Kaleidoscope Youth Center's mission is to serve gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and  questioning youth in Central Ohio by providing advocacy, education, outreach, support, socialization and a safe environment.

Kaleidoscope Youth Center is a physically and emotionally safe environment that affirms and encourages self-respect, personal growth, and community among young people who are lesbian, gay ,bisexual, transgender, questioning their sexual orientation, gender variant or culturally and  ethnically diverse.

During all open hours, and every Kaleidoscope sponsored activity, there are two or more adult volunteers present to assist the youth. All adults complete an application, interview, and background check prior to volunteering.

Program Index

Core Areas of Service

Our programs and services seek to improve the lives of GLBTQ youth through six core areas:

• Educational
• Leadership
• Personal Development
• Social Development
• Advocacy & Support
• Information/Referral

The Center

Kaleidoscope Youth Center is open Monday thru Friday from 4:00 pm-9:00 pm.  The Center features a recreation room offering youth a safe place to talk, listen to music, play pool, watch movies, or read.  Kaleidoscope also provides computer access and a lending library in addition to a general project room.

Youth Advisory Board

Kaleidoscope offers youth the opportunity to initiate and organize recreational, fundraising and educational activities at the Center and in the community. The Youth Advisory Board is responsible for assessing the need for different programs, in addition to developing Center Guidelines.

Skill Building

Each week different area professionals volunteer their time and knowledge, in an effort to guide youth in developing their skills in the areas of:

• Leadership
• Employment and life skills
• Substance use refusal skills
• Self-esteem
• Creative and artistic talents
• Computer and study skills
• Emotional, physical and sexual health
• Decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Anger management
• Conflict resolution techniques

Quarterly Special Events

Kaleidoscope currently participates in four major activities each year. These include:

• The Other Prom
• Pride
• Annual Reunion BBQ
• Winter Dance Party

Creative Arts

The Kaleidoscope Creative Arts programs engage youth in the preparation and performance of theatre, creative writing and visual arts. We seek to enable youth to develop the focus, confidence, and communication skills that can have a dramatic impact on every aspect of their lives.

The Creative Arts Program is infused throughout most programs at Kaleidoscope. We also offer writing, music, and visual arts workshops, photography seminars, and queer youth art shows.

Theatre Project

Columbus' Premier GLBTQ youth theatre project. More information is available here.

Support Groups

Kaleidoscope is the home to several discussion and support groups. Youth are provided with information, support and referrals as well as opportunities to make friends and discuss experiences within a safe and supportive environment.

These groups are open to all youth who want to discuss a range of topics including:

• Coming Out
• Relationships
• Substance Abuse
• School
• Family

Safe Schools Center

The Safe Schools Center is the result of collaboration among a number of Central Ohio GLBT organizations, including Kaleidoscope Youth Center, the Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO), Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), and Stonewall Columbus.

• The Safe Schools Center works to improve conditions for GLBTQ youth by:
• Providing resources to schools (posters, publications)
• Raising parent/guardian, student, educator and community awareness (website, speaker’s bureau, media)
• Providing skill-based training for educators (administrators and other professional and paraprofessional staff)
• Serving as a technical advisory resource (to researchers, policy-makers, educators and activists - students, parents/guardians, community members)
• To get involved in this important work, e-mail angie@kaleidoscope.org

GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance) Support

Kaleidoscope provides support to existing Gay/Straight Alliances (GSAs) and assists students in establishing new GSAs in their schools.

Student clubs are a valuable part of the high school experience. By creating a forum for voluntary, student-initiated clubs young people are given the opportunity to learn how to create and run an organization, how to plan political, social, cultural, religious, or recreational activities, and how to get along and interact productively with one another.

In addition, many young people are not able—for a variety of reason—to utilize the support available at the Center. This is a way that Kaleidoscope staff takes the Center to youth!

Monthly Special Activities

Kaleidoscope provides youth-led monthly social activities and special outings. These activities provide an opportunity for youth to socialize, have fun and develop a sense of personal and community  identity.  Some of the activities planned in the past include:

• Dining out
• Indoor rock climbing
• Attending movies
• Taking trips to museums & the theatre
• Hosting holiday parties