The True Colors Fund's #40toNoneDay 2015 Resource Kit

#40toNoneDay

APRIL 29, 2015RESOURCE KIT

#40toNoneDay APRIL 29, 2015

#40toNoneDay Resource Kit www.40toNoneDay.org © 2015 True Colors Fund

RESOURCE KIT

This year, the True Colors Fund is launching a national day to raise public aware-ness about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth homelessness, and to provide supporters with simple ways to make a difference. But the day won’t be a success without the support of our partners and friends (that’s you)!

Who is #40toNoneDay for?#40toNoneDay is for everyone who cares about ending LGBT youth homelessness. People often think that, because they don’t work at a shelter or service provider, they don’t have a role to play in the effort to end LGBT youth homelessness. The reality is: Everyone can make a difference! LGBT youth experiencing home-lessness interact with more than just the folks working at shelters. They also go to coffee shops and libraries, ride public transportation, use the Internet… To put it simply: They live life! We all share the same world. You may interact with these youth on a regular basis without even knowing it...

The True Colors Fund is collaborating on #40toNoneDay with partners across the country – including local service providers, national advocacy organizations, elected officials, celebrities, LGBT youth, and community members. All of us have the ability to make an impact in the movement to end LGBT youth homeless-ness. The opportunity is yours. Will you take it?

What happens on #40toNoneDay?#40toNoneDay is an opportunity to raise public awareness about LGBT youth homelessness, and to provide supporters with simple ways to make a difference.

The Internet is such a powerful tool for making change in our world and reaching wide and diverse audiences. We’ll be asking folks to show their support by taking “unselfies” with our #40toNoneDay signs and sharing them on social media. Basically, we want to flood the Internet with these images to show the world that everyone can make a difference.

Communities will also participate offline by hosting discussion groups, setting up “unselfie” photo booths, and urging local officials to recognize #40toNoneDay by way of a resolution or proclamation.



RESOURCE KIT

When will #40toNoneDay take place?The very first #40toNoneDay will take place on Wednesday, April 29, 2015.

Where do participants sign up? Folks are invited to sign up and learn more about #40toNoneDay by visiting www.40toNoneDay.org.

Why is #40toNoneDay important?LGBT youth homelessness is often referred to as an “invisible issue” – because no one is talking about it! In order to make a difference, we need everyone to know it exists.

Approximately 40% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, yet LGBT young people make up less than 7% of the general youth population. While there are many factors that contribute to LGBT youth homelessness, identity-based family rejection is the most commonly cited reason. Our goal is to ultimately reduce the disproportionate percentage from 40% to none. In order to do that, we need understand the issue and the ways in which we can all play a role in ending it!

The True Colors Fund has found that when community members get involved in preventing and ending youth homelessness, young people are better able to get the support and services they need.



RESOURCE KIT

How can partners help promote #40toNoneDay?Partners are asked to promote #40toNoneDay in their communities leading up to the event on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 via email, social media, and on websites.

To make it easier on everyone, we’ve provided some sample social media, email, and blog content below. We’ve also included signs that you can print out and post at your location!

Sample tweets:

It’s up to all of us to end #LGBT youth homelessness. Join us on 4/29 for @TrueColorsFund’s #40toNoneDay http://40toNoneDay.org

Did you know that 40% of homeless youth are #LGBT? Together, we can get that number down to NONE. Join #40toNoneDay! http://40toNoneDay.org

Want to know what you can do to end #LGBT youth homelessness? Join us and @TrueColorsFund for the 1st #40toNoneDay! http://40toNoneDay.org

Sample Facebook post:

The first #40toNoneDay will be on 4/29!

Did you know that 40% of homeless youth are #LGBT?

Together, we can get that number down to NONE. Learn how you can get involved.

http://40toNoneDay.org



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Sample email content:

Dear ______________,

Did you know that approximately 40% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT), while about 7% of the general youth population does the same? The discrepancy is outrageous. And it’s impossible to ignore.

On Wednesday, April 29, 2015, [You/Your Organization] will be joining people across the country for the first ever #40toNoneDay.

#40toNoneDay is a national day focused on raising awareness about LGBT youth homeless-ness. While there are many factors that contribute to LGBT youth homelessness, identity-based family rejection is the most commonly cited reason. Our goal is to ultimately reduce the dispro-portionate percentage from 40% to none. And, in order to do that, we need people to know that this issue exists and that everyone has a part to play in ending it!

Please join me by visiting www.40toNoneDay.org!

Sample blog content:

It’s a statistic that may shock you, but that doesn’t make it any less true: Approximately 40% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT), while about 7% of the general youth population does the same. The discrepancy is outrageous. And it’s impossible to ignore.

On Wednesday, April 29, 2015, [You/Your Organization] will be joining people across the country – including local service providers, national advocacy organizations, elected officials, celebrities, LGBT youth, and community members – for the first ever #40toNoneDay.

#40toNoneDay is a national day focused on raising awareness about LGBT youth homeless-ness. While there are many factors that contribute to LGBT youth homelessness, identity-based family rejection is the most commonly cited reason. Our goal is to ultimately reduce the dispro-portionate percentage from 40% to none. And, in order to do that, we need people to know that this issue exists and that everyone has a part to play in ending it!

All of us have the ability to make an impact in the movement to end LGBT youth homelessness. The opportunity is yours. Will you take it?

Get involved at www.40toNoneDay.org.



RESOURCE KIT

How can partners get involved?Aside from spreading the word about #40toNoneDay, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Here are some examples:

Set up an “unselfie” photo booth on April 29:

1. Pick a time and location to set up your photo booth. Try to pick a spot that’s well-lit (natural lighting works best).

2. Download and print our collection of “unselfie” signs. It’s best to offer a variety so folks can pick the sign that speaks to them the most.

3. Promote your photo booth to friends, colleagues, and/or program participants. We’ve included a sign that you can print and post at your location.

4. Snap photos for everyone who shows up! Offer to take the photo using the participant’s phone, this way they can share it with their friends on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. Make sure they use the hashtag #40toNoneDay!

5. Let us know about it! We’d love to hear how it goes! Email [email protected].

Host a discussion group on April 29:

1. Pick a time and location for your discussion group. You may want to select a space that has a white-board or large pad so you can jot down ideas with the group.

2. Promote your discussion group. We’ve included a flyer that you can print out and post at your location. 3. With your group, watch our videos on preventing LGBT youth homelessness. Our videos will be

available for online viewing at www.40toNoneDay.org. We suggest watching at least three of them so your group has a variety of ideas in mind.

4. Discuss how your community can prevent LGBT youth homelessness. Use the worksheet that we’ve included to come up with a plan for your community. Using the videos as examples, identify three different places in your community and brainstorm strategies for how they can help end LGBT youth homelessness.

5. Snap photos of your discussion group – and your completed plan! Share your photos on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. Make sure that you use the hashtag #40toNoneDay!

6. Let us know about it! We’d love to hear how it goes! Email [email protected].

#40toNoneDay

Join us on Wednesday, April 29 for #40toNoneDay!

Approximately 40% of homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

Together, we can get that number down to NONE.

Get involved at www.40toNoneDay.org

#40toNoneDay

Come get your photo taken on April 29 for #40toNoneDay!

Approximately 40% of homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Together, we can get that number down to NONE.

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Join us for a our discussion group onApril 29 for #40toNoneDay!

Approximately 40% of homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Together, we can get that number down to NONE.

Come brainstorm with us!

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The True Colors Fund's #40toNoneDay 2015 Resource Kit

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