JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – JASMYN, Jacksonville’s LGBTQ+ Youth Center, broke ground Wednesday at 10 a.m. and announced its new construction project that will complete the organization’s campus.
The non-profit announced it raised more than $1.6 million for the Safe Place Campaign and will complete its final expansion.
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The new space for LGBTQ youth will be:
- an expanded health clinic (triple the space!)
- a “rain or shine” outdoor classroom and entertainment space that connects the three-building campus with a shared backyard
- a meditative Zen garden, where youth can take a moment to deal with what’s happening in their lives—or a difficult diagnosis
- additional office space for the growing staff of mental health counselors
“This expansion is a testament to the thousands who have walked through our doors feeling alone, misunderstood and rejected but who emerged with a clear understanding of their own self-worth and the confidence they needed to succeed and be everything they could be,” JASMYN said.
JASMYN is a non-profit, youth-centric organization supporting LGBTQ+ youth through health services, housing supports, student opportunities and community engagement. Young people learn leadership skills, risk reduction, and advocacy for themselves and their community.