LGBTQAI+ youth and their allies ages 13-19 are invited to join us at the 14th annual GAYLA! prom. Come meet other youth, dance, and celebrate! This year the event will be held on May 19th at the Vogel Concert Hall in Red Bank, NJ from 3:00-6:00pm. Tickets are $20 and include food and drink. No youth are turned away for lack of funds.
Important notes: Sign-up is a must! Advance ticket purchases are via Paypal; tickets at the door are CASH ONLY.
On June 10th, Monmouth Regional High School in partnership with Make it Better for Youth and PFLAG will host GAYLA! an alternative prom for LGBTQI youth and their allies.
Where: Monmouth Regional High School, 1 Norman J. Field Way, Tinton Falls NJ 07724
The Make it Better for Youth Consortium will be hosting an important meet-up for GSA Advisers (teacher/faculty, not student leaders) on the 10th of May at 7pm in the Middletown South High School Library. We are asking for your involvement in this meeting as we take steps to solidify our mission and roles.
This year has been an exciting one – complete with a kick-off meeting drawing more interested people and organizations than we hoped for, an incredible dance in February, and currently finding ourselves in the middle of planning another spectacular event (Alternative Prom) for June.
Please plan on attending our very focused meeting on May 10th at 7pm to determine our trajectory for the next calendar year, as well as receive important information on the Alternative Prom.
For more information, please contact info@makeitbetter4youth.org .
The MAKE IT BETTER DANCE, held on February 6, 2011, at the Two River Theater was a resounding success. 120 teens age 13 – 19 from over 15 different schools came out for the big event!! They ate, got to meet new friends and danced to tunes provided by DJ Zero and her amazing team! The Two River Theater turned their black box theater into the craziest club ever!!
All of that was made possible by an incredible group of adult supporters who are committed to providing positive, safe and entertaining social opportunities for our LGBT youth and their friends. To let the students know how just much support is out there, we have put together a list of all those who contributed time, money, food, space and a whole bunch of other stuff!
Here is the MAKE IT BETTER list of supporters:
THE TWO RIVER THEATER
Kate Cordaro, Director of Education
Brian Holland, Director of Audience Services
Rob Stawicki, Technician
Anne Keefe, Institutional Giving Associate
Bree Mahoney, Assistant House Manager
Jeremy Stoller, Literary Manager
Anne Marie Nest, Front of House Manager
Dan Montano, Lighting and Sound Supervisor
Dorothy Braniff, Special Events Manager
Jersey Shore PFLAG
Abby Maisonave, President (Ocean County)
Dena Reger, Vice President (Monmouth County)
RUMSON/FAIR HAVEN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL GSA
Kate Okeson, Advisor
Mike Emmich, Advisor
MONMOUTH REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL GSA
Jen Mitchell, Advisor
MIDDLETOWN SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL GSA
Steve Koumoulis, Advisor
OCEAN TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL GSA
Sue Henderson, Advisor
THE COLLIER SCHOOL
Nancy Moran, Clinical Social Worker
MATAWAN/ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL
Michele Lambly, Advisor
THE HOLOCAUST, GENOCIDE & HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION CENTER AT BROOKDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Jane Denny, Director of Education
CHAPERONES
Kristen Lanfrank- Rumson-Fair Haven RHS
Zach Wilson – Rumson-Fair Haven RHS
Gretchen Wilson – Allied Health and Science High School
Rob Thorp – Rumson-Fair Haven RHS
Carey Huff – Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office
Justin Nevin – Kearney High School
DJ ZERO
SUGARUSH, RED BANK
DREW’S MARKET, SPRING LAKE
REGER LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Susie and Doug Milnes, Shrewsbury
Lucy and Bill Bogdon, Shrewsbury
Jersey Shore PFLAG and the Two River Theater are Making if Better for Youth by hosting the Better Dance for LGBTQ teens and their allies on Sunday, February 6th from 5 – 9pm. The dance will be held at the Two River Theater in Red Bank NJ, and is open to teens 13 – 19 years old. All regional GSAs are invited, and all youth throughout the Monmouth and Ocean County area may attend. There is a suggested entrance fee of $5, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Food will be provided through donation of individuals and local businesses.
