Tag Archives: PRIDE

We recognize that coming out regarding sexual or gender identity is a deeply personal journey and it can be a challenging and intimidating process without the proper support. In honor of this significant milestone and as we approach National Coming Out Day on October 11th, OCF is offering a new session titled, “Thinking About Coming Out” designed for facilitators of Girls Circle®, Unity Circle™, and The Council for Boys and Young Men®. Read More... ...

I grew up at a time when thinking about coming out was foreign to me, growing up, I never knew there was another way to celebrate my authentic self. According to societal norms, I was supposed to act ladylike, wear dresses, be polite, find a nice guy, get married, and... Read More. ...

September 15th – October 15th is National Hispanic Heritage Month, when Americans celebrate the “histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.” One Circle Foundation is dedicated to ensuring equal access to Circles for all youth, including Latine youth, who often face higher than normal rates of depression, alcohol and drug abuse according to the American Addiction Center. To create a safe and supportive environment for these young individuals, we... Read More. ...

Supporting LGBTQ+ youth is so important with the rates of suicidal ideation increasing. Guide the youth in your life through the following conversation so they have a chance to identify their role models and values. Let’s help empower youth on their journey of self-discovery. ...

As a facilitator of circle programs, there are many times when you will be asked for support and resources on a myriad of topics from the participants in your groups or their family members and friends. You may also find yourself in a position where others see you as a leader and rely on you for support and guidance beyond your role as a facilitator—as a caring individual, parent, coworker, friend, or community member. You don’t need to be an expert or have all of the answers when someone is seeking your support or guidance, but you can ask open questions, be a supportive listener, and provide resources from folks who are the experts. ...

“If we are working toward equity by making a protected space in our groups for the experience of queer kids, we also need to ask ourselves if we are allowing these same queer kids to come with their racial identity, their socioeconomic status, their ability status, their gender identity, their religious affiliation, and everything else that makes them who they are”. ...

A New Grant Writer’s Template is now available for Unity Circle and we've updated the Grant Writer’s Template for Girls Circle and The Council for Boys and Young Men. The templates are available for free and provide your setting with comprehensive, sector-specific language to craft an effective grant proposal to fund One Circle Foundation professional training, curricula, and implementation that fits your unique needs. Copy and paste the written content right out of any One Circle Foundation Grant Writer’s Template directly into your grant proposal. ...

June is National Pride Month, a time to reflect on the actions and courageous efforts of countless LGBT+ individuals in our history who fought for the rights of entire communities that faced unjust violence, discrimination, or were flat-out ignored by larger society. Every Wednesday throughout June we provided a social media highlight on an amazing LGBT+ individual whose community work changed the course of American, and LGBT+, history. Read all 5 features on Harvey Milk, Gilbert Baker, Marsha P. Johnson, Bayard Rustin, and Stormé DeLarverie in this compilation-style blog post. ...

One Circle Foundation aims to provide services and resources to support facilitators of youth service programs. We meet the needs of our community where it’s at.  Unfortunately, our community is dealing with too much all at once. We are met with violence, systemic racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, ablism, housing insecurity, a climate crisis, mass shootings, war, a worldwide pandemic, and a severe mental health crisis. These large-scale traumas are on top of any personal challenges that individuals may be going through.  These topics can be hard to discuss with the youth and communities that we all work with, but it’s essential that we open the door for discussion to process these issues in a safe and supportive environment. Here is a list of resources for navigating through these topics with the youth and communities that you serve.  ...