• Equality
  • Community
    • Health
    • Youth
    • Seniors
  • Voices
    • From the CEO
    • Take Five
    • Why I Give
  • About the Center
  • Galleries
  • Calendar
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • 2nd Annual Sabor de Mi Centro Block Party Boogies in Boyle Heights
  • Senior Prom Celebrates 25th Anniversary
  • “Solidarity Forever”: Montana State Rep. Zooey Zephyr at Trans Town Hall
  • “We Are Immense, and We Are Abundant”: Trans Pride LA Organizer Gina Bigham Looks Back on a Decade-Plus of Highlights and the Biggest Trans Pride Yet
  • Trans Actors, Athletes, and Activists Celebrate Community and Solidarity at First-Ever Trans Town Hall
  • “My Crown Is Paid For”: 12 Center Portraits of Juneteenth
  • House of Avalon, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Join Center Staff and Supporters for LA Pride: “F*ck the Margins. We’re the Center.”
  • This Year’s AIDS/LifeCycle Participants on Why They Ride
Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube
LGBT News Now
Learn about career opportunities at the Center
  • Equality
  • Community
    • Health
    • Youth
    • Seniors
  • Voices
    • From the CEO
    • Take Five
    • Why I Give
  • About the Center
  • Galleries
  • Calendar
LGBT News Now
You are at:Home»Community»Youth»LifeWorks Mentorship Program Stays Strong During Pandemic —Even Expands to Center South

LifeWorks Mentorship Program Stays Strong During Pandemic —Even Expands to Center South

0
By on January 21, 2021 Youth

By Greg Hernandez

When Guadalupe Sanchez signed up for the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s LifeWorks Mentoring Program, she wanted to be matched with a cisgender, butch lesbian who had achieved professional success.

She found that in Rosser Goodman (pictured with Sanchez, above), an accomplished television and film director and producer who became her mentor two years ago.

“To be able to see someone older who presents like me and is successful has been eye-opening and a blessing,” says Sanchez. “It really has opened my horizons and helped me to see a different narrative than what I could have imagined before. I’ve seen that it actually does get better.”

LifeWorks is one of the only LGBTQ-focused mentoring programs in the nation with a network of more than 100 mentors to support their young mentees in goal setting through five achievement areas: home, health, education, career, and personal development.

During the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanchez and Goodman kept in touch by texting and the FaceTime app. Pre-pandemic, they met at coffee houses and attended art installations and plenty of LGBT film screenings.

“She sees me as another adult versus as a kid,” shares Sanchez, who recently graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from Cal State University, Dominguez Hills. “We talk about real-life situations. You think you know everything, but sometimes you need another person to come in and give you a bigger perspective.”

Diverse Pool of Mentors

LifeWorks mentors must make a 12-month commitment to the program and are encouraged to be there for their mentee, not as a parent or a teacher, but as someone who is there to guide them in being their absolute best selves.

“It’s a goal-oriented program, and we focus on goals,” explains Mentoring Coordinator Emmy Martinez. “A lot of it is just knowing that you have someone on your side because a lot of the youth are displaced and don’t have their family to support them.”

A few years ago, youth would often be matched with whichever mentors were available because the mentor pool had dwindled down so low. Now a youth can make specific requests, such as gender identity and careers paths, or choose someone themselves.

“I wanted youth to have a reflection of themselves in our mentor pool,” Martinez says. “I networked like crazy going to as many events as I could, got the word out through the Center’s Trans* Lounge program, and that’s how we’ve been getting more trans and gender expansive mentors.”

Among the matches resulting from Martinez’s outreach efforts was high school teacher KR Rose and a 15-year-old youth with whom they had something profoundly in common: both were on a gender journey of transitioning from female to nonbinary. The teen felt more comfortable asking for information regarding their identity and gender-related surgeries from someone living the experience as a trans nonbinary individual.

