With a gift of $10,000, Glenview Pride would fund the development of “the Rainbow Lounge,” a meeting space for Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook’s pride support groups.

Currently, YSGN’s pride support groups meet in a library space that is a relic of past programming needs. YSGN offers seven weekly pride support groups: Primary colors (grade 4), Froot Loops (grades 5, 6, 7), Alphabet Soup (grade 8), Rainbow Connections (high schools), and Trans and Nonbinary (high school). These groups are peer to peer support groups facilitated by staff. A typical meeting includes introductions; age-appropriate activities such as games, creative projects, and outdoor activities; and process time that includes structured and facilitated conversation, often identity related. The goal of these support groups is to help youth build support and relationships. The groups are capped at 12 participants and run 90 minutes long. The groups are closed rather than drop in style because it’s more effective in relationship building, run for 6-8 weeks, and are free to participants.

The space as currently designed does not allow for flexible use of the space due to the number of built in bookshelves, file cabinets, and other fixed furniture. A true “home” for the pride support groups--with storage and design features that meet the needs of current programming--would allow staff to provide more effective programming and better meet the needs of participants.

With these funds, Glenview Pride would:

-Demo and remove unused built-in bookshelves, desks, and file cabinets, and replace with appropriate storage for group supplies.

-Purchase and mount a smartboard or a white board and ceiling projector, which would provide audiovisual capacity that the space currently lacks.

-Purchase appropriate furniture that is easy to reposition, in order to maximize flexibility of use of the space, such as a table that folds easily and comfortable chairs on casters that can be easily moved or converted to circle seating.

The agency’s mission is to meet the social and emotional well-being needs of children and teens so that they can grow up happy, healthy and hopeful.

The agency’s programs have evolved, expanded and contracted through the years, depending on client needs and funding sources. The agency’s activity-based model is grounded in therapeutic dialogue and interaction between a counselor/social worker and his/her young client. This approach is our best tactic for engaging with children and their improved mental health.

Current services include individual and group counseling, social skills groups, youth-development and mentoring programs, health education and crisis intervention.