Boulder OUT Leadership Development (BOLD)
Boulder OUT Leadership Development (BOLD), formerly, Project Youth Empowerment is a Boulder Pride program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, youth (LGBTQ) youth between the ages of 13 and 24. The program offers opportunities in leadership development and community service, as well as social activities. The program is based on the resiliency model which focuses on personal strength building. The focus is away from problems and concentrates on strengths and competencies. This increase in an individual’s personal strength increases self esteem and self acceptance and helps the individual become resilient and bounce back from experiences of adversity. There are three basic strategies that form the base of this program. These are: (1) fostering caring relationships that are developed through listening and trust; (2) creating high expectations that emphasize strength and assets; (3) providing opportunities for skills development and engagement in the process. The overall goal of the program is to increase self esteem, increase a sense of belonging to the community, and increase resiliency thereby decreasing harmful, at risk behaviors.
There are numerous choices offered to youth so that all youth may find some opportunity or activity which is of interest. Among the opportunities and activities offered, just to name a few, are scholarships to summer wilderness experiences such as Outward Bound, and to regional and national youth leadership conferences and workshops. There are on-going activities in creative writing, photography, and art held at the Pride House and led by professional writers and artists from within the community. Boulder Pride is currently pursuing funding for an extensive youth filmmaking project and also a queer youth literary zine. Youth are able to participate in activities with Rainbow Alley in Denver, like the Queer Prom and fall Harvest Party, as well as participate in similar activities held in Boulder. There are opportunities for youth to participate in community service projects such as providing to Rainbow Elders home maintenance tasks and yard work. Youth can learn about political issues and learn how to educate other youth about critical political issues of concern to the LGBTQ community here in Colorado. There are opportunities to participate in Pride Fest, such as FACETS Talent Show and the Block Party.
Boulder Pride partners with many other organizations such as the GLBT Center at CU, Rainbow Elders, PFLAG, Longmont Youth Services, and Rainbow Alley to bring quality activities and opportunities to our LGBTQ youth.
To learn more about this program and the many opportunities offered to LGBTQ youth, check our website calendar, Boulder Pride Weekly E-lert, or call Boulder Pride at 303-449-5777.