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.
Rainbow Connections Youth Empowerment Council
Date: First and Third Thursday of Each Month, Nov. 6 and Nov. 20
Time: 4:15 - 5:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Ages: Monterey and San Benito County Middle and High School Youth
RSVP: tinyurl.com/montereyrcyec
The Rainbow Connections Youth Empowerment Council is a space where YOU can:
✨ Shape LGBTQ+ programs – Be the visionaries behind Rainbow Connections youth events! Help plan an event for LGBTQ+ youth in Monterey County.
✨ Build leadership skills – Develop leadership skills, share your input and ideas to help improve programs and services for LGBTQ+ youth in your community.
✨ Connect with a supportive community – Meet other LGBTQ+ youth, create a safe space where we can share resources and receive peer-to-peer support.
Fellowship of the Queer: A Twice-a-Month Youth DnD Campaign
Date: November 2 and November 16, every First and Third Sunday
Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: The Diversity Center
Ages: 13-18
RSVP: https://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 required. No experience required - learn and make new friends on a magical space quest. Supplies provided.
Talking with Dandelions : A Workshop to Scrapbook and Tell Stories
Date: Friday, December 5
Time: 6:00 - 8:00pm
Location: Palenke Arts Studio
Address: 530 Elm Ave, Seaside 93955
Ages: 11-18
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/TalkingToDandelions
Let’s Adventure with Curiosity & Bring our Thoughts to Life through the art of writing, drawing, and or poetry!
Join The Diversity Center in collaboration with Palenke Arts in providing you a space and a story book to tell your stories how you want them to be told. However you choose to express your stories and thoughts, we are here to help you.
Will have scrapbooking supplies, food and drinks available for you to enjoy as you create your stories. Please RSVP!
Please read our group agreements here.
Movie Screening for Teens: Fentanyl High
Date: Friday, December 12
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: The Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
Cost: Free
Ages: Teens and their families
Join other teens and their families for this moving documentary at the Diversity Center. Pizza and vegan snacks are provided, and a gift card for each youth attendee.
Amid rising concerns among families, health providers, and educators, we are partnering with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and SafeRx Santa Cruz County to present the film “Fentanyl High,” a powerful documentary produced by Kyle Santoro, a recent graduate of Los Gatos High School.
“Fentanyl High” delves into the opioid crisis through the firsthand experiences of high school students, as captured in candid interviews. Families, caregivers, middle and high school students, and community members will leave the event with concrete steps for both prevention and support around this issue. Learn how social media plays a substantial role in students buying drugs, which are often counterfeit and unsafe. Attendees will receive a toolkit in either English or Spanish offering helpful suggestions for having difficult conversations around substance use and strategies for healthy coping skills. In addition, families will receive tip sheets identifying the signs of an overdose. We'll be distributing free Naloxone (Narcan), a life-saving medication, after the screening, along with training on how to administer.
A Wicked Movie Adventure
Date: Friday, November 28
Time: TBD (Between 5-9)
Location: CineLux Capitola, 1475 41st Avenue, Capitola
Ages: 11-18
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/TDCRSVP
Join us for a magical trip to Oz as we watch Wicked together on the big screen! This LGBTQ+ youth outing celebrates friendship, fun, and being unapologetically yourself. Tickets are free for those who RSVP, so grab your spot and get ready to defy gravity with us! Before attending our programs, please read our group agreements here.
Rainbow Youth Holiday Party with PRISM Club
Date: Friday, December 12
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: Raíces y Cariño, 1205 Freedom Blvd Unit 3B, Watsonville
Ages: 11-18
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/TDCRSVP
Join us for a rainbow elephant gift exchange and cookie decorating party. No gifts required! Free to join. Before attending our programs, please read our group agreements here.
Queer Student Union on Zoom
Date: Weekly Zoom meetings every Tuesday
Time/location: 4:00 - 5:00 pm on Zoom
Ages: High School students in Santa Cruz County
RSVP: tinyurl.com/QSUYLLA
Queer Student Union (QSU) is a space for LGBTQ+ high school students across Santa Cruz County to connect, create, and lead. Whether you’re passionate about advocacy, curious about exploring Queer liberation, or just want to find community, QSU is where you can make your voice heard and your ideas come to life.
Through student-led projects and events, you’ll get to:
✨ Build leadership and organizing skills
✨ Work on projects that make real change in your school and community
✨ Grow your network of Queer friends and allies
✨ Be part of shaping the future of LGBTQ+ spaces in Santa Cruz
Rainbow Kids Circle
Date: Saturday, November 1
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.
Queer Student Union in Person Gathering
Date: Saturday, November 15
Time/location: In-person meetings are held once per month on Saturdays, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The meeting location changes every month. Please fill out the interest link for the location!
Ages: High School students in Santa Cruz County
RSVP: tinyurl.com/QSUYLLA
Queer Student Union (QSU) is a space for LGBTQ+ high school students across Santa Cruz County to connect, create, and lead. Whether you’re passionate about advocacy, curious about exploring Queer liberation, or just want to find community, QSU is where you can make your voice heard and your ideas come to life.
Through student-led projects and events, you’ll get to:
✨ Build leadership and organizing skills
✨ Work on projects that make real change in your school and community
✨ Grow your network of Queer friends and allies
✨ Be part of shaping the future of LGBTQ+ spaces in Santa Cruz
Rainbow Connections: Let’s Bowl Out! Pizza Party
Date: Friday, November 14
Time: 4:30 - 7:00 PM
Location: Round1 Bowling & Arcade, 1600 Northridge Mall #200, Salinas
Ages: 11-18
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/mrx7ft37
Rainbow Connections and The Diversity Center invite you to a fun afternoon of bowling, pizza, and community! All LGBTQ+ and allied middle and high school youth in Monterey and San Benito County are invited to join us at Round1 Bowling & Arcade at the Northridge Mall. Please RSVP so that we can reserve the lanes that we need.
Pizza, drinks and bowling shoes will be provided - no bowling experience necessary.
Youth Leadership Group: Pride Youth Council for Middle Schoolers- Kickoff Party
Date: Friday, December 5
Time: 6:00 -8:00 pm
Location: The Diversity Center
Ages: LGBTQ+ Middle School students + allies
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/YECDEC2025
The Diversity Center and Friday Night Live are teaming up to start a brand-new Pride Youth Council for middle schoolers! If you want to make friends, dream big, learn cool leadership skills, and make a difference, this is your chance. PYC a space to hang out, speak up, and take action for things you care about. Join us for our Kickoff Party to help shape what the council will do and how often we’ll meet.
🍕 Free dinner + snacks
🎨 Fun activities
💪 A chance to help build something awesome together!
Please RSVP to help us plan for dinner.
Be There Ambassador: Training for Youth Mental Health Advocacy
Date: Registration is open, completion of training by November 26 to qualify for the stipend.
Location: Online. Participants must use this URL to qualify for the stipend: https://www.betherecertificate.org/?referral=diversitycenterscAges: 14-24
The Be There certificate, created by Jack.org in partnership with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, is a free, self-paced, interactive online course designed to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to support someone struggling with their mental health. Upon completion of the program, youth will become Be There Ambassadors.
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!
