Ally to Queer Youth Award – Awardee:

MORIELLE MAMARIL
she/her/hers
Student, Co-ASB President & SAGA Club Vice President, Watsonville High School |Student Trustee, Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees
Morielle Mamaril has been an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community since middle school. Now a senior, Morielle is the vice president of Watsonville High School’s (WHS) Sexuality And Gender Alliance (SAGA) club, ASB co-president, and the student trustee for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees. Morielle has used her positions of leadership to advocate for her LGBTQIA+ peers and support events that uplift LGBTQIA+ students, like National Coming Out Day at WHS, the Student Ally Caucus at the Queer, Trans, and Allied Student Summit, and volunteering at QYLA. Morielle has spoken at district board meetings in support of recognizing both LGBTQ+ History Month and Filipino American History Month, and she sets an example for her fellow students on how to be a true ally.
Ally to Queer Youth Award – Nominees:

ANDREA GIVENS
she/her/ella
Teacher & Elementary Rainbow Club Co-advisor, Alianza Charter School
Andrea Givens is a bilingual fourth grade teacher and co-adviser for the Elementary Rainbow Club at Alianza Charter School. Andrea is an outspoken ally to LGBTQ+ youth, frequently wearing shirts with rainbows and pro-LGBTQIA+ statements, and disrupting and addressing instances of anti-LGBTQIA+ speech or behavior. Andrea models for all school staff that it is important and appropriate to show support for queer and trans students and their families at the elementary school level. She is described as someone who brings positivity and joy to her 4th grade classroom and makes sure to take opportunities to talk with her students about being an ally. Andrea makes Alianza safer and more welcoming for young LGBTQIA+ students by helping them feel seen, supported, and celebrated.

GREG O’MEARA
he/him/his
Principal, Soquel High School
Greg O’Meara is the principal of Soquel High School and an exceptional advocate for LGBTQIA+ students. Before moving to Santa Cruz, Greg worked closely with families in Placer County to support transgender students at school and in the community. This year Greg was the first principal to sign up their school for the Safe Schools Project’s LGBTQ+ Model School Pilot Program, and he has worked closely with the school’s Gender and Sexuality Diversity Club to ensure their voices are heard during the Pilot Program. Greg is an active member of both the Santa Cruz City Schools LGBTQ+ Task Force and the County Office of Education LGBTQ+ Task Force and his years of support has made Soquel High School a more affirming place for LGBTQIA+ students.

JESSA KIRK
she/her/hers
Academic Dean & GSA Club Advisor, Kirby School
Jessa Kirk is the Academic Dean and GSA advisor at Kirby School who works tirelessly to support LGBTQIA+ students on campus. As GSA advisor, Jessa wrote and received a grant to purchase books by LGBTQIA+ authors for the school library, increasing student access to diverse literary voices. As an English teacher (2012-2022), Jessa included an LGBTQIA+ author as part of her text list for every class she taught, and created an elective course titled Queer Voices in Literature that focused solely on literature about LGBTQIA+ experiences; the course included a field trip to the Queer in Santa Cruz exhibit at the Museum of Art and History. Jessa is described as someone who consistently pushes Kirby school to do better and dream bigger for their LGBTQIA+ students.

KENDRA KANNEGAARD
she/her/hers
Drama and English Teacher & Drama Department Director, Scotts Valley High School
Kendra Kannegaard is a teacher and the drama department director at Scotts Valley High school who has created safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ students to learn and express themselves. As drama department director, “Mrs. K”, as she’s known to her students, ensures that transgender and gender non-conforming students are welcomed and supported through gender neutral auditions, casting, vocal sections, and greenroom spaces. As a teacher, Kendra created new lessons for LGBTQ+ History Month for her English classes. Outside the classroom, Kendra helps educate staff on how to include and support marginalized students and advocates for accessible spaces and all-gender bathrooms at both on and off-campus events. Kendra is described