LGBT Youth Commemorate Harvey Milk Through Art

Raul Anorve

10:35am | This evening from 6 – 8 p.m. at Exhibit [A] Art Gallery, The Center is presenting A Community Art Exhibit and Reception to Commemorate Harvey Milk. In addition to many municipal luminaries, exhibited will be art by local teens created at The Center during a recent workshop held by the AMP Organization.

Raul Anorve has served on the board of directors of One in Long Beach, the operator of The Center, for more than three years. Working with fellow board member Christina Bennett, they forged the community partnerships that led to this evening’s event.

Raul: When Christina Bennett and I were thinking of this event, we immediately thought of involving youth because we both believe that Harvey Milk represents the possibility for all GLBT individuals, especially youth, to be who they are. We also believe Milk represents hope, and we want our youth to be inspired by hope, courage and strength. By participating in the workshop, they expressed their thoughts and became a part of the process for getting this event to a gallery.

It is a community event bringing local, diverse social groups together to celebrate Harvey Milk, what he believed and valued. The art, created by LGBT youth from The Center’s youth program, will represent themes of community and social justice created specifically for this event.

Sander: What does The Center’s youth program entail?

Raul: The youth program — MYTE: Mentoring Youth Through Empowerment — is a group of youth ages 13-18 that drop by The Center Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. It has been at The Center for years now. Bascially, The Center provides a safe space for youth. The Center also hosts games, lessons and museum trips. They recently participated in a LGBT Youth Picnic at Bixby Park and, in March, we hosted the inaugural “Monster Ball” for youth, GSA’s (gay straight alliances) and for all allies at The Center. More than 80 youth showed up in costumes looking like Lady Gaga.

Sander: How does art fit into the program?

Raul: The MYTE regularly facilitates art workshops and, this year, decided to create a Harvey Milk themed workshop. The workshop was led by Annie and Sylvia from The AMP Organization, which is very active with youth and young adults here in Long Beach.

The AMP Organization promotes LGBT creativity, culture and community in Long Beach. It likes to promote queer visibility by hosting art workshops, music performances, performance art exhibitions and film screenings. It has an annual application process for scholarships for GLBT youth. They collaborate with numerous local organizations, including The Center. Their emphasis is on youth and young adults, empowering and inspiring them to be community leaders in their own way.

Sander: Who will be speaking at the event?

Raul: Council member Robert Garcia will make welcoming remarks. President John Cleary of the Stonewall Democratic Club will be keynote speaker. Our community collaborators will speak briefly, including Eric Leocadio of Catalyst; Danielle Nava, director of programs for The California Conference for Equality and Justice; a representative from The GLBTQ-Labor Alliance; and Cory Allen from the Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club. All will be speaking on themes of community, organized labor, coalition building, human rights, dignity for labor and GLBT community.

Sander: How did you come to connect with Exhibit [A]?

Raul: We thank the DLBA for connecting us to Exhibit [A]. Evan and Liza have been great, and so easy to work with. They have been instrumental in helping us with our vision. In fact, they offered to host the exhibit through the end of May, so not only will people see the exhibit during Pride weekend, [but] we will continue to promote it throughout the month.

We also want to thank the Arts Council for Long Beach, the city of Long Beach and all of our other community supporters and collaborators. They helped to make this celebration possible.

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