Empowering LGBTQIA+ Youth Through Leadership, Advocacy and Support
AFFIRM is NVEEE's LGBTQIA+ youth leadership program for queer, transgender, nonbinary and LGBTQIA+ young people ages 16–24, based in South Florida. NVEEE has supported LGBTQIA+ youth since 2009.
You don't have to arrive thinking of yourself as a leader. That's part of what AFFIRM helps you discover.
LGBTQIA+ young people still face real risk, and real support changes outcomes
Risk is only part of the story. Affirming people, relationships and communities are associated with better mental-health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ young people. AFFIRM responds by creating community, trusted adults, accurate information, wellness resources and meaningful ways to lead.
Source: The Trevor Project, 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People · CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey
NVEEE's work began long before AFFIRM had a name
NVEEE begins addressing bullying, violence, suicide prevention and the experiences of LGBTQIA+ youth.
NVEEE's work reaches a national audience through TLC's I Am Jazz, bringing conversations about bullying, acceptance and transgender youth into homes across the country.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, NVEEE formalizes its longstanding LGBTQIA+ youth work under a dedicated program: AFFIRM.
11 Ambassadors participate in leadership development, peer support and community projects. Six create 100 Compassion Crates for youth at Lotus House.
Ambassadors survey educators, counselors and youth-serving adults, then distribute 200+ customized wellness and resource kits.
AFFIRM deepens mental and digital wellness, civic leadership, critical thinking, media and AI literacy, mentorship and access to LGBTQIA+ professionals.
Queer and trans young leaders who turn ideas into action
Ambassadors develop skills throughout an October–August commitment while mentoring and educating peers, developing service projects, researching issues affecting young people and connecting other LGBTQIA+ youth to resources. The result is not a symbolic youth advisory role: young people create and lead the work. PALS is one place Ambassadors put that leadership into practice.
Facilitate at a PALS Location
Based on performance and completion of required Youth Safety training and a Level 2 background check, you have the opportunity to help plan and lead sessions at one of NVEEE's PALS leadership locations, working alongside staff and fellow Ambassadors to run the program for the next group of students.
Own a Service Project
You propose a service project and see it through from start to finish, whether that's wellness-kit distributions, peer workshops or something you design yourself, gaining real project-management experience along the way.
Lead Outreach & Public Speaking
You plan and lead real outreach events and public presentations, building public-speaking and organizing skills by actually running something, not just observing it.
Mentor High School Ambassadors
College and graduate-level Ambassadors mentor high school Ambassadors, offering guidance from someone just a few steps further down the same path.
Write Blogs & Social Media Content
You write blog posts and social media content on current events relevant to AFFIRM's mission, helping shape how NVEEE shows up publicly for LGBTQIA+ youth.
Connect Peers to Resources
You build and maintain AFFIRM's resource database and use it to connect peer inquiries that come through NVEEE with mental-health referrals, family-support resources and other services.
Shape NVEEE's Programming
You sit on NVEEE's Ambassador Council, meeting monthly to give direct, firsthand insight into what LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults actually need, helping shape future programs and priorities.
Gabriela Jimenez's Journey
From Participant to Ambassador
Gabriela Jimenez first came to NVEEE as a participant in one of its programs. She stayed, grew into an AFFIRM Ambassador and trained facilitator, and has since trained more than 500 students on gender and orientation topics over the past five years across all of NVEEE's programs, developing her own presentations and workshops and helping train Junior Counselors to become effective leaders themselves.
She has led Intro to Gender & Orientation workshops at UCF, UF, FIU and Georgetown University, and was back at Georgetown again this year.
Where AFFIRM leadership shows up in measurable results
This is what that mission looks like in practice: AFFIRM Ambassadors and facilitators building the community, trusted adults, accurate information, wellness resources and leadership opportunities that the research above shows actually improve outcomes for LGBTQIA+ young people.
Gender & Orientation Workshop, with Gabriela Jimenez
Facilitated by Gabriela Jimenez, AFFIRM AmbassadorSince 2023, Gabriela has developed and delivered a two-hour, youth-centered Gender & Orientation workshop across PALS programs, and she's continued leading it every year since, most recently at Georgetown this year. More than one-third of participants have named it the most impactful workshop of their week.
Students were asked: "What part of this workshop was most helpful to you, and why?"
Source: NVEEE 2025 PALS Participant Evaluation, Georgetown University
From Leadership to Civic Voice
At this year's Georgetown summit, students spent the week in workshops on leadership, public policy, political change, civil dialogue, AI, media literacy, digital wellness and networking, including Instant Impact: Developing Your Network, where Ambassadors practiced building the relationships that carry a movement forward.
Those are the same skills they'll use to plan, host and attend PALS at Georgetown University in 2027. As part of their Ambassador Impact project, this year's Ambassadors won't just be returning to next year's summit: they'll help build it, shaping the agenda, leading sessions and welcoming the next class of PALS students to Georgetown themselves.
Source: NVEEE 2026 PALS Participant Evaluation, Georgetown University
Public Policy with Dr. Chloe Schwenke
Teaching Professor & Executive Master of Policy Leadership Faculty Director, Georgetown McCourt School of Public PolicyDr. Schwenke's career has focused on gender equality & social inclusion, LGBTQ+ rights, governance, peacebuilding and human rights, including senior roles at USAID and Freedom House and project work in more than 40 countries. She served as a political appointee in the Obama Administration, as a Senior Advisor at USAID, becoming the first openly transgender person appointed to a foreign affairs agency in U.S. history. Her workshop helped young people understand how policy, advocacy and civic participation intersect.
Full bio: mccourt.georgetown.edu: Chloe Schwenke · U.S. Department of State, LGBT Pride 2012
Students were asked: "What is one thing you took away from the Public Policy workshop?"
Source: NVEEE 2026 PALS Participant Evaluation, Georgetown University
How to Make Political Change as a Young Person
Led by Dr. Patrick McSweeney and Dr. Diana Owen of Georgetown's Civic Education Research Lab, this workshop walked students through how political change actually happens and how young people can take part in it now, not just once they're older.
Students were asked: "What is one thing you took away from this workshop?"
Source: NVEEE 2026 PALS Participant Evaluation, Georgetown University
Surviving the Algorithm: Media Literacy in the AI Era
Dr. Monica Robbins led this workshop on how algorithms, AI and social media shape the information students encounter, including questions about AI's environmental impact and its effect on future careers. For AFFIRM, media literacy means questioning what technology shows you, and why.
Students were asked: "What is one thing you took away from this workshop?"
Source: NVEEE 2026 PALS Participant Evaluation, Georgetown University
PALS at Duke University, 2026
The same mission that drives AFFIRM at home travels with our Ambassadors and alumni wherever PALS goes: creating community, trusted adults, accurate information and meaningful ways to lead: the exact things the Trevor Project's research shows make a real difference for LGBTQIA+ young people.
At Duke, that leadership came from NVEEE's own facilitators and PALS Sr. Counselors, several of them AFFIRM-trained, putting years of experience with NVEEE into practice.
Students described PALS with words including "community," "heartwarming" and "a supportive community."
At the end of the week, students rated their experience out of 5 across six areas. Here's how PALS at Duke scored:
Source: NVEEE 2026 PALS Participant Evaluation, Duke University
Two workshops that stood out
Human Values and Taking Off the Mask
Larry E. Thomas, CEO of the Thomas Mentor Leadership AcademyStudents named this Duke's most talked-about workshop of the week.
Students were asked: "What is one thing you learned from Mr. Larry E. Thomas's 'Taking Off Your Mask' workshop?"
In Their Shoes
Suhani Renaut & Alexandra Johnson, PALS Sr. Counselors & Peace AmbassadorsA perspective-taking workshop on empathy and relationships, led by two NVEEE alumni who came up through the organization's programs, Alexandra since 2020 and Suhani since 2024, and have spent years training with NVEEE to lead exactly this kind of work.
Students were asked: "What's one thing from the 'In Their Shoes' workshop that you're going to think about, use, or do differently?"
You don't have to be out to everyone to belong here
You don't need perfect words to describe who you are. And you don't have to already see yourself as a leader. AFFIRM is for LGBTQIA+ young people who want to connect, learn, create and discover what their voice can do.
- South Florida-based, ages 16–24 (high school juniors and seniors, college undergraduates and graduate students), stipended positions
- Applications open in August; selected applicants complete a short interview, with decisions communicated in October based on available program funding
- Commitment runs October–August; parent or guardian permission required under 18
Youth safety comes first. NVEEE does not require young people to make their LGBTQIA+ identities public. Participant stories, photographs and identifying information are shared only with appropriate permission.
Funding partners that put resources directly into youth hands
Football UNITES™ works to connect the intersections of the community for a more inclusive South Florida.
The expert and thought leader on LGBTQ issues in South Florida, and the most informed resource for philanthropists giving to LGBTQ causes in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Also separately funded a $25,000 Health & Wellness grant.
Grants are awarded to South Florida agencies supporting the one-in-five youth who identify as LGBTQ+. FLoatarama has granted $252,134 to date, administered by Our Fund Foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions About AFFIRM
What is AFFIRM?
AFFIRM is NVEEE's LGBTQIA+ youth leadership program for queer, transgender, nonbinary and LGBTQIA+ young people ages 16–24. Based in South Florida, the program combines paid leadership opportunities, mentorship, wellness, peer education, community projects and civic engagement.
Are AFFIRM Ambassadors paid?
Yes. AFFIRM Ambassadors receive stipends for their participation. Funding levels and the number of available positions may vary by grant year.
When can I apply?
AFFIRM Ambassador applications generally open in August. Selected applicants complete a short interview, and decisions are communicated beginning in October, once NVEEE knows the level of grant funding available. The Ambassador commitment runs approximately October through August.
Do I have to be publicly out to participate?
No. AFFIRM respects the privacy and safety of LGBTQIA+ young people. Participation does not require public disclosure of your sexual orientation or gender identity.
What is the relationship between AFFIRM and PALS?
AFFIRM is NVEEE's year-round LGBTQIA+ youth leadership program. PALS is NVEEE's broader youth leadership program and one environment where AFFIRM Ambassadors can practice skills developed throughout the year.
How do I apply to AFFIRM?
Young people ages 16–24 complete NVEEE's AFFIRM Ambassador application, which includes a short interview as part of selection. Participants under 18 require parent or guardian permission.
LGBTQIA+ youth resources
If support is needed now, no one has to wait to become part of AFFIRM.
Help Build What Comes Next
AFFIRM began with the belief that LGBTQIA+ young people deserve to know they belong. Today, we are building on that foundation so young people also have knowledge, relationships, resources, opportunities and a voice in the systems shaping their lives. Belonging matters, and belonging can become leadership.