Riot Youth

Riot Youth
Times: Fridays, 4-6 p.m.
Contact: Jonah Thompson, jonah@neutral-zone.org

Riot Youth is a youth-led, safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning youth and their allies (LGBTQQA) at the Neutral Zone, Ann Arbor’s youth-driven teen center. Through leadership skill building, community organizing, networking, support and socializing, Riot Youth connects youth to build an inclusive community.

Riot Youth is working to create change in the schools through 1) policy changes, 2) trainings of administrators, teachers and counselors on creating a safe and respectful climate and 3) youth ally trainings. We have done this through 1) a climate survey 2) theater (combines our stories & statistics from the survey) with discussions 3) participation in school board and other meetings with decision makers on how to create effective climate change to stop the bullying and harassment and 4) hosting a GSA coalition.
Riot Youth also is a space for youth to talk and find support about their struggles as LGBTQQA youth. They have workshops on various issues such as gender identity/expression, intersections of LGBTQQA identity with race and other social identities, LGBTQQA history and writing workshops. They also play theater games, host movie nights, and have parties. Riot Youth also hosts a Queer Prom every Spring which was attended by over 250 youth last year from throughout the region.

Riot Youth draws from throughout Washtenaw County and beyond. We have over 80 members from about 15 different high schools, with at least 30-40 youth at each Friday’s meeting. All LGBTQQ and allied youth are welcome. Please join us!

Click here to view the Riot Youth Climate Survey

Would you like to request a presentation by Riot Youth?