Rainbow Alley grew exponentially in 2022. After two years of the program being inactive, we were finally able to gain some traction and started seeing participation take off. 2022 Denver PrideFest helped us spread the word about programming and helped us re-introduce ourselves to the community. We were excited to meet youth and their families while gathering feedback about the programs they wanted us to bring back or revamp.

At the beginning of the year, when drop-in hours were established, we were averaging 2 to 3 participants per drop-in day. By the end of 2022, we were seeing 8-12 participants per drop-in day! We measured an 80% retention rate, meaning that 80% of the youth who joined us after June continued to engage in events and programming through the end of the year. The second half of the year saw the return of events, including Summer Academy, Monster Bash, and Holigay.

Through our process of community engagement, we met many adults who had been part of Rainbow Alley when it was first established, and we heard first-hand how impactful a safe space was for them. It is stories like these that inspire and fuel us as we continue our commitment to Rainbow Alley being a brave space for youth to be themselves. As such, all programming is primarily imagined and brought forward by staff in conjunction with our participating youth.

We understand that our commitment to our youth goes beyond the programming and the physical space we can provide. Therefore, we are now hosting a monthly virtual meeting for supportive adults who may also need a space to share their own concerns and joyful moments. The more we can foster a sense of community for everyone trying to advocate for our youth, the safer we believe they can be outside the walls that host Rainbow Alley.

In 2023, we look forward to continued expansion of programming, as well as hosting new iterations of our signature events.