Youth Programs
Our Youth Programs provide safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and allies to connect, express themselves, and build community through social events, leadership opportunities, and creative workshops. We empower young people by fostering resilience, self-discovery, and advocacy, ensuring they feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
Queer Prom Planning Committee
Date: Mondays, March 9 and 23
Time: 4:15 - 5:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Ages: High School LGBTQ+ youth and allies in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties
RSVP: tinyurl.com/QPPC2026
We need your help to bring Queer Prom to life! Join the planning committee and help us create the layout for the dance, make decorations, and set the vibe for our dance. Share your ideas and together we can create a fun and inclusive dance for everyone. Please RSVP for the Zoom link!
DRAG: Divination, Rainbows, And Glitter
Date: Friday, March 13
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Location: Raíces y Cariño, 7 Hangar Way #B, Watsonville
Ages: 11-18
RSVP: tinyurl.com/SacredDragWorkshopRC
Come ready to move, learn, laugh, and maybe leave with a little more sparkle than you arrived with.
Together with drag superstar Magadelena More, youth will:
Practice performing and build dance skills
Create or deepen our own drag practices
Reflect on how our ancestors influence our art and Indigenous perspectives on drag and gender
Slay The Night Away Queer Prom
Date: Saturday, April 25
Time: 6:00-10:00 pm
Location: Sequoia High School
229 Green Valley Rd, Freedom
Ages: High School students in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties
RSVP: tinyurl.com/QueerProm2026
Slay the Night Away Queer Prom is a neon soaked time machine celebrating 80’s glam and classic horror movies where camp reigns supreme, and everyone survives. If Queer Prom were a creature, it would crawl straight out of a VHS tape and onto the dancefloor. Think Elvira, Frankenstein in platform boots, Ghostface in drag, and the final girl with big hair and bigger dreams who outsmarts evil. Tap into the Queer joy of getting dressed and feeling celebrated.
🏳️🌈 You don’t need a date to come to this dance. Queer Prom is open to ALL LGBTQIA2S+ high school students and allies!
Queer Student Union
Upcoming Online and In-Person Meetings!
Date: Every Tuesday
Time: 4:15 - 5:00 pm
Location: RSVP for information
Ages: Santa Cruz County High School Students
RSVP: tinyurl.com/QSUYLLA
The Queer Student Union is part of the Youth Led Leadership Alliance, which is a network of 8 different leadership groups sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, working together to develop leadership skills and make an impact across their community.
Additional in-person gathering on Saturday, March 21!
Rainbow Connections Youth Empowerment Council
Date: First and Third Thursday of Every Month
Time: 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Ages: Monterey and San Benito County Middle and High School Youth
RSVP: tinyurl.com/montereyrcyec
🌈 Join the Rainbow Connections Youth Empowerment Council! 🌈
✨ Be the visionaries behind Rainbow Connections youth events!
✨ Learn leadership and community-building skills.
✨ Meet other LGBTQ+ youth and co-create a safe space where we can share resources and receive peer-to-peer support.
Middle School Leadership Group: Queer Middle School Improvement Team (Q-MIT)
Upcoming Online and In-Person Meetings!
Ages: LGBTQ+ Middle School students + allies
RSVP: tinyurl.com/QMITRSVP
The Diversity Center and Friday Night Live have teamed up to start a brand-new Pride Youth Council for middle schoolers! If you want to make friends, dream big, learn new leadership skills, and make a difference, this is your chance. Q-MIT is a space to hang out, speak up, and take action for things you care about. Join us every second and fourth Wednesday of each month to help shape what the council will do!
Fellowship of the Queer: A Youth DnD Campaign
Date: First and Third Sunday of Every Month
Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: The Diversity Center
Ages: 13-18
RSVP: tinyurl.com/tdcyouthdnd
Join the queerest campaign in town, featuring adventure, fun, snacks, and Spelljammer! This will be an episodic, continuous campaign. We will make characters together, or you can use a pre-built. RSVP is required. No experience is required - learn and make new friends on a magical space quest. Supplies provided.
Rainbow Connections Student Wellness Expo
Date: Friday, April 17
Time: 4:30 - 6:30 pm
Location: One Main Street
1 Main Street, Salinas
Ages: Educators, Parents/Caregivers, Students
RSVP: tinyurl.com/RCSWE2026
Join us for the 3rd Annual Rainbow Connections Student Wellness Expo, a dynamic and welcoming space to learn, connect, and uplift LGBTQ+ students and families. This year, we’re excited to feature a student panel along with interactive activities designed to spark conversation, reflection, and connection.
The expo brings together school leaders, educators, parents/caregivers, youth and allies to explore how we can work together to strengthen mental health and wellness support for LGBTQ+ youth.
Rainbow Kids Circle
Date: Every first Saturday of the month
Ages: Youth 5-11 and their families
For details and to RSVP, contact rainbowkidscircle@gmail.com.
Rainbow Kids Circle is a monthly 90-minute playgroup for gender diverse, LGBTQ+ kids and allies elementary school age 5-11 and their families facilitated by Sara. Rainbow Kids Circle meets on the first Saturday of each month. Kids must be accompanied by an adult family member. Siblings ages 10 and under are welcome to attend. Families and kids will have a chance to do arts and crafts, read a story, enjoy a snack, and engage in free play with other gender diverse, LGBTQ+ kids and allies.
School Support + Community Partnership
The Diversity Center offers support to Santa Cruz County schools by visiting Gender-Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) and providing educational presentations and training for students and staff.
We are open to working in partnership with local teens and organizations to plan fun, educational, and activist-oriented events. Please contact us!
