Due to technical difficulties at the Sunday, May 12 service, the justice partner speaker from Outlet was hard to understand. Below is the text of their talk. If you’d like to contact Outlet, their email is: OutletProgram@acs-teens.org. Their website is: acs-teens.org/what-we-do/outlet/
If you’d like to make a donation, you may send a check to the UUCPA office made out to UUCPA with “justice partner” in the memo line, or donate online at uucpa.org/connection/donate/
“Hello all, my name is Brett Trace, I use they/them pronouns, and I am the Clinical Coordinator for the Outlet Program. Outlet is a program for LGBTQIA+ youth, ages 10-25, providing therapy, support groups, and educational opportunities in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. I always like to give an example of the work we do, so I will briefly share about a client I worked with, Leslie* (he/they). Leslie and I met through Outlet’s Trans Youth Support Group, where he asked about starting therapy when he got comfortable in the group and with me. We used the group and our therapy to overcome his rampant social anxiety, helping him return to school and finish his senior year. Leslie is now making friends learning to skate at the skatepark, traveling to Europe for the first time to see Taylor Swift, something he never thought he could do, and is now comfortable enough in his body to explore transition options. Over the next year, Outlet is looking to expand our services by hiring more clinical interns, administrative and training staff, and rebuild in-person events like Queer Prom and Lavender Graduation lost during the Pandemic. Your donations help us accomplish these goals and allow us to provide low-cost therapy to clients without insurance or other access to therapy. Next month is Pride Month, and Outlet and the San Mateo County Pride Center are hosting many Pride events. Learn more at our SOGIE 101 training on June 4 or volunteer at the Pride Celebration on June 8! Thank you all for your time.” *Leslie is a pseudonym for this client