It’s not lost on us that the LGBTQ+ community experiences disproportionate difficulty with career admittance, retention, benefits, and challenging work environments. Oftentimes, the lack of work threatens a person and their family’s ability to keep a roof over their head, or food on their table, as evidenced with the staggering 40% of youth experiencing homelessness who identify as LGBTQ+.
These challenges, coupled with limited employment opportunities; lack of equitable healthcare; homophobic and transphobic barriers; language and cultural barriers; and the denial of civil rights make finding a job a seemingly insurmountable challenge. We want to end this cycle.
Check out latest segment to learn more about our vision for economic justice.
Every year, the Center hosts three “You Betta Work!” LGBTQ+ Job Fairs – one in March, June, and October. We connect upwards of 30 employers across dozens of industries with LGBTQ+ job seekers. But it’s much more than the fair itself. There’s free professional photography to update your LinkedIn profile, a lounge for networking, and even onsite interviews.
Our Economic Justice Program is a 360-degree workforce program to support the development of participants’ skills to obtain and retain employment, learn and develop career goals and help employers in creating safe, inclusive, and affirming work spaces. It’s also an opportunity to train employers on LGBTQ+ cultural humilities and to engage in mentorships with our housing residents, drop-in visitors, and the community at large.
Experience a taste of our brave space experience, Q-Prom!
Just two days after our last job fair of the year the Center also produced Q-Prom, a brave space prom experience that hosted 300+ youth at the Sacramento State University ballroom. Attendees and chaperones alik
e had the opportunity to enjoy an experience typically robbed of our community. Tears were shed, laughter was all around, and folks reconvened after a two-year hiatus in the outfits, partners, and identities of their choice.
Don’t forget that starting NOW you can double your gift up to $10,000 from our friends at River Bend Medical Associates. Donate TODAY help us reach our goal of $150,000.