Taaliyah's Fundraiser for Maven Youth

Maven Youth empowers LGBT+ youth to network, organize, and educate for social change through technology and the tech sector. Maven Youth fosters safe spaces for LGBT+ youth ages 14-24 to explore careers in the tech sector while navigating technology's impact on social and emotional wellness. Our programs include summer camps, a leadership council, internships, mentorship, leadership retreats, hackathons, and consciousness-raising talks. In partnership with professionals in the tech sector, Maven Youth equips LGBT+ youth to co-design and co-lead programs and serve in influential speaking, presenting, and mentorship roles. Maven Youth’s equity-centered programs build confidence and consciousness while developing 21st-century career readiness skills through collaborative, project-based learning and leadership experiences. 

At Maven Youth, we’re all about creating a better future for queer youth—no matter where you come from, what you look like, or what your background is. While we teach tech development at our camps, it’s way more than just coding. It’s about bringing people together, building real community, and giving queer youth a space where they feel seen, safe, and supported. We offer both in-person and virtual summer camps all over the U.S., making sure everyone has access. These camps give youth a chance to connect with tech companies, get real advice, and feel empowered to be their full selves without fear of judgment. With everything going on in the world and how messed up the political climate is right now, it's been harder for Maven Youth to get the funding we need. A lot of companies are pulling away from queer orgs, and that’s making it tough for us to keep giving youth what they deserve. I’m trying to raise $1,000 to help make sure these young people still have access to tech tools, support, and a safe space to grow and be themselves. That money goes a long way in helping us keep these camps free and judgment-free for the ones who need it most. We gotta keep showing up for each other.

Maven Youth is about changing the game—no young person should ever have to choose between being who they are and chasing their dreams. We put LGBTQ+ and BIPOC youth at the center of everything, especially in tech and art, ‘cause this world needs more of us out here creating and thriving. Supporting the youth now means creating a ripple effect. The ones we help today? They’re gonna turn around and help the next generation, and the next after that. It all starts with YOU.

This ain’t just a summer camp—Maven Youth’s tech camp is a safe-ass space for queer youth to explore what they love, whether it's tech, gaming, or art, and do it around people who see them. With how wild the political climate is right now, spaces like this are more important than ever—especially in places where queer kids don’t have anywhere safe to go. But with your help, we can keep showing up and giving these youth the chance to take up space in tech, in games, and the world. Let’s keep lifting each other like we always do.