Hosting the “I’m Here” event felt like witnessing what happens when young people are finally given the space to be fully seen, heard, and celebrated.

*Team GUTF Event Organizers (from left to right): GUTF COO Kat Eves; Youth Marketer Eva Lynn; Youth Content Creator Giana; Youth Art Director Jaise*

On March 8th, Give Us The Floor hosted the “I’m Here” event in Rochester, New York, a youth-led gathering focused on visibility, self-expression, and community, made possible by the It Gets Better Changemakers grant.

The goal of the event was simple:

create a space where people could show up as themselves and feel safe doing so. Through a clothing swap, collaborative art, and an open, welcoming environment, attendees were able to connect, create, and just be.

We are so grateful to Andrew and the entire team at the Rochester Rainbow Union for partnering with us to bring this event to life. The Rochester Rainbow Union is a collaborative, community-led center and a vital hub for Rochester’s LGBTQIA+ community, offering resources like a free clothing closet, a food pantry, and an expansive LGBTQIA+ library with over 11,000 materials, one of the largest of its kind in New York State. They also maintain a resource directory that connects individuals to organizations, services, and support across the region.

Having access to a space built on care and community made the event even more meaningful, and Rochester Rainbow Union’s support and commitment to creating safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth made all the difference.

One of the most meaningful moments of the night was sharing a message from Sam Nordquist’s sister, Kayla. One of our youth team members, Giana, had the honor of reading it aloud and described the experience as deeply moving and heartwarming. It was a privilege to help share her words, and through the message, you could truly feel the love Sam’s family holds for him and for the community.

Kayla’s words reminded us how important it is to show up for each other and to continue uplifting the stories that matter. It brought a deeper sense of purpose to the space and reinforced why events like this are so important.

Throughout the event, people contributed to a collaborative art piece that reflected shared experiences and voices. The clothing swap gave everyone access to free clothing and gender-expansive supplies, but more than anything, it was an opportunity for us all to share space and connect with others who understand and support each other.

“As a young queer artist, getting to share creative space with others like me is incredibly meaningful. Each piece of art felt like its own story, an expression of someone’s identity, experience, and voice. Being part of that reminded me that none of us are alone in what we feel, and that there’s real power in telling our stories and witnessing each other’s through art.” — Jaise, GUTF Youth Art Director

This is what Give Us The Floor is all about. Creating spaces where young people, especially those from marginalized communities, feel seen, heard, and valued – and giving us the floor to fully express ourselves.

And with that, I have to take a second to shout out our additional sponsors for this event, who donated gender-affirming clothing, snacks, drinks, and craft supplies. Y’all really took this event to another level.

Kirrin Finch creates high-quality, gender-inclusive clothing that encourages people to express themselves authentically, and they donated an incredible selection of clothing across sizes, as well as some very popular bandanas and carabiner keychains for the event.
Pizza Wizard brought their signature Detroit-style pizza, including vegan and gluten-free options, which got gobbled up quickly!
Pastry Mancer provided delicious baked goods, including giant cookies that matched a range of dietary considerations – omg those cookies were soo good.
Boulder Coffee Co. continues to be a welcoming community space that supports connection and local events, and they generously provided a full coffee, tea, and hot cocoa bar. Gorgeous.
Hedonist Artisan Chocolates shared a full platter of their decadent handcrafted chocolates, bringing creativity and care into every detail. At some point towards the end, the whole platter disappeared, so you know that means they were good!
Staple Vintage is a very stylish queer-owned, size-inclusive vintage shop in town, and they donated two bags of pre-loved clothing to the swap, as well.
Spotted Rabbit Creative Arts Therapy offers affirming, creative support for neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ individuals to heal, explore, and live authentically, and they contributed fabric scraps and additional donor support toward the event.
The Unreliable Narrator is a queer and woman-owned bookstore that offers books, zines, and unique items that celebrate creativity and individuality, and they helped promote the event.

And big thanks to Jeanette Adams-Price of Our Local History in Rochester and Rochester GSA, who volunteered to support the swap and brought part of her Get To Know Me Project into the I’m Here Art Project, helping youth in attendance share their stories through art. You will be seeing more about her project and ours very soon.

Personally, it meant so much to see these businesses show up for us, not just as sponsors but as people who believe in this community and the space we’re creating together. Give Us The Floor is incredibly grateful to the businesses and organizations that helped make this event possible.

Their support helped make this event accessible, welcoming, and meaningful for everyone who attended.

“I’m Here” was more than just an event. It was a space where people could exist fully and be accepted as they are.

Moments like this show how powerful youth-led spaces can be. When young people are given the opportunity to create and lead, they build communities rooted in care, authenticity, and support.

Give Us The Floor is excited to continue creating spaces like this and expanding opportunities for young people to connect, express themselves, and be heard. Our next event will take place in Santa Fe at the HRA Pride Center on July 11th. If you’d like to make an event like this happen in your community, contact us.

Give Us The Floor Youth launch the “I’m Here” project in Rochester, NY