Safe Schools Summer Update: Showing Up, Standing Strong, and Spreading Love

As our educators, youth, and families take time to recharge and enjoy the summer, wherever and however they can, Safe Schools has been hard at work with our incredible partners, making this summer one for the books. Together, we've offered bold, joyful, and affirming programming that has reached hundreds across South Florida and thousands more through our ever-expanding digital platforms.

This summer, we were back in full swing with our second annual Hero’s Hangout series, welcoming over 200 youth across three different locations. Each week from June through July, we created safe, fun, and creative spaces that encouraged collaboration and imagination. Youth came together for superhero costume design workshops, trivia contests, special guests, and more, all leading up to Florida Supercon.

Those who joined us for three or more Hangouts earned free passes to Supercon, and they showed up big. From July 18 to 20, thousands of youth visited the Pride Lounge, which Safe Schools proudly co-sponsored. We gave out merch, held raffles (including Pokémon starter plushies!), and created a space of joy and discovery. Our community showed up to hear from Lucky Starzzz, straight from RuPaul’s Drag Race, and to participate in panels led by Safe Schools that celebrated the richness and diversity of our stories and the queerness woven into the worlds we love, sci-fi, anime, superheroes, and beyond.

We also took the opportunity to care for our bodies and each other. At the Pride Lounge, Safe Schools and our partners facilitated HIV testing for hundreds of young adults who made the bold choice to know their status and care for their health.

And we didn’t stop there.

We proudly awarded $26,000 in scholarships to six graduating high school seniors and six college students who are already shaping the future with brilliance, passion, and purpose. These young people represent the best of what’s next, and we’re honored to walk with them on their journeys.

In partnership with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and No Reservations, we also launched our first Nehushtan Wellness Health Fair and Back to School Celebration at Opa-locka United Methodist Church. With music, food, HIV testing, and over 100 backpacks given out, we created a moment of joy, connection, and care for a community that deserves nothing less.

Online, our “Did You Know?” video series took off. These short-form, bilingual videos provide science-based sexual health education, including HIV and STI/STD awareness. They’ve been viewed by tens of thousands; one of our HIV videos alone reached over 20,000 views, growing our YouTube family to over 12,000 subscribers and bringing our Instagram following to over 8,000 strong. We're reaching youth where they are, on their phones, and offering content that educates, affirms, and empowers.

We’re also building something special in Fort Lauderdale. Safe Schools is developing a programming hub at Undergrounds Coffee & Tea House and Fort Lauderdale United Church of Christ, making our work even more accessible to the local community. As we do this, we're also expanding our partnership with AHF to provide critical sexual health education to those most at risk and working toward a future of zero transmissions.

And we’re not done yet.

This fall, we’ll be launching new virtual programs, sharing exciting updates about our role as a founding member of the Healthy Housing Alliance, and continuing to stand in the gap for those experiencing housing insecurity, because health, housing, and hope are deeply connected.

At Safe Schools, we’re growing, expanding, and showing up in bold, beautiful ways. Whether it’s on the ground in South Florida or through our global digital reach, we are committed to building a world where every young person can be bold, live free, stay woke, and love all.

Stay tuned. Fall is coming. And we’re just getting started.

By: Rev. Dr. Harold Marrero
Chief Operating Officer

We encourage you to share this information with friends, fellow teachers, and allies and join us in bringing awareness to our efforts. Your support is essential for our ongoing work to create safe spaces for all students, regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or expression. Please consider donating to Safe Schools so that we can continue advocating for inclusivity and diversity within the education system.