor trainings and traditional Indigenous storytelling curricular resources.
Our project will directly benefit the Native students, families, educators, and communities in our partnership network, which includes: Indigenous teacher candidates in the Sapsik’ʷałá Program, which operates in collaboration with the nine federally recognized Tribal Nations in Oregon; Indigenous high school/college students, K-12 teachers, and administrators in our Grow Your Own (GYO) Program; and Indigenous K-12 students and families in Lane ESD’s Native Youth Wellness Program. We also partner with the UOTeach Program, a long-time leader of LGBTQ2SIA+ advocacy within teacher preparation education, and the UO Ichishkíin Program, a leader in Indigenous language revitalization and culturally sustaining curriculum.
Contact University of Oregon, Sapsik’ʷałá Program
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UTOPIA PDX
The United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance: Portland (UTOPIA PDX) is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving Queer and Trans Pacific Islanders (QTPI). As a recipient of the LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Grant, we aim to leverage this opportunity to provide support and safe spaces for LGBTQ2SIA+ youth in the David Douglas and Centennial School Districts through various initiatives, including after-school programming, club support, and professional development for educators. Additionally, we plan to host a Queer Resource Fair, Queer Youth Prom, and an LGBTQ2SIA+ Art Showcase to celebrate and honor the vibrant diversity within the community.
Contact UTOPIA PDX
For questions, contact the LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Coordinator at
LGBTQ2SIA.Success@ode.oregon.gov