Program Description
One Institute mentors a cohort of high school students from across Los Angeles County to become ambassadors for LGBTQ+ history in their schools and communities. Youth Ambassadors will begin meeting in September 2024 for approximately two Saturdays per month through January 2025 (see "Program Schedule" below). Most regular meetings will take place in-person at the ONE Gallery (626 N. Robertson Blvd) in West Hollywood. Other meeting locations may include the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries (909 W Adams Blvd) and the LA LGBT Center (1125 N McCadden Pl). Snacks and lunch will be provided at all sessions.
As a Youth Ambassador for Queer History, you will participate in LGBTQ+ history presentations and workshops in addition to archival research in the collections of ONE Archives at USC Libraries. The program guides you to develop a creative project that displays your knowledge of LGBTQ+ history. These projects culminate in an exhibition at ONE Gallery, West Hollywood, in January 2025, where you will present your work for local leaders and community members. Read about our 2024 youth exhibition here.
Through this experience, you will gain academic research experience, project management skills, community networking, and other tools to increase visibility of LGBTQ+ history in your school and community.
All graduating seniors who complete the program will receive a $1,000 scholarship from our partners at the Uptown Gay & Lesbian Alliance (UGLA). First-year students, sophomores, and juniors will receive a $500 stipend upon completing the program, courtesy of UGLA and One Institute. Additional stipends may be provided for students with transportation challenges.
If accepted, students must have a program permission form completed by a parent or legal guardian to participate.
The program is led by Trevor Ladner, Director of Education Programs at One Institute, a licensed California social studies teacher.
Application Information
Please note that you are able to save your progress using the "Save Draft" button at the bottom of this form. You will receive a shareable link to your email that you can save to access your draft, as well as an email from Jotform with a link to continue your progress. These are the only ways to access a draft in progress. You may also make a copy of this planner to draft your responses before completing this form.
The deadline for student applications and teacher recommendations has been extended to 5 pm PST on Friday, September 13, 2024. Applicants will be notified via email by Monday, September 16, 2024. Our first session will take place at ONE Gallery on Saturday, September 21, from 10 AM to 3 PM. Please direct all questions to Trevor Ladner, Director of Education Programs, at tladner@oneinstitute.org.