December 2024 Programs and Updates

Building a Legacy of Love

A person in colorful attire stands outside, reaching out among bubbles. Text promotes Giving Tuesday, encouraging support for Prism United to aid LGBTQ+ youth.

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, a chance to shape a brighter future for LGBTQ+ youth in southwest Alabama. When you support Prism United, you’re not just giving—you’re creating a legacy of hope, love, and empowerment.

Your generosity powers life-changing programs, safe spaces, and opportunities for connection, like Prism Illuminates—a December tradition of gathering, reflecting, and celebrating the strength of our community.

Together, we can ensure these vital programs continue to light the way for the next generation. This Giving Tuesday, let’s build a future full of possibility—one gift at a time.

Hear Directly From LGBTQ+ Youth

At Prism, the voices of LGBTQ+ youth inspire everything we do. Their stories remind us why our mission matters and how your support changes lives. Here’s what they have to say:

Two people embracing at an event with a quote from Jay about the meaningful impact of being in a supportive community, highlighting their experiences as part of Giving Tuesday.
Five people sitting on a couch smiling, with an inspiring quote about Prism United and Giving Tuesday written below them.
Three people stand on a balcony facing away, looking towards a cityscape at dusk. A testimonial about the positive impact of Prism is displayed, associated with Giving Tuesday.

December Lineup

December 2024 events for Prism United: Illuminates on 12/5, Lock-In on 12/6, Teens Party on 12/14, and Discord events every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Prism Illuminates

Event poster with text: "PRISM Illuminates: A Night of Reflection & Recognition. Thursday, Dec 5th, 6-8pm." Features stars and purple clouds.

Join us on December 5th from 6-8pm for our annual State of the Organization event, Prism Illuminates (formerly Prism Celebrates). Open to all Prism program participants, staff, volunteers, and friends, this is your chance to hear our latest updates, including:

✨ Highlights from 2024
✨ An early announcement of the 2024 Prism Prom theme
✨ A glimpse at our vision for the future
✨ The reveal of our latest Changemaker and Guardian Award recipients

Food and refreshments will be provided.

If you’d like to attend, please register for the event below! If you have any questions about the event, shoot us an email at [email protected].

Prism Lock-In

Flyer for PRISM Lock-In on December 6. Open to Prism Teens ages 14-18. Features open mic, activities, games, and food. For more info, email info@prismunited.org.

Join us on December 6th for an all-nighter packed with fun! LGBTQ+ youth (ages 14-18) are invited to enjoy movies, crafts, karaoke, gaming, and so much more! Trained chaperones will be on-site throughout the event. Dinner and breakfast will be provided.

This event has a capacity limit of 25 participants, so be sure to register early! Reach out for more info and registration at [email protected].

Become a Prism Volunteer

Colorful hands reaching up below text promoting a volunteer opportunity for Prism United, supporting LGBTQ+ youth. Event date: December 18, 2024, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.

Are you ready to make a difference? Join us on December 18th from 5:30-7:30pm for a 2-hour virtual orientation to learn how you can support Prism’s mission of uplifting LGBTQ+ youth in southwest Alabama.

What to Expect:
✨ Discover Prism’s history, team, and mission
✨ Explore our programs, events, and impact
✨ Learn about volunteer opportunities and expectations

Once you’ve completed the orientation, you’ll have the chance to select the volunteer role(s) that align with your interests and skills. Your time and energy help Prism grow and continue to provide vital support for our community.

Words to Inspire

In November, youth engaged in a creative and empowering activity where they explored impactful media—films, books, and speeches—to uncover inspiring quotes that resonated with their lives and today’s cultural climate. They reflected on how these words could guide them through challenges, fuel their aspirations, and spark meaningful change in their communities. This activity celebrated the power of storytelling and self-expression in building resilience and fostering hope.

We’d like to share one here to celebrate the strength, creativity, and resilience that LGBTQ+ youth embody in navigating and shaping today’s world.

Handwritten quote on a blue sticky note mentioning overcoming negative labels, attributed to Shrek, 2001.

“People used to think that I was a monster, and for a long time I believed them. But after a while, you learn to ignore the names that people call you and you just trust who you are.” 

 —Shrek the Third (2007)