The Outloud Foundation for 2SLGBTQIAP+ community supports and services first opened its doors in March 2014 as a safe, inclusive space for 2SLGBTQIAP+ youth to connect with each other and allies, away from the intense bullying and high suicide rates still prevalent in their community.
Mia Soetaert was living in St. Albert when she was fortunate to come out to a supportive family who then discovered the lack of understanding, non-judgmental environments for other diverse youth discovering their sexuality and gender identities. Mia and her father Terry created the Outloud Foundation for 2SLGBTQIAP+ community supports and services, an Alberta non-profit incorporation, and started the twice-monthly adult-supervised Youth meetings.
Over the years, Outloud has grown from four youth in a church basement to a staffed agency that supports all members of the community. Outloud supports all ages and stages of discovery including juniors, adults, parents, and siblings. In addition to supporting community members, Outloud takes an active role in advocating for the queer community and providing training to organizations looking to strengthen their inclusion practices. To date, Outloud has served over 1000 youth and families and has provided education to over 100 professionals.
Outloud was founded on a fathers love, and a daughter's quest for acceptance and desire to create a safe loving place for her peers. Learn about each of our incredible founders Terry and Mia Soetaert.
Our team is made up of a diverse group of staff and board members sharing a common goal; to be a safe space for queer kids and young adults and provide them with community, connection, and resources to thrive!
Give back to your community by volunteering with us! We have plenty of opportunities, from helping at events and assisting staff during one of our programs, to sitting on our board. Outloud is a positive, inclusive, and supportive organization that welcomes all people to join us in our cause!
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