PRESS RELEASE
LGBTQ Homeless Youth Summit May 2-5 in Chicago
— Friday, May 2, 2-8 p.m.
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital
Open to people 25 and under who have been impacted by homelessness.
Registration: FREE
— Sat., May 3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
University of Illinois at Chicago, Behavioral Sciences Bldg, 1007 W. Harrison
Open to youth, nonprofits, government agencies, politicians, foundations, activists, service providers, academic researchers and individuals working on these issues.
Registration: $45 adults, youth free
— Mon., May 5, 8 a.m.-Noon
Museum of Broadcast Communications, 360 N. State St.
Report to government agencies, politicians, foundations (private, public and corporate foundations encouraged to attend), academics, and donors.
Registration: FREE
The first two days of the summit will be broken down into general plenary sessions and facilitated workshops focused on areas including: Housing issues (shelters, DCFS, HUD, etc.), public policy (city, county, state, federal), legal issues (emancipation, public safety), education and job training, healthcare access, mental health and substance abuse.
While attendance at the summit is focused on youth, non-profits, service providers, government and foundations, the summit does need help from the general public. This is how the LGBTQ and allied communities can be engaged:
— Donations to help cover the costs of the summit, including stipends for youth attending, food, staff, and other expenses.
— Experienced facilitators are needed for the first two days.
— Volunteers are needed with the following skill sets: Video taping, photography, note-taking, general support.
State Rep. Greg Harris issued a statement about the Summit: “As an appropriation chairman overseeing the State budget, every day I see how education, sports, arts, healthcare, substance abuse counseling, physical and behavioral health, child care, parenting, affordable housing and a myriad of other issues overlap, and how challenging it is for many youth, particularly homeless youth, to access and use services. Everything we do to collaborate, coordinate and help youth access and navigate across institutions, geography, services and organizations are tasks we owe to thousands of young people who are struggling to achieve their full potential.”
— Looking at the complex causes of homelessness
— Shining a light on existing work being done
— Reporting on the gaps and needs
— Listing short-term and long-term strategies
— Creating action steps
“Addressing LGBT youth homelessness requires a team effort. This summit presents an opportunity for everyone—from policy makers and faith leaders to advocates and activists—to come together and find new ways to address an ongoing challenge,” said Commissioner Bechara Choucair, M.D., Chicago Department of Public Health.