What is You(th) Belong?
All Young People in Metro-Atlanta are invited to join us each month for “YOU(th) Belong,” celebrating youth leadership, advocacy, and creative expression.
Across Atlanta, we support monthly gatherings where we:
center youth and young adult learning about social justice issues from the past to the present,
provide spaces for youth to engage with leaders and change-makers,
cultivate experiences nurture authentic and empowering relationships! #YouthBelongATL, and
celebrate creative expression of children, youth, and young adults and their advocates
The LGBTQ Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, in concert with a number of partner organizations and advocates for youth, have co-created this new program that connects Atlanta’s Youth with the city’s rich LGBTQ+ history, legacy and culture. Working together to support our children, youth, and young adults are partners that include, but are not limited to: Kaleidoscope Village, Atlanta Pride, Lost-n-Found Youth, SOJOURN, Atlanta LGBTQ History Project, OUT Front Theatre Company, Amizade, and Georgia Equality.
Hosted at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights quarterly, but also at other locations throughout the city, “YOU(th) Belong” aligns a broad and diverse collective of organizations committed to providing support and affirmation to LGBTQ+ children, youth, and young adults.
Click the flyers below to RSVP for event(s)
Join VOX ATL and Free Your Feels for VOX-A-PALOOZA on Sat., May 4, 2024! This youth-led event will feature performances and content from talented youth poets and journalists, mental health resources and self-expression opportunities, food, fun, and more! Don't miss out on this unforgettable event celebrating teen publishing and uncensored self-expression in collaboration with Free Your Feels — for ages 13+. Register for your FREE tickets today!
VOX ATL'S MISSION IS TO LEAD A YOUTH-VOICE MOVEMENT WHERE TEENS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS CREATE A STRONGER, MORE EQUITABLE COMMUNITY THROUGH LEADERSHIP AND UNCENSORED SELF-EXPRESSION.
YOU(th) Belong Steering Committee Members
Tyler Michelle
Steering Committee Chair
Tyler Michelle (she/her)is a graduate of Campbell High School in Cobb County. She is a resilient advocate and emerging leader driven by a deeply personal journey marked by adversity and a commitment to advocacy. Raised in the shadows of abuse and alienation Tyler's experiences have ignited a fierce passion to elevate the voices of marginalized youth onto a platform where they can be heard and seen. In 2024 she took advantage of an opportunity to shadow Georgia State Representative Park Cannon at the Georgia State Capitol for a week, which cemented her desire to be an advocate in her communities. Tyler has also done volunteer work with Sistersong for the past 2 years. In her free time she finds peace in hiking and writing poems.
Xavier Rolling
Steering Committee Member
Xavier Rolling (he/him) is an Outreach Coordinator for Lost-n-Found Youth. He started his journey working with youth while interning at the Juvenile Detention Center in Shelby County Alabama. Listening to their stories inspired him to continue his education in Program Management with a concentration in Criminology at University of Phoenix. Having had a lived experience of homelessness while living in Alabama, Xavier started a career path with Lost-n-Found Youth as a Program Associate when he moved back home to Atlanta. Today, he’s the Outreach Coordinator and Drop-in Center Manager where he supports youth empowerment.
Cierra Norman
Steering Committee Member
Cierra Norman (they/them) is a community advocate, writer, and researcher with a specialized interest in abolitionist community building. They are a recent graduate of Emory University, where they published their dissertation on the intersections between anti-blackness, anti-indigeneity, and colonialism in shaping consciousness and contemporary sociopolitical relationships and communities. Cierra’s research interrogates differential outcomes and experiences of health and wellbeing created through disproportionate exposure to systemic violence and neglect. They are committed to strengthening intersectional solidarity across local and global communities and advocacy networks. Cierra engages in this work in their current position as a case manager for at-risk and homeless young adults with Lost-n-Found Youth empowering peers within their community.
