NEW! Youth Peer Support Group for LGBTQA Youth

New Youth Peer Support Group for (LGBTQA) Youth

There is a new youth peer support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual,

transgender, questioning and ally (LGBTQA) youth that meets in

Schenectady. This group, called "Rainbow Nights" meets every third

Thursday at the Emmanuel Friedens Church (218 Nott Terrace,

Schenectady) from 6 to 7:30PM. The next meeting is Thursday, April

21st.

Please promote this group to any LGBTQA youth ages 13-18 in your

programs who you think would be interested or would benefit from a

peer support youth group in Schenectady! The group is facilitated by

screened and trained adult volunteers. A flyer is attached for you to

print and distribute/post if you'd like.

Rainbow Nights is a program of the Pride Center of the Capital Region.

For more than 25 years, the Pride Center's youth program has been

serving LGBTQA youth all over the Capital Region.

I am more than happy to meet with you to talk more about the Pride

Center Youth Program and Rainbow Nights. Please don't hesitate to

contact me!

Dana LePage

Program Assistant

The Pride Center of the Capital Region

332 Hudson Avenue

Albany, NY 12210

p. (518) 462-6138

f. 518-462-2101

Volunteer Experience at Camp Erin

Looking for a Volunteer Experience?

Camp Erin 2011 is looking for volunteers for their camp that runs from

Friday September 23rd through Sunday September 25, 2011

About Camp Erin:

Camp Erin is a free weekend overnight camp for children and teens, ages 6-17, who have lost someone important in their lives. It combines traditional, fun, high-energy camp activities with grief education and support. Camp Erin is staffed by licensed social workers, nurses and trained community volunteers.

Who can attend Camp Erin?

• Any child or teen, aged 5 – 17 years old, who has experienced a death-related loss in their lifetime, regardless if the loved one was on Hospice.
• Any family willing to travel to Albany, NY is welcome to apply.
• Applications are due by August 1^st, and space is limited so please apply as soon as possible! We are only accepting 55 campers this year!

Where is Camp Erin located?

• Camp Erin – Albany 2011 will be held at the Fowler Camp and Retreat Center on Sacandaga Lake in Speculator, NY.
• Bus transportation will be available to all campers from a predetermined location in Albany.

History of Camp Erin

Camp Erin is named in memory of Erin Metcalf of Woodinville, Washington, a remarkable young woman who developed liver cancer at the age of 15. Karen and Jamie Moyer met Erin through Make-A-Wish. Erin had a compassionate heart and when she was hospitalized she often expressed concern for the other children there as well as their siblings, who sometimes received little attention.

In 2000, when Erin died at the age of 17, Jamie and Karen Moyer wished to honor Erin’s memory and her caring spirit. Acknowledging her love of children and her desire to help others, the Moyers felt that a grief camp for children would be an appropriate tribute. The first Camp Erin was established in Everett, Washington in 2002.

* Information from the Camp Erin Website...to learn more, please visit http://www.camperinalbany.com/

For more information or for a volunteer application please click here!

"Step Up, Speak Out" Take Back the Night: Rally and March to End Sexual Violence

* Step Up, Speak Out! *

Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center is proud to bring you...

The 30th Annual

Take Back the Night

Rally and March to End Sexual Violence

Hosted by The College of Saint Rose!

Thursday, April 14th, 2011, 5-8pm

Location: Campus Green

Rain Site: Saint Vincent de Paul Church

(900 Madison Avenue; corner of Madison and Partridge)

** Pre-Rally: 5pm **

*FREE T-shirts to the first 200 attendees!

Cupcake fundraiser featuring delicious treats from the Fluffalicious Cupcake Truck!

Informational tables by a variety of community agencies

"The Clothesline Project" and "Shatter the Secret" art displays

** Rally: 6pm **

Featuring guest speakers, survivor stories, and live entertainment!

(guests may want to bring a blanket to sit on)

** March: 7pm **

Join us as we take the streets and "take back the night!"

March procession will be around the surrounding neighborhood, and will culminate in a candlelight vigil.

*Check out our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110573095688944 for more information and updates!*

Please direct any questions regarding the event to GoldbergL120@strose.edu orAmy.Vincent@albanycounty.com

Summer Volunteer Experience

Parsons Child and Family Center is looking for summer volunteers for a summer camp, Camp to Belong, the last week in August, along with 2 training days to work up in Lake George at Camp Gingakook sponsoring a camp for children who are in foster care.

The focus is for siblings who are separated to reunite during a week at camp together. It was started in 1995 by a former Foster child who remembers what it felt like to be separated from her siblings. There are several around the country and in Australia as well. They will be taking 50 foster children for the whole week. Parsons has asked me to try to spread the word to our students as they are looking for 25 overnight volunteers. It would involve staying for the week, plus an additional 2 days of training. Also looking for volunteers that can help out on a daily basis for a particular activity, such as Birthday party. I can't think of a better place for our students to volunteer and have a fantastic experience. There is a conflict of the start of classes, but perhaps we could work around it. Last year several of our students volunteered at Camp Erin with Community Hospice and they loved it.

Prospective Volunteers:

Camp To Belong, Click here for more Information.