ATTIC YOUTH CENTER
255 SOUTH 16TH STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19102 www.atticyouthcenter.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE ATTIC YOUTH CENTER CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, AND QUESTIONING (LGBTQ) YOUTH TO DEVELOP INTO HEALTHY, INDEPENDENT, CIVIC-MINDED ADULTS WITHIN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, AND PROMOTES THE ACCEPTANCE OF LGBTQ IN SOCIETY.

INTRODUCTION THE ATTIC YOUTH CENTER IS PHILADELPHIAS ONLY AGENCY EXCLUSIVELY SERVING LGBTQ YOUTH. CURRENTLY, THE ATTIC OFFERS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES: 1) LIFE SKILLS CENTER - PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP OPPORTUNITIES FOR LGBTQ YOUTH TO LEARN, PRACTICE, AND MASTER THE SKILLS THEY WILL NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD. YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN SUPPORT GROUPS, WORKSHOPS, PAID INTERNSHIPS, INDIVIDUAL LIFE COACHING, MENTORING, CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING NAVIGATION, AND HIV COUNSELING. PROGRAMMING IS OFFERED IN FIVE CONCENTRATION AREAS: - WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT - ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT - HEALTH AND WELLNESS - HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND REMEDIATION - LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 2) MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMING - INCLUDES INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY THERAPY AS WELL AS PEER SUPPORT GROUPS. COUNSELING IS PROVIDED BY SPECIALISTS IN ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT. 3) THE BRYSON INSTITUTE OF THE ATTIC YOUTH CENTER - PROVIDES TRAINING, OUTREACH, AND CONSULTATION TO SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, AND FAITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE TRI-STATE AREA ON THE BEST PRACTICES FOR CREATING SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SPACES FOR LGBTQ YOUTH. ATTIC YOUTH PANELISTS ALSO LEAD TRAININGS, SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND OPEN THEMSELVES UP TO QUESTIONS AND CONVERSATION. 4) ADDITIONAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES - INCLUDES DAILY MEALS AND ACCESS TO FOOD, ACCESS TO COMPUTERS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY, DAILY DROP-IN, AND ACCESS TO OTHER BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS PERSONAL HYGIENE SUPPLIES. 2020 HIGHLIGHTS 1) TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF LGBTQ YOUTH AMID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE ATTIC TRANSITIONED PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES TO VIRTUAL PLATFORMS IN APRIL 2020, WITH TELE-COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, WORKSHOPS, DROP-IN CHATS, AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ALL REBORN VIRTUALLY. 2) IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT IN PHILADELPHIA, THE ATTIC WAS INVITED TO CO-HOST AND PARTICIPATE IN PLANNING THE PHILLY QUEER MARCH FOR BLACK LIVES IN JUNE 2020. THIS MARCH AIMED TO CENTER AND CELEBRATE THE INTERSECTION OF BLACK AND LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES AND DREW HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS. 3) IN JULY 2020, THE ATTIC REOPENED OUR PHYSICAL LOCATION, OFFERING TAKEAWAY HOT MEALS, FOOD PANTRY ITEMS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND PERSONAL HYGIENE SUPPLIES VIA CURBSIDE PICK-UP. YOUTH ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE A COMPUTER IN A PRIVATE SPACE TO ATTEND VIRTUAL COUNSELING OR CASE MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENTS. 4) THE ATTIC WAS CHOSEN BY THE PENN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY TO BE THE RECIPIENTS OF A GENEROUS 50,000 DONATION AS PART OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE EQUALITY AND EMPHASIZE EDUCATION AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES AS DRIVERS OF CHANGE. 