Faye Fortunada
Steering Committee Member
Bio forthcoming
ChRistian JOnes
Steering Committee Member
Bio forthcoming
Chyanne Elyse
Steering Committee Member
Bio forthcoming
YOU(th) Belong Advisory Board Members
Lexi Markham
Advisory Council Member
Lexi Markham (they/them) is a rising Sophomore at Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia. In their free time, they love to write poetry, read, and be outside. In 2024 they joined VOX ATL Youth Poet Laureate Ambassador Program. Lexi helped cofound a Trans Club at their high school, as well as an Environmental Club in their elementary school. They first engaged YOU(th) Belong in March 2023 when they shared poetry at YOU(th) Belong … On The Stage at OUT Front Theater and has volunteered at Compassion-Con and other LGBTQ+ Institute events. They hope to inspire others to fight for LGBTQ+ rights, embrace love, and exist authentically.
Treasure Von-Holland
Advisory Council Member
Treasure Von-Holland (she/they) is a junior at Southwest DeKalb High School in DeKalb County, Georgia. She has aspirations to attend Duke University and desires to study genetics and psychology. Additionally, she is a poet, and among competing starters for her school's literary team, specifically in argumentative essay writing. They volunteer over the summer through a program called Los Niños Primero, which helps Spanish-speaking kids get ahead in elementary education. She is also on the Youth Advisory Board for the LGBTQ Institute’s YOU(th) Belong program at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Richard Mabry
Advisory Council Member
Richard Mabry is a junior at Spalding High School in Griffin, GA where his favorite subjects are British Literature and American Government. He is in the Arts Honors Society and was introduced to YOU(th) Belong at Compassion-Con Atlanta 2023 where he helped design the YOU(th) Belong soapbox. Since then he’s been active in various YOU(th) Belong events, so much that he wanted to help steer the direction of future program as a youth leader. After graduation he hopes to attend college where he hopes to combine his interests in art with his apirations to become a therapy, with a possible specialization in art therapy.
Richelle Hardiman
Advisory Council Member
Richelle Hardiman (she/her) is a rising freshman at Cowan Road Middle School in Griffin, GA who helped design the You(th) Belong soap box at Compassion-Con 2024, where she volunteered at the YOU(th) Belong table! With a knack for mathematics, Richelle is an aspiring Veterinarian and Mechanic. Her full-time ambitions revolve around family time, reading, and nurturing bonds and sharing experiences with many youth in her community. When she’s not on the field playing flag football she immerses herself in captivating poems such as the “Tale- Tale Heart” and other literature.
Jaliyah Johnson
Advisory Council Member
Jaliyah Johnson (she/her), who also goes by Jay or JJ is a 9th grader at Cowan Road Middle School in Griffin, GA. She likes the color blue, enjoys cooking and also doing hair. She hopes to be able to do a dual enrollment program in high school that will allow her get a cosmetology license before graduating. Jaliyah is step captain for the Jaguars step team, where she takes great pride in supporting choreography and organizing the team. She hopes to bring these same leadership qualities to YOU(th) Belong and was impressed with the program when she was introduced to NBA player and philanthropist Reggie Bullock at YOU(th) Belong in Sports in February 2024.
Kyla Hareiman
Advisory Council Member
Kyla Hareiman (he/she) is a eight grader at Cowan Road School in Griffin, GA where her favorite subjects are English, Biology, and Social Studies. Kyla is very concerned about LGBTQ+ rights, particularly in the South where people are voting against their freedoms. Kyla was introduced to YOU(th) Belong at Vox-a-palooza in May 2024 and looks forward to being the youngest leader on the Advisory Council. A writer, In high school she hopes to start a book club and also plans on joining the track team. Kyla is the proud parent of a Tabby named Dorito and another cat named Brutus.
Finch Harrison
Advisory Council Member
Finch Harrison is a sophomore at Druid Hills High School. Finch loves drawing, creating collages, and writing poetry. They hope to study art history in the future. Finch is a student leader at their school’s GSA and a member of the Dekalb County library’s Teen Advisory Board. Fince was introduced to the YOU(th) Belong community when they shared poetry at OUT Front Theater at the YOU(th) Belong … On the Stage event curated by BLAQ ATL in April 2024 (National Poetry Month). They are excited to be a member of the You(th) Belong Advisory Board. Finch hopes to help create a space where teens can talk to each other, feel supported and explore their identities.
