Underserved Populations | LGBTQIA+ Organizations/Volunteer Opportunities

GALAEI works to cultivate leadership in queer Latin@ communities by empowering and teaching the skills and tools to communities most affected to fight, organize and advocate for themselves. They build collective power and recognize the importance of focused collaboration with other community-based and advocacy organization to build power in communities as well as solidarity between other marginalized/oppressed peoples. Collectively, they work towards social justice as defined as a healthy community free from homo/transphobia, HIV and HIV-related stigma, racism, sexism, poverty, deportation, and incarceration.

YOUTH PROGRAM

The youth program works to support the empowerment of queer latin@ youth through individual coaching, group support, community engagement, and leadership development. Galaei provides a safe and affirming drop-in where youth are coached through various issues relating to sexual health, education, employment, conflict resolution, and trauma. Group activities allow queer latin@ youth to strengthen their social support system and facilitate dialogue about how they can make an impact in their community through organizing. Contact: Francisco Cortes (fcortes@galaei.org)

HIV PREVENTION PROGRAM

Galaei provides client-centered, non-judgmental HIV prevention services such as free condoms and lube; free, confidential HIV and STI (sexually transmitted infection) testing, sexual health counseling, same-day linkage to medical care for people diagnosed with HIV; and access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – the pill that helps prevent HIV. counselors aim to validate individuals’ feelings, calm their fears, and provide a holistic service to ensure people can lead healthy and happy lives, regardless of their HIV status. Contact: Sergio Morales (smorales@galaei.org)

TRANSHEALTH INFORMATION PROJECT (TIP)

TIP provides peer-based support for trans* individuals (trans* encompasses any individual who does not identify as cisgender). the program offers sexual health and HIV prevention counseling, mentorship with transitioning, help with name change, legal advocacy, referrals for housing and food, and opportunities to build community to work towards trans* justice. Contact: Aamina Morrison (aamina@galaei.org)

Website: http://www.galaei.org

Phone: 267-457-3912

Location: 149 W Susquehanna Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Contact: Nikki Lopez (nikki@galaei.org)

Founded in 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is the nation’s foremost guardian of liberty. They are a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to defending and protecting individual rights and personal freedoms.

Through advocacy, education and litigation, their attorneys, advocates and volunteers work to preserve and promote civil liberties including the freedom of speech, the right to privacy, reproductive freedom, and equal treatment under the law. They stand in defense of the rights of women and minorities, workers, students, immigrants, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, and others who have seen bias and bigotry threaten the rights afforded to all of us in this country by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Because the ACLU of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit organization with limited resources, they rely on volunteers and interns to accomplish their work. Most of their volunteer and internship opportunities are in one of their offices in Philadelphia. Some volunteers make a regular weekly commitment to volunteer; others help out on an as-needed basis.

The Philadelphia local chapter is made up of volunteers who help further the mission of the ACLU by alerting staff about civil liberties violations in their area, holding local events, and raising awareness in their communities about civil liberties and the ACLU-PA.

Have skills you’d like to volunteer, such as photography or graphic design, but don’t want to commit to regular schedule in the office? Email them at volunteer@aclupa.org to set up a time to discuss how you can get involved!

Website: https://www.aclupa.org/takeaction/volunteerintern/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aclupa

Contact: 215-592-1513, volunteer@aclupa.org or info@aclupa.org

Location: 1401 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19103