Youth Services
BCLA Youth Services provides education, support, resources, and services for young people in the Bergen County area.
We foster an inclusive, gender-affirming environment for all.
Programs
BCLA Scholarships for High School Seniors
BCLA is offering two $500 scholarships for graduating High School Seniors who actively support the LGBTQ+ community. Applications are due by June 1st for consideration.
Application for the scholarship involves 3 steps:
Fill out the application form.
Write a short essay that explains your connection to and support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Provide a letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach, or administrator at your high school.
The Application Packet contains the application form, requirements, and instructions for all parts of the application. You can make a copy of it, fill it out, and then submit the application, your essay, and the letter of recommendation by email to Nick@bergencountylgbtq.org
You can get the Application Packet as a PDF also.
Threadz is a free clothing event for teens and young adults. Come by and find free clothing with the right fit for you! Located at the Creskill Congregational Church AKA Rainbow Cafe, at 88 Union Ave, Cresskill, NJ (parking and entry around the back).
Young Adult LGBTQ+ Book Club
Come join us for our LGBTQ+ book club for grades 9-12 in a safe space to choose and discuss LGBTQ+ YA books and issues. RSVP or get more info from Bonnie Slockett at chasbon234@gmail.com or Sidra Razzaq at sidrarazz@gmail.com. Monthly at the Creskill Congregational Church at 88 Union Ave, Cresskill, NJ (parking and entry around the back).
Equality Mental Health is offering free College Advisement by Rayna Richardson, a senior at Howard University. Call 201-885-3522 to setup a free appointment.
HiTOPS groups create a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth to meet, socialize, offer and provide support, and participate in educational activities regarding healthy relationships, gender and sexuality, and more!
BCLA is grateful and happy to be one of the organizations chosen to receive funding for a LGBTQ+ Youth Summer Enrichment Program with a grant from Together Outdoors, a coalition dedicated to making the outdoors a more inclusive space and more accessible to under-represented individuals.
Our Partnering Organizations
HiTOPS is a non-profit organization providing inclusive and youth-informed sex education and LGBTQ+ support for young people of all identities throughout New Jersey. You can find some of their ongoing support groups and services here:
Rainbow Cafe is a Northern NJ support and social group for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQQIA) youth in grades 6-12. Follow them on Instagram @rainbowcafennjj
They have events the 3rd Friday of every month at the Cresskill Congregational Church beginning at 7pm. You can find more info on that and other events here:
Bergen PFLAG provides a safe, friendly place where LGBTQ people, their parents, friends, and others can voice their feelings, fears, concerns and questions about homosexuality, bisexuality, transgender, and other related issues. They share the stories of our own distinctive journeys toward the goal of accepting and valuing our children, family, friends, and selves just as they are.
Meetings are ONLINE ONLY on the third Wednesday of every month.