Inside Out is a safe space for young Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Questioning, Queer, Asexual and Two-Spirit (we use the acronym LGBTQIA2+ as the umbrella for our community) and allied people ages 13-24. Drop in to hang out and make friends and stay for awesome discussion groups and activities.
We are not a crisis center. Please see our resources page if you or someone you know needs crisis support.
Drop-in hours: 3:00-5:00pm, Tuesday through Friday
Programs: 5:00-6:30pm, Tuesday through Friday
Specialty programs: select Mondays from 3:30-5:00pm (Leadership Academy & Melanin Magiq)
Pickup promptly at 7 pm
All programs are currently held in person at our space at 516 W. Colorado Ave. All programs have a hybrid option.
Health, Community, & Advocacy programs center all the skills and knowledges that go into being a healthy, engaged, and active member of our community. In our HAC programs, we address physical and mental health, healthy relationships, queer history, life skills, job searching, community resilience, policy impacts, and more.
Gender Identity and Development programs center topics related to transness, nonbinary, and gender expansive identities. Youth, staff, volunteers, and community partners come together to provide discussion and education about the limitless ways we consider gender identity and gender expression.
IOYS is committed to building leaders within our community to extend our mission of access, equity, and power. We host a Peer Advisor Program in which IOYS youth build skills to support other youth in the space and advocate for equity in the community.
Through different avenues of the arts, Creative Expression programs center creative expression as a platform for identity development, connection, and learning new crafts. IOYS staff partners with local artists, creatives, and organizations to support youth in communicating themselves through an amalgam of avenues.
Rec Night programs are our time to build community with and through youth–driven activities. Programs include game nights, movie nights, art activities, karaoke, scavenger hunts, basically anything fun to bring us together in sharing all the beauty of our community.
Inside Out is here for youth ages 13-24 from the Pikes Peak Region. Alongside daily in-person programs, we meet digitally in a Discord server and are accepting new participants!
To join our community center online or in person, please text or call (719) 315-1825 to connect with an Inside Out staff member.
Your first time at Inside Out. Every young person who comes to Inside Out goes through our enrollment interview with a staff member; this interview allows us to get to know each other a little bit and make sure that we have your contact information, etc. Then you’ll either jump into our online Discord server or get a tour of our physical location and an introduction to our programs! Peer Advisors will be able to help you figure out the lay of the land and answer any questions you might have or direct you to someone else who might know.
Once you’ve gone through the enrollment interview at Inside Out, everything is open to you! If you have an idea for how we can be better or do something differently to create more access for all youth — please share your ideas with a staff member!
Our Peer Recovery Coaches are specially trained to build hope, help, and strength into everything that we do at Inside Out! They meet weekly to plan and help to lead our Qmmunity Resilience program. They also help to moderate and create brave space in our online Discord server, welcoming new participants and referring other young people to trusted adults when needed.
The YAC is a group that meets weekly to learn about social justice movements! Our YAC members learn how to build movements, make change in our society, and develop leadership skills. The YAC is often called upon by our board and community to be the face of Inside Out at public events and trainings!
Our brave space agreements help keep our community in healthy relationship to one another. All members of our community (youth, staff, and volunteers) are accountable to these, and we believe in a restorative/reparative justice approach to conflict resolution.
1. Be radically welcoming
2. Be actively present
3. Sober up before you show up
4. No haters or violence
5. No guns allowed—if you bring a weapon, check it with staff at the door
6. No bullying, harassing, or verbal abuse
7. Keep our space clean & organized
8. Always ask for consent
9. One mic, one voice at a time
10. Save the drama for your llama
11. Ask before assuming
12. Respect personal space & boundaries
13. Don’t yuck my yum if it’s not offending anyone
14. In a world where you can be anything, be yourself
15. Pay it forward
16. We don’t talk about Queer Club
17. Ouch, oops, educate
18. Celebrate your little victories
19. Hydrate before you die-drate
20. Lead with compassion & be kind to yourself
Inside Out is a tobacco- and vape-free organization, as well as a drug/alcohol sober space. One of our safe/brave space rules is “sober up before you show up”. We are committed to preparing young LGBTQIA2+ people with healthy coping skills to prevent drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and abuse, while also connecting youth with resources for curbing risky substance use.
If you’re looking for local resources beyond Inside Out, we have a variety of community partners who provide services in everything from name-change assistance to substance use treatment, and much more.
At Inside Out Youth Services, we are dedicated to providing quality programs and services to LGBTQIA2+ youth in Colorado Springs and the surrounding counties. Our wide range of offerings includes support groups, mentoring opportunities, educational workshops, and social activities, designed to meet the unique needs of LGBTQIA2+ youth and young adults at all stages of their journey.
At Inside Out Youth Services, we are dedicated to providing quality programs and services to LGBTQIA2+ youth in Colorado Springs and the surrounding counties. Our wide range of offerings includes support groups, mentoring opportunities, educational workshops, and social activities, designed to meet the unique needs of LGBTQIA2+ youth and young adults at all stages of their journey.
719-328-1056
223 N Wahsatch Ave, Suite 101
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Stay in the loop of our Qmmunity by following us on social media and signing up for our newsletter!
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