LGBTQIA+ Youth Artist Workshops
In 2018, LGBTQIA+ young people from across Alameda County participated in Queer & Trans Asian American Youth, Soar! (QTAAYS) workshops emphasizing trans and gender justice. Through short film instruction and video production, the youth filmmakers met local LGBTQIA+ Asian/Asian American community activists; engaged with basic instruction in digital video technology (camera work and editing); directed & produced short films; and built friendships as part of a supportive community. The program culminated in a celebratory showcase where they premiered their short film projects.
In 2022, with the support of funding from the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), we hosted convenings promoting community health and well-being—especially given the challenges faced by artists during the pandemic. Southeast Asians RISE teamed up with the QTViệt Cafe Collective to host interactive workshops supporting LGBTQIA+ Asian American youth mental health. Particularly during a fraught time of social isolation, holding these intentional creative spaces was vital to creating community and belonging.