SAFE SCHOOLS: 2024 ANNUAL REPORT

Safe Schools South Florida: 2024 Annual Report

What a year it’s been. From school hallways to digital screens, Safe Schools South Florida spent 2024 showing up for LGBTQ+ youth, educators, and communities across South Florida — and the results speak for themselves.

Here’s a look at what we accomplished together.

Youth & Educators

Our work in schools remained at the heart of everything we do. This year, we served as a presenting sponsor for Broward Schools’ “Diversity Day,” visited multiple Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs, and advocated for an LGBTQ History Month proclamation at the Miami-Dade School Board.

We trained over 750 educators across five in-person sessions, plus two additional virtual trainings focused on transgender awareness and legal rights. More than 1,000 students from diverse racial backgrounds accessed safe, affirming spaces through our programming. We also developed two new virtual training modules — “Queering the Spectrum” and “EmpowerQ” — for both schools and corporate audiences, awarded $22,000 in scholarships, and launched the Safe Schools Ambassador program.

Digital Outreach

Safe Schools continued to grow its voice online in a big way. Our Rainbow Roundtable series tackled everything from LGBTQ+ grief to cutting-edge AI — including an all-trans edition. Safe Schools TV surpassed 220 subscribers with top videos reaching 1,200+ views, and our TikTok crossed 10,000 followers, with one video earning over 73,000 views. Combined, we reached 7,000+ followers across Facebook and Instagram.

New shows like “Taboo Talk With David” joined returning favorites “Tiffany Explains It All,” “Queer History 101,” and “Rainbow Roundtable” — all building toward Season 2 in 2025. We also began developing a youth-focused sexual education and health resources website to serve as a go-to hub for students and educators.

Community & Social

None of this happens in isolation. This year, we partnered with an extraordinary range of organizations, including the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Broward County School System, Broward Teachers Union, OUTshine Film Festival, Miami Beach Pride Parade, University of Miami, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, and many more. We also hosted teacher appreciation events and a Youth Christmas Wonderland Holiday Party — because community means celebrating together, too.

Fundraising & Board Development

Safe Schools raised over $800,000 this year through campaigns like Florida AIDS Walk and Give Miami Day, setting a record of 107 donors in a single day. We secured grants from the Bears of South Florida, Children’s Trust, Gamma Mu Foundation, It Gets Better, and the Quadracci Family Foundation. Six new board members joined our team, bringing diverse professional expertise, and we updated our bylaws for stronger governance. We were also honored to receive the University of Miami’s 2024 Lavender Celebration “Community Partner Award.”

Looking Ahead

With your support, Safe Schools is poised to expand programming, deepen partnerships, and grow our media reach in 2025. Every contribution helps create inclusive environments where every student feels safe, supported, and empowered. Together, we can ensure the next generation thrives.

Thank you for believing in our mission.