Grant from PSEG Foundation Funds LGBTQ Youth Empowerment Initiative in Camden

Career Climbers / 8th August 2017

PSEG has partnered with The Tyler Clementi Center at Rutgers University to expand its LGBTQ Youth Empowerment Initiative to the city of Camden. The goal of the program is to help create more inclusive school communities for the LGBTQ student population and their allies.

Through an initial $10,000 grant from the PSEG Foundation, the first LGBTQ Youth Empowerment Initiative began at Rutgers University-Newark in 2013 and has expanded to Camden this past May. This expansion is designed to encourage New Jersey public high schools across the state to participate in LGBTQ-affirming youth events. These workshops aim to improve the health and well-being, academic performance, and graduation rates among LGBTQ students.

“We are proud to help expand this important social initiative across the state,” said Ellen Lambert, President of the PSEG Foundation. “We want to empower school leaders by providing them with the resources and tools they need to speak with their students and serve as a support system. In both school and work environments, we strive to create inclusive cultures that allow everyone to succeed.”

“The Tyler Clementi Center is thrilled to be partnering with the PSEG Foundation on such an important initiative,” said Maren Greathouse, director, Tyler Clementi Center. “While LGBTQ youth are more visible than ever in our schools, many continue to cope with social stigma, peer aggression/bullying, and fragmented support networks. This partnership with PSEG provided critical support to LGBTQ youth and their allies, and offered teachers and administrators the professional development needed to carry on this work in their respective schools.”