Community Intervention Through Youth (C.I.T.Y.) x1 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to putting on free social events for at-risk and Homeless LGBT youth ages 14-24. Youth are fed, given a fun & empowering afternoon, and are all linked to valuable social services like emotional support, GED enrollment, HIV & STD Testing, & transitional living programs. All events are alcohol & tobacco-free and provide a safe space where youth can access much-needed services and interact with their community.

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Organization Overview:
Since its formation in 2005, C.I.T.Y. x1 has produced over 35 social mixers and serviced nearly 7,500 youth. Through our on-going partnerships with local service providers & nonprofit organizations, we have been able to link thousands of young people to a variety of social services like HIV & STD Testing, GED Enrollment, emotional support, substance abuse treatment, and have also successfully gotten several youth off the streets and into transitional living programs.

Our programming has caught the attention of many elected officials, as L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti has attended our events as well as Councilmembers Mitch O'Farrell (13th District) and David Ryu (4th District). By working closely with local leaders, we have been able to raise awareness about homelessness amongst LGBT Teens, the need to expand services, and the importance of working together to better service these young people.

A recent national study found that between 500,000 and 1.6. million youth are homeless each year and that up to 40% of these young people identify as LGBTQ. In many cases, youth find themselves thrown out of their home upon coming out as being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Many are immediately asked to leave the house, with no prior notice or any resources, and find themselves on the streets on that same day. While some will gravitate towards local social services, several others will not and will go on for days without eating, showering, or shelter. Being out in the streets has also been known to be a trigger for risky behavior, such as unprotected sex and substance abuse.

Equally as important is the alarming rate of newly diagnosed cases of HIV and STD's amongst LGBTQ Youth. In 2010, young gay and bisexual men accounted for an estimated 19% of all new HIV infections in the United States and 72% of new HIV infections among youth in research conducted by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That same year, Black youth accounted for an estimated 57% of all new HIV infections among youth in the United States, followed by Hispanic/Latino (20%) and White (20%) youth.

Youth love to have fun! And as such, our approach is to reach out to them via an outlet that is fun, entertaining, yet educational at the same time. By offering a free party with music & free food, we are able to attract over 200 local youth who may otherwise not be motivated to attend a traditional community activity. Once at the event, youth attendees are able to interact with several local service providers who offer a variety of services to them, including access to transitional living and educational programs. We also have a Peer-to-Peer model in effect at all events, in which youth ambassadors interact with other youth and encourage them to get tested for HIV and other STD's, attend weekly workshops & support groups, and sign up for special programs. Rounding things out is a group of dedicated and caring Volunteers made up of parents, educators, and community members that all help make this a diverse gathering that bridges community. All events are alcohol & tobacco-free.

Our work has even caught the attention of local community leaders and elected officials, as several attend our events regularly to let youth know that there is a community here for them who cares about them and is supportive. Recent attendees have included L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell, and various members of the West Hollywood City Council.

We regularly partner with several local community organizations to increase the number and types of resources offered at our events. Our "Outreach Zone" allocates space at all of our activities for organizations to staff an outreach table and interact with the over 200 youth in attendance. Through these partnerships, we are able offer access to safe sex workshops, housing for homeless youth, job trainings, incentive-based programs, scholarships, emotional support, and other services vital to LGBTQ Youth and their allies.

Past & Current Community Partners

Awards & Recognitions to the Organization

Year	Award/Recognition
2007	City of West Hollywood Proclamation
2010	City of West Hollywood Rainbow Key Award
2012	City of Los Angeles Proclamation
2013	City of Los Angeles Proclamation

Awards to our Youth

Year	Award/Recognition
2005	Jeremy Longoria CSW/LA Pride Outstanding Youth Leader Ty Thomas Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Award
2006	Mariah Sutlapa Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Award
2010	Drew Mason Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Award
2011	Frankie Barcenas Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Award
2012	Xander Pacach Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Award
2013	Matthew Zavala Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Award
2014	Michael Castro Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Award
2015	Jesi Harris Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Award
2016	Josh Madrid Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Award

Individual Awards to our Staff

Year	Award/Recognition
2010	Carlos Sosa Stonewall Young Democrats "Hero Award"
2014	Carlos Sosa 2014 LGBT Heritage Month Honoree