2020

Santa Cruz Sentinel: "LGBTQIA+ Youth, Allies Provide Support During the Pandemic"

Queer and trans youth are resilient. That’s the message that the people working closest to them to shield against the unknowns of the coronavirus pandemic stated time and time again. Students and allies are standing up to adversity through education, recognition and reinforcement. (Excerpt from Santa Cruz Sentinel)

2021

Santa Cruz County Queer Youth Task Force: "24th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards"

Improving the lives of LGBTQ+ youth by increasing the positive awareness of queer youth leadership, and increasing safe and welcoming environments in home, school, and community. (Mission statement from Queer Youth Leadership Awards)

State of Mind Radio Show/Podcast: "Supporting LGBTQ+ Teens in the Pandemic"

Youth leaders share their experiences of coming out and finding their voices as young queer people. They outline how the struggles they faced before Covid-19 and after its emergence complicated their lives even more–and they describe how they’ve persevered. (Summary from KSQD Community Radio)

2022

Santa Cruz County Queer Youth Task Force: "25th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards"

Improving the lives of LGBTQ+ youth by increasing the positive awareness of queer youth leadership, and increasing safe and welcoming environments in home, school, and community. (Mission statement from Queer Youth Leadership Awards)

The GSCCC Blog (Girl Scouts of California's Central Coast): "Gold Award Girl Scouts Q Licht, Esmeralda Romero, and Vanessa Castrejon"

Three stories of Gold Award Girl Scouts who use education to change the world while earning the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting. (Excerpt from The GSCCC Blog)

Santa Cruz County Office of Education News: "Task Force Releases LGBTQ+ Booklist For School Libraries"

A task force convened by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education has released a booklist called the “Top 40 LGBTQ+ Books that Every School Library Should Have,” a project undertaken as part of a commitment to safety and inclusiveness for LGBTQ+ students. (Excerpt from the Santa Cruz County Office of Education)

Good Times: "New Collaborative Pride Book List Celebrates Queer Identity"

On Tuesday, June 14, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education held a press conference to announce the newly created LGBTQ+ Top 40 Booklist: a comprehensive guide to age-appropriate queer and LGBTQ+ reading for students ages pre-kindergarten through high school. (Excerpt from Good Times)

Patch: "LGBTQ+ Booklist Suggested For Santa Cruz County Schools"

A task force convened by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education has released a booklist called the "Top 40 LGBTQ+ Books that Every School Library Should Have," a project undertaken as part of a commitment to safety and inclusiveness for LGBTQ+ students. (Excerpt from Patch)