5) THE ATTICS BRYSON INSTITUTE WAS REQUESTED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA TO DEVELOP A FACILITATORS MANUAL FOR THE VIRTUAL GENDER & SEXUALITY ALLIANCES (GSA) BEING ESTABLISHED IN RESPONSE TO CYBER EDUCATION. THIS INSTRUCTIVE VIRTUAL HANDBOOK, IN CONJUNCTION WITH BRYSON TRAININGS, WILL SERVE AS A GUIDE FOR PHILADELPHIA SCHOOLS TO CREATE AFFIRMING, BRAVE, VIRTUAL GSA SPACES THAT PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY FOR STUDENTS OF ALL GENDERS AND SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS. YOUTH OUTCOMES IN 2020, YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING ATTIC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES: 1) CONNECTED OVER 200 LGBTQ YOUTH TO THE ATTICS FULL CONTINUUM OF PROGRAMMING, WHICH INCLUDES COUNSELING, LIFE SKILLS, CASE MANAGEMENT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP, ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, JOB READINESS, ART AND CULTURE, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. 2) PROVIDED INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR 20 YOUTH THROUGH OUR WORK & EDUCATION READINESS FOR QUEER YOUTH (WERQ) PROGRAM, FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND EMPOWERING YOUTH TO USE THEIR VOICES FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. 3) OFFERED 235 LEARNING AND SUPPORT GROUP SESSIONS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS; 130 OF THESE HAVE BEEN VIRTUAL SESSIONS. 4) PROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR 55 PARTICIPANTS, WHICH INCLUDED DEVELOPING INDIVIDUAL RISK REDUCTION PLANS, ENCOURAGING CONDOM USE AND FREQUENT TESTING, AND CONNECTING YOUTH TO RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS MEDICAL CARE, MENTAL HEALTHCARE, AND LEGAL SERVICES. REFERRED 18 HOUSING INSECURE AND HOMELESS YOUTH TO HOUSING RESOURCES. 5) PROVIDED 78 INITIAL CONSULTATIONS AND ONGOING WEEKLY INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING TO 45 YOUTH. ENGAGED 17 FAMILIES AND 3 COUPLES IN FAMILY AND COUPLES COUNSELING. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, THIS EQUATED NEARLY 2,000 INDIVIDUAL, COUPLE, AND FAMILY COUNSELING SESSIONS. 6) DISTRIBUTED COUNTLESS SAFER SEX PACKETS DURING REGULAR OPERATING HOURS AND SOCIAL AND OUTREACH EVENTS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN IN MARCH, AND VIA PICKUP SINCE THE PANDEMIC PROMPTED THE MOVE TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT ARE EITHER VIRTUAL OR COMPLY WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING. ALSO BEGAN DISTRIBUTING TAKE-HOME HIV TESTS VIA PICKUP. 7) THE ATTICS BRYSON INSTITUTE TRAINED OVER 805 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH THEIR TRAININGS ON THE BEST PRACTICES IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF LGBTQ YOUTH DURING 2020. GIVEN THE PANDEMIC CONDITIONS, THESE NUMBERS ARE LOWER THAN ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED, REFLECTING THE DIFFICULTY OF KEEPING YOUTH ATTENDANCE AND ENGAGEMENT AS HIGH IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT AS WAS POSSIBLE WITH IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING. THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN THIS TIME CONTINUES TO BE DEEPLY IMPACTFUL AND WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING. PROGRAMMING OUTCOME MEASURES THE ATTIC CONSISTENTLY EVALUATES ITS PROGRAMMING IN EFFORT TO ASSURE THAT EACH YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATES IN ATTIC SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES GROWS AND THRIVES. OVER TIME, THE ATTIC HAS FOUND THAT CONSISTENT PARTICIPATION IN ATTIC PROGRAMMING LEADS TO: 1) INCREASED POSITIVE BEHAVIOR/PERSONAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. 2) INCREASED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES (E.G. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, ADAPTABILITY, TEAMWORK). 3) INCREASED LEADERSHIP CAPACITY (E.G. PUBLIC SPEAKING, GROUP FACILITATION, ADVOCACY). 4) IMPROVED LITERACY, STUDY SKILLS, AND ACADEMIC COMPETENCIES. 5) IMPROVED JOB ACQUISITION SKILLS. 6) INCREASED 21ST CENTURY SKILLS (E.G. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LITERACY, CRITICAL THINKING, CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION, ETC.). 7) IMPROVED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS, AND CONSULTATIONS LED BY THE BRYSON INSTITUTE OF THE ATTIC YOUTH CENTER, SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND ORGANIZATIONS: 1) INCREASE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE LGBTQ YOUTH POPULATION. 2) INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THE LGBTQ YOUTH THAT THEY SERVE. 3) WORK TOWARDS CREATING MORE ACCEPTING AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR LGBTQ YOUTH.

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