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Welcome to the fifth episode of series 4, where we’re focusing on the educators, activists, and influencers who inspire and guide us.

In this week’s episode, we’re hosting Jessica Olzak and Shannon Collins, creators and co-hosts of Rainbow Connections from the Abington library, a program designed to give youngsters a safe space in which to discuss LGBTQ+ themed books and topics.

We started our love fest by chatting with them about the origins of their ground-breaking youth program: How & why they set it up, the challenges they faced, and how you, too, could get a program going in your community. We spoke with Shannon about their Youthphoria program and how they use photography as activism. We discussed how they keep their cups full while doing their important work, the statistics for LGBTQ+ youth & how just one affirming adult in the life of an LGBTQ+ child is a game changer.

We hope you love the episode as much as we do: It’s an emotional & gratitude-filled journey.

• Abington Library website
  • Rainbow Connections Next Event
  • Rainbow Connections LGBTQ+ Resources
  • Link to the Rainbow Connections Webinar via the PLA
• Jessica Olzak contact - jolzak@mclinc.org
• Shannon Collins contact - shannon@shannoncollins.com
  • Youthphoria website

Rainbow Connections Guests include:

• 03/2022 - Vanessa & JR Ford, authors of Calvin
• 05/2022 - Lily Freeman, teen trans activist and creator of the IG campaign, @projectuncensored
• 07/2022 - Lindz Amer, CEO of Queer Kid Stuff
  • IG: @lindzamer
  • Queer Kid Stuff website
• 08/2022 - Amy Schneider, 40-time Jeopardy champion and writer
  • Twitter: @Jeopardamy
• 10/2022 - C.K. Malone, author of A Costume for Charly
  • Twitter: @CKMalone2
• 11/2022--Kyle Lukoff, author
  • Kyle's website
• 11/2022--Gavin Grimm, trans activist
  • Twitter: @GavinGrimmVA

- Pick up our new book here:

• International orders
• North American orders

- Check out our website to pick up our new book or via our IG: @dea