What is You(th) Belong?

Each month, young people in Metro-Atlanta ages 13-25 are invited to join for “YOU(th) Belong,” where we elevate youth leadership, advocacy, and creative expression. In the Spring of 2024, we recruited both a Youth Advisory Council (middle and high school students) and Youth Steering Committee (ages 18-15) to ensure young people are at the center of our programming and outreach efforts. With the support of a broad coalition of community partners, we aim to:

·        center youth and young adult learning about social justice from the past to the present;

·        provide spaces for youth to engage with leaders and change-makers;

·        cultivate experiences nurture authentic and empowering relationships, and;

·        enable for the integration of creative expression of youth and young adults in advocacy

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.

YOU(th) Belong Steering Committee Members

Faye Fortunada

Steering Committee Member

Bio forthcoming

Dee Great

Steering Committee Member

Dee Great (he/him) was born and raised in Queens, NY before moving to the Metro Atlanta area at age 12 and later graduated from The Campus in Peachtree City (Class of 2014). Since then Dee has been active in multiple organizations including Lost-n-Found Youth, Covenant House, and Chris 180.  He is passionate about youth mental health and promoting self-care.

Dee attends different walks and runs to raise money for suicide  awareness. A poet, Dee was introduced to YOU(th) Belong in June 2023 as a feature during the YOU(th) Belong… In the Arts event. Hoping to continue to be a guide for young people who have experienced many of the same challenges, Dee joined the YOU(th) Belong Steering Committee in November 2024.

Chyanne Elyse

Steering Committee Member

Chyanne Elyse Robinson is a senior at Spelman College from Oakland, California studying English and Film and Visual Culture. Since being in Atlanta, she has been involved in the creative spaces of VOX ATL as a Neer-Peer Intern for Atlanta Word Works and Morehouse Film Association in hopes to pursue a career as a screenwriter and author. She enjoyes bookstore runs and staying informed through the myriad of ways social media is used by Gen Z and other to stay abreast of social justice issues. Her goal is to use that knowledge to address these issues in the most intimate spaces of family and community.

YOU(th) Belong Advisory Board Members

Lexi Markham

Advisory Council Member

Lexi Markham (they/them) is a 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 senior 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 programs as a youth leader. After graduation he hopes to attend college where he hopes to combine his interests in art with his aspirations to become a therapist, with a possible specialization in art therapy.

Jaliyah Johnson

Advisory Council Member

Jaliyah Johnson (she/her), who also goes by Jay or JJ is a 9th grader at Spalding High 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 to 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. In July 2024 she completed Freedom Summer 3.0, focusing on medical mistrust among Black patients.

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.

Tiffani Lieu

Advisory Council Member

Tiffani Lieu (she/her) is a senior at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, GA. She resides in Jonesboro, GA and is the 4th of 5 siblings whose families migrated from Vietnam and Cambodia in the 1990s. From a young age, Tiffani has expressed her love for independent travel by going to summer camps and studying abroad in Spain. Her exposure to different cities and a variety of hotels that mirror local and international cultures, sparked an interest in hotel and commercial real estate. From starting a Females in Finance Club at her school to creating her own project, Develop4Everyone, Tiffani strives to advocate for a more equitable and responsive commercial real estate industry.  

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.