#pridegarden

These students built a Peace and Pride garden from the ground up at their school!

Last year, we awarded $500,000 in grants to schools across the U.S. for student-led projects that support LGBTQ+ youth through our 50 States, 50 Grants, 5,000 Voices initiative. Just over a year later, we wanted to show y'all how their projects turned out:

This school in Baldwin Park, CA used their grant funds to transform an empty lot into a welcoming Peace and Pride garden, complete with places to relax and meditate, LGBTQ+ decorations and education, and workshops on mental wellness!

We asked teacher Michelle what her favorite part was:

"For me I have loved watching kids light up when they are gardening, literally getting their hands dirty. Their faces when they see what they have grown are fantastic. Also I have been struggling to increase LGBTQ awareness on the campus for a decade. I finally feel like I'm being heard. Also I learned a ton of stress relief activities and other mental wellness tips during the project. Drum circles. I learned how to host a drum circle!"

And student Cilla what the impact has been:

"As an LGBTQ+ student myself I feel more seen as I love there's a place on campus that will always have a flag up, and not only during June. Before, this used to be a random place in our school that just had bare walls and dirt and weeds growing, so it was not much for sightseeing, but now it is a beautiful, aesthetically pleasing garden that not only is beautiful, but calming." 💜

Cilla also has some advice for fellow LGBTQ+ students:

"Honestly, I just wanted to say, who cares what others think? And it's not a straight line because clearly, you're not straight, so why should the journey of finding your true self be? It is OK to learn new things about yourself. The journey is not going to be a simple one, but it is a journey that needs to be taken. And yes, there are going to be homophobic people, and honestly, there is always going to be someone judging in your life, so who cares? Do you babe! Be yourself, Love yourself!! Because honestly, no one's going to do it better than you do it to yourself. Also work it, All year round, 365 days a year."