Fiesta Youth is San Antonio's LGBTQ+ Youth non-profit organization.
We offer support, educational and enrichment programming/activities designed to help LGBTQ+ youth build a sense of community through friendship and peer connection through our weekly programming, special events, training, and partnered events with the San Antonio Library System and the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
We hope to empower youth to build a future where ALL people are accepted and loved as they are. In this way, our youth may become successful and contributing members of the community.
- Youth ages 12-18
- Young adults ages 18-22
- Parent and Caregiver group
Our BIPOC program is for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-18 and friends that identify as BIPOC. This weekly meeting helps our youth be able to talk about issues that affect them in different ways and how to learn more about ways to help others support their causes.
These meetings are held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at Woodlawn Pointe.
Youth ages 12-18 that identify as BIPOC can now join in on the conversations in our BIPOC Discord Chat Server. Before joining in, please sign up here and our Chat server will be sent to you.
Ages 12-18.
Chat with Friends. Share Memes. Promote Your Art!
Every Friday Night from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM we have a special program to welcome youth to chat with friends, share your creative side by showing your art, memes, and meet new people. This is for ages 12 - 18 years of age and is monitored by our Youth Facilitator and secure. Youth must sign off on our Discord Online Code of Conduct policy. This Discord Server for youth is available 7 days a week from 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM.
Interested youth in signing up must fill out the Contact Form and the discord link will be sent to you vie email or text.
We are proud to partner with the YMCA of greater San Antonio to offer additional programming nights.
LGBTQ youth, 12-18 years old.
The $1,000.00 scholarships are for youth or young adults continuing their education in a university, college, or trade school and meet eligibility requirements below.
To be eligible:
- 17-23 years old
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Currently reside in Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Wilson, Atascosa, Kendall, Bandera, Medina, Duval, Nueces, Kleberg, Kenedy, San Patricio, Jim Wells, and Brooks counties.
Click here for scholarship information.
Fiesta Youth YA (Young Adults) Meetings are held every Monday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Woodlawn Pointe Community Center.
This support program will help LGBTQ+ adults and allies come together to talk about the transition to adulthood, life events, community, health and so much more.
Our young adult program is for LGBTQ+ adults ages 18-22.
The Hector Bove Memorial Scholarship Award is a $2500.00 college scholarship award in loving memory of our friend, supporter, and volunteer of Fiesta Youth and awarded to a college bound student (age 17 -23) who will be furthering their education in behavior health education/counseling.
Hector was a huge advocate in our community with a spirit like no other with a great sense of humor, smile and laugh like no other, and a heart of love for his family and friends. This award will help carry his spirit forward for many years to come.
Thank you to all his family and friends that have made a contribution to this fund to continue to honor his memory and work he dedicated himself to in our community.
To be eligible:
- 17-23 years old
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Currently reside in Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Wilson, Atascosa, Kendall, Bandera, Medina, Duval, Nueces, Kleberg, Kenedy, San Patricio, Jim Wells, and Brooks counties.
Click here for scholarship information.
Fiesta Youth is proud to provide a facilitator lead course for free to any business, school, or organization that believes in inclusion and create awareness of how we all can work together in solidarity.
Our condensed hour and a half training is customized to help educate organizations and businesses who are seeking to create a more inclusive environment.
The training is facilitated by our certified instructors who constructed the course to include confronting implicit bias, stereotypes, and preconceived ideas of the LGBTQ+ community. This dialogue allows for a brave space where all those participating can contribute their prior knowledge of queer identity and address questions or concerns for possible environment specific scenarios. Throughout the training we will cover core vocabulary, current up to date terminology, language inclusion, the process of coming out, how not to out people, and go over what it means to be an ally in and outside the workplace.
While the training emphasizes situations with queer youth and teens in an effort to create a more comfortable and inclusive LGBTQ+ environment that represents all communities and offers a greater understanding of our youth, it also applies to the entire LGBTQ+ community. When we can share knowledge we can break barriers and continue to build safer communities.
If interested please email us at [email protected].
Provide: Contact name, email address, business, organization, or school name, contact phone number, and number of people that would be attending the session. Please provide at least 1 month lead time in order for us to schedule the session in advance.
This meeting is held separately from the youth meeting and consists of a program on a variety of topics presented in collaboration with other community organizations.
Please come connect with other parents and meet some of our amazing volunteers! Refreshments provided.
Parents, caregivers and allies of LGBTQ youth and young adults.
We rely on volunteers like you to help facilitate and supervise youth meetings. Interactions with caring adults can have a positive impact on youth. Your presence makes a difference!
As a Fiesta Youth volunteer, the following opportunities are available to you:
- Youth Meeting Volunteer - You attend Fiesta Youth meetings on Tuesdays from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. This is a bi-weekly commitment for a minimum of 12 months.
- Youth Events Volunteer - You attend occasional Fiesta Youth events (e. g. field trips, our Prom, working at the resource table at community events, etc.). This is occasional participation, on an as-needed basis.
- Special Events Volunteer - Join fundraising planning committees (e. g. "Midnight in the Garden", "Hocus Pocus", etc.). This is participation for events which finance our programming.
- Administrative Volunteer - This involves data entry and other administrative duties as needed. The Program Director will send out occasional requests for help in this regard.
REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTEERS:
- Must be 21 or older
- Must make a minimum 6 month commitment to volunteering (12 months for Youth Meeting Volunteers)
- Must complete the steps to becoming a volunteer outlined below
STEPS TO BECOMING A FIESTA YOUTH VOLUNTEER:
- Complete an application
- Application is reviewed and interviewed
- Consent to a criminal background check (every two years)
- Attend Volunteer Training
- Begin volunteer placement
- Have fun supporting youth!
Click here for volunteer application.
Our youth meetings were created to provide a safe, non-judgmental, affirming place for all LGBTQ youth. Every Tuesday, our youth meet at Woodlawn Pointe to meet new friends, participate in fun games and activities (field trips, too!), and join in on group discussions.
LGBTQ youth, 12-18 years old.