Easing from AANHPI+ month into Pride month like the queer Filipina-American Gemini that I am. How fortunate I am to live in a state that continues to be a leader in LGBTQ+ rights, with so many organizations that also champion and support the community. Like this month's We Care Wednesday recipient, BAGLY (Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth), for nearly 50 years they have been a youth-led, adult-supported organization committed to social justice, and creating, sustaining and advocating for programs, policies and services for the LGBTQ+ youth community in Massachusetts. I believe that organizations that center the communities they organize around can (and do) reflect the specific needs and dare I say, dreams, of that community. This is what I love about BAGLY. Together, we create a future filled with hope, acceptance, and pride.
BAGLY’s work extends well beyond the borders of the City of Boston. With a coalition of 15 LGBTQ+ youth serving organizations and programs across the state, the AGLY Network provides technical assistance and training, capacity building, best practices development, and program evaluation to LGBTQ+ youth groups across the state.
There are many ways you can support BAGLY's work. From directly donating to the programs they offer to getting involved as a volunteer. Volunteering to be an Adult Advisor allows you to forge meaningful connections with LGBTQ+ youth and increase the capacity of BAGLY staff and youth leaders to offer expansive, creative, and innovative programming. We recently learned about BAGLY's Stabilization and Success Program’s BAGLY Boutique - they accept new and gently used clothing and we're excited to find ways to collaborate.
*Since launching the We Care Wednesday initiative in January 2017 we have donated over $110K to a variety of nonprofits and mutual aid funds doing essential work in our community as well as other places. From the very local programs like Material Aid and Advocacy Program and EMA Fund to national programs like Habitat for Humanity. We select organizations that we feel represent not only our commitment to a better, more equitable world but also our desire to "do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.