What We Do

Mission:

BreakOUT! fights the criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth who are directly impacted by the criminal or juvenile justice system in New Orleans.  We affect concrete policy changes to build a safer and more just New Orleans.

We build on the rich cultural tradition of resistance in the South to build the power of LGBTQ youth through youth organizing, healing justice, and leadership development programs.

Youth Organizing:

BreakOUT! organizes LGBTQ youth ages 13-24 who are most impacted by the criminal justice system through weekly "Building Our Power" meetings.  Members learn about LGBTQ Radical History, Police Repression and History of the Prison Industrial Complex in the South, Racism and Oppression 101, and other social justice issues of their interest.  Workshops build on youth's lived experience and knowledge as experts on the myriad of injustices that face them.

In addition to political education, members learn ways to confront issues they deem most important to them by further developing their organizing skills, including learning about Campaign Development, Base Building, Power Mapping, Developing a Strategy Chart, and more.  The curriculum is flexible depending on youth's interests and campaign progress.

Healing Justice:

Inspired by other organizations and our experience at the 2011 Allied Media Conference, BreakOUT!'s Healing Justice program helps alleviate the stress and anxiety caused by the lives our young people lead.  Members are encouraged to help plan and execute Healing Justice workshops, depending on their interests and community resources.  Healing Justice workshops have included Knitting, Self-Defense, Yoga, Herbalism and Natural Remedies, Acupuncture, Meditation, and more.

Leadership Development:

BreakOUT! develops the leadership of LGBTQ youth through "Building Our Potential" workshops and one-on-one meetings to set personal goals.  BreakOUT! has partnered with others in the community to provide workshops on topics such as Hittin' the Streets: Tips for Finding a Job, Building a Resume, Harm Reduction 101, Know Your Rights/ Know the Law, Setting and Obtaining Personal Goals, Accessing Social Services, Gettin' Your GED On, and more.

Since our members' leadership development needs and interests are diverse, our work is highly individualized and may cover anything from learning to advocate with public defenders to writing a resume without having work experience to applying for out-of-state leadership development opportunities to assistance researching colleges and scholarships.

Download our 2011-2012 Brochure: