mid-missouri's gay staight youth alliance

Prism, Mid-Missouri's Queer/Straight Youth Alliance is seeking Adult Coordinators and Board Members.
We need you to volunteer with Prism as a coordinator or a board member!!

(Please note that for both positions you must be at least 22 years of age.)

If you are interested in working with this amazing group, contact us at columbiaprism@yahoo.com.

If you would like additional information about the organization and the responsibilities associated with these positions, please read below and then contact an adult coordinator, and/or one of the current adult board members, Hilary Aid (hilaryaid@gmail.com). Once you express interest in this position, we will get back to you regarding specific interview times for the coordinator positions.

This is a great group of youth and adults who support each other, have a lot of fun and work together for a more socially just community. If you share the same interests-we hope to hear from you!!

Advisory board and coordinator interviews are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, June 25, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Hillel Building (1107 University Ave Columbia MO). Candidates will be interviewed and selected by Prism youth members.

Prism Background Info:
Prism, central Missouri's only gay-straight community based youth alliance, sponsors creative activities, educational events, discussions, outreach, social space, and other forms of support for area gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning and ally youth (GLBTQQA). In the wake of Matthew Shepard's death, Prism was founded on November 9, 1998 by local young adult residents of Columbia, Missouri who wanted to create a safe and fun place for GLBTQQA youth. Many youth travel to Columbia from many smaller mid-Missouri towns to participate.

Currently, Prism holds weekly meetings each Wednesday night at the Hillel building 1107 University Ave in Columbia, MO. At these meetings, youth members meet under the supervision of adult coordinators. The activities of the Prism meetings vary from week to week. Sometimes we have guest speakers who present on a subject that the youth request, or watch movies on GLBTQQA issues, have discussions, work on a project, or go somewhere to eat or just hang out.

We also do things together outside of the weekly meetings. We attend local community events (e. g. we have a table at the community Earth Day celebration and Twilight Festivals, we march in the RAIN AIDS walk, PRIDE, etc.) and have been providing workshops entitled, "Beyond Tolerance, Building a Better Community for Our Youth" which we have presented to Columbia Public School teachers and others. Our summer 2007 events include Pride Day at Six Flags, Mid-Missouri Pride, a GAY prom, and a float trip. Every fall we have a birthday bash/fundraiser with performances by several area musicians/performers.

Adult Coordinator Positions:
Two adult coordinators attend the weekly meetings. Coordinators are expected to facilitate weekly meetings and to attend most Prism events. If there are three coordinators, then they rotate. Youth members decide on activities and plans but typically the adult coordinators do the background work, such as: picking up the video, gathering art supplies, snacks, arranging the guest speaker, etc.

Adult Board Member Positions:
The adult board consists of GLBT or ally adults from the mid-Missouri community. We meet with youth members on the second Wednesday of every month from 7:30-9:00 p.m. at our monthly board meeting. The board is responsible for coordinating activities outside of the weekly meetings, participating in fundraising and promotional events, and keeping track of the finances and other organizational details and filling in for coordinators at weekly meetings as needed. Adult board members are expected to attend most Prism events. At least two of the Board members are a licensed psychologist or social worker to assist the coordinators when problems arise.

If you are interested in working with this amazing group, contact us at columbiaprism@yahoo.com.

Adittional Information

• Prism Board Member Application
• Prism Board Member Roles and Boundaries Document
• Sample Board Member Positions List