Programs

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Hello!

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.

You are more than a letter. Here, you belong.

Schedule

Drop-in hours: 3-5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday

Programs: 5:30-6:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday

Pickup promptly at 7 p.m.

All programs are currently held in person at our space at 516 W. Colorado Ave. All programs have a hybrid option.

Health, Advocacy, and Community

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 & Development

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.

Mentorship & Leadership

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.

Creative Expression

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.

Recreation

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.

Mental health

Free therapy services with our resident licensed clinicians are offered for all Inside Out participants and their families! Call 719-401-3167 to schedule an appointment, or contact us via email.

Our Services are online and in-person!

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.

WHAT TO EXPECT

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!

Peer Recovery Coaches

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.

Youth Advisory Council (YAC)

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!

Brave space agreements

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

Substance Free

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.

What I would say to someone who is questioning is that you just have to go with what feels right to you and you don’t have to identify with a label or knowing right away who you are. Just be you and do what makes you happy.

- Chris, Age 16

Youth Resources

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.