The SHINE Team
Who is SHINE?
GLSEN Arizona’s SHINE Team empowerment program is a FREE year-long program for high school students (grades 9-12) that begins with a weekend Summer Intensive in July, which prepares LGBTQ+ youth and their allies to lead Gender Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) and advocacy campaigns.
The team meets regularly throughout the whole school year (virtually and in person) to develop their skills and their network to positively impact local school communities, dedicating about 15 hours a month to team meetings and activities.
The SHINE Team's objective is to:
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Expose and integrate LGBTQ+/allied students to GLSEN’s safer schools mission and work,
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Amplify LGBTQ+ student concerns in various GLSEN Arizona committees and media interview opportunities;
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Empower LGBTQ+/allied students to advocate for themselves and others;
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Build crucial skills like community organizing, public speaking, networking, fundraising, organizational management, project management, accountability, and responsibility;
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Position LGTBQ+ students to take advantage of otherwise unknown opportunities.
GLSEN Arizona and the SHINE program especially have inspired me to meaningfully and inclusively pursue leadership in my own GSA as well as LGBTG+ advocacy in my community as a whole. Not only that, but it's given me a sturdy, kind, and colorful group of peers I can always lean on and create with. GLSEN Arizona provides students with so much support and so many resources that we take with us throughout our whole lives.
Adriana, SHINE Leader
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This Year's SHINE Projects
GSA Outreach & Organizing
One of the community needs the 2023-24 SHINE Team assessed in the Summer Retreat was the need for GSAs to have more access to resources and be better connected to each other.
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To address this need, the Team has put together a short presentation for GSAs to learn more about GLSEN and SHINE and for us to learn more about the current school climate for LGBTQ+ students.
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The current SHINE Team is scheduling visits to GSAs for November onward. If we don't have team members in your school's area yet, the Team can conduct a virtual visit. Email shine@glsenarizona.org to request a visit from the SHINE Team!
Spring Pride Prom
Another community need the SHINE Team assessed was the longing for queer joy and service to others. Times are tough and queer joy is a must.
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To address this need, the Team will be planning annual Pride Prom slated for April!