“They got top surgery a year ago, and I had had mine a few years earlier. So, that was a big connection for us,” Rose shares. “I could share my experience and let them know what to expect.”

Rose even traveled to San Francisco to be with the teen and the teen’s mother for pre- and post-surgery.

“I didn’t realize I’d have the option of identifying as nonbinary until I was 30,” Rose says. “To see someone who is 13 or 14 on that journey and figuring themselves out has been really inspiring. They are free to be themselves and be authentic.”

LifeWorks Heads South

Thanks to a five-year grant from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Center began this month to expand LifeWorks Mentoring to its Center South location near Leimert Park.

Center South focuses on serving the needs of young gay and bi men of color ages 12 to 29 and trans women of color, and its services include HIV and STI testings, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) services; linkage and retention to HIV care; housing and employment navigation; mental health services; and legal services.

Mentors for Center South participants will receive additional training in the areas of HIV and substance abuse prevention.

“We are reaching out to possible mentors and mentees from that area,” explains Mentoring Navigator Jeffrey Tenin. “It’s my job to build up a robust network there and a program that will also include workshops and, eventually, working with GSA clubs.”

Due the pandemic, the Center South program has so far been limited to community events via Zoom. Some of the workshops include American Sign Language, in which youth learn LGBT-friendly signs, and how to build a vision board.

Connecting During Pandemic

The pandemic may have changed the way mentors and mentees stay in touch, but they have remained committed to each other

“There have been a good number of folks who have made this work,” Martinez says. “Zoom has been a wonder for a lot of our youth because checking in online can be more consistent. At a time when we are all on Zoom, I think it’s really easy to feel alone right now. But, knowing you have a mentor whom you will connect with for an hour—someone who has your back and asks you questions about your life—is worth every minute.”

For more information about the Mentoring Program, visit lifeworksla.org or contact [email protected] or 323-860-7373.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Related Posts

Big Freedia Offers Words of Inspiration to LGBTQ+ Youth at The Future Is Black: Renaissance

Slice, Slice Baby!

LGBTQ+ Youth, Seniors, and ‘Drag Race’ Queens Celebrate Chosen Family at Inaugural Intergenerational Thanksgiving Dinner

Comments are closed.

Upcoming Events

Oct 14
7:30 am - 6:00 pm

Models of Pride 2023

View Calendar
About Us

LGBT News Now

LGBT News Now is a publication of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, the Center is the largest LGBT organization in the world, dedicated to building a world where LGBT thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society. Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org.

Follow Us on Instagram

lalgbtcenter

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

Los Angeles LGBT Center
🌈Great news! #California Gov. Gavin Newsom sign 🌈Great news! #California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law 9 bills this weekend that will help ensure the safety and dignity of the #LGBTQ+ community through measures addressing inclusive school climates, gender-affirming business licensing, and public accommodations. This is a moment to take action, click the link in bio to urge Gov. Newsom to sign AB1645 🗣️
Swipe for more info➡️
“Queer people are told to minimize everything. W “Queer people are told to minimize everything. We’re told to be the friend or the supporting character. But drag makes us think, what if I’m the main character?” asked #TrixieMattel in her speech at last year’s #ModelsofPride, the world’s largest free conference for #LGBTQ+ youth. “I want you guys to know that you are all the main character.”

The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” champ accepted the event’s Model of Pride award, celebrating her epic career spanning entertainment, music, cosmetics—and even commercial renovation, with the hotel makeover series “Trixie Motel” for Discovery—at a time when drag was becoming a growing target for the far-right. 

This year, the drag bans have evolved into an anti-LGBTQ assault on California schools, but Models of Pride is back on October 14th with keynote speakers like #DylanMulvaney and #HayleyKiyoko to create the safe, empowering space our students need right now. You can register at the #linkinbio, or head to modelsofpride.org for more info.
Closing out #BiVisibilityWeek with a banger. (Did Closing out #BiVisibilityWeek with a banger. (Did YOU know the B in Cardi B was for #Bisexual?) Remember you are valid, you owe nobody an explanation, and you’re loved. 🩷💜💙
Happy #BiVisibilityDay! Today we’re giving love Happy #BiVisibilityDay! Today we’re giving love to and celebrating the B in LGBTQ. Bi Visibility Day was created to recognize and celebrate the Bi+ community including the need to reduce stigma of the identity. Bisexuality is beautiful and bi folks deserve love, support and acceptance. How are you celebrating Bi Visibility Day? Drop your 🩷💜💙’s in the comments 

🎥 @kimhoyos
🚨#Breaking: The United States is facing a short 🚨#Breaking: The United States is facing a shortage of injectable penicillin, which is the usual medication used for treating #syphilis. Fortunately, #DoxyPEP has been proven to effectively lower the risk of sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis, by as much as 87%. For more information, swipe to view our FAQs on DoxyPEP or visit the link in our bio.
We are excited to announce recording artist #Hayle We are excited to announce recording artist #HayleyKiyoko (@hayleykiyoko), AKA #LesbianJesus, as this year’s double headliner and honoree at our #ModelsofPride youth summit! She joins keynote speaker and Model of Pride Award recipient #DylanMulvaney and social media star @RubasWorld, who will serve as the event’s host on October 14.

At a time when LGBTQ+ education is under attack, Models of Pride lifts love, acceptance, and queer joy for LGBTQ+ youth and allies. For more info and registration, visit modelsofpride.org. 

#ModelsofPride #LGBTQYouth  #LoveAndAcceptance
Join us for #Queerceañera on Friday, Sept. 29th! Join us for #Queerceañera on Friday, Sept. 29th! 

Hosted by RuPaul's #DragRace Season 15 alum, @EsTitties, Queerce is a vivid cultural summit and community cotillion rooted in unbridled celebration. This year’s honorees RuPaul’s #DragRaceMéxico host @allaboutvalentina and actress/recording artist @MissBenny sitting down together in a candid keynote conversation. 

But wait, there’s more! The post-program reception features tropical cocktails and live performances by #LA’s own Latin dance phenomenon @Queerchata. RSVP now at our #linkinbio #LatinxHeritageMonth
We are thrilled to announce superstar and host of We are thrilled to announce superstar and host of #DragRaceMexico #Valentina as an honoree and keynote speaker at the Center’s first-ever #Queerceañera! Join us in celebrating the vibrancy of LA's LGBTQ+ Latinx community on Friday, Sept. 29 in Hollywood.

There’s more! The post program reception features tropical cocktails and live performances curated by LA’s own Latin dance phenomenon @Queerchata. RSVP now at our #linkinbio #LatinxHeritageMonth
“You don’t necessarily have to be from a ranch “You don’t necessarily have to be from a ranch to be a cowboy.” Every spring in Zacatecas, Mexico, men from across North America don their finest cowboy attire for a private gathering of gay vaqueros. The weekend-long convention is a celebration of Mexican culture where attendees are free to embrace their authentic selves. “[Mexican culture] is ours, too,” one attendee told the Los Angeles Times.

Founded nearly 20 years ago by bar owner Mariano Escobar, the event features live music, dancing, and a contest for “rostro vaquero”—the official face of the convention and a nod to Mexican festivals where women are crowned “princesses” or “queens.” This year, the title went to Eros Herrera, a police officer who recently opened a homeless shelter and soup kitchen serving the #LGBTQ+ community in San Luis Potosi.

“When I’m on the street, I’m very discreet,” Daniel Renteria, an agave farmer who traveled an hour and a half to attend, told the Times. “Having to hide yourself is hard. Events like this one unite us.” Read more at the #linkinbio.

Happy #LatinxHeritageMonth—stay tuned for more coverage on this page over the next few weeks.

📷 Gary Coronado via @latimes
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Stay Connected
Subscribe
Copyright © 2022 Los Angeles LGBT Center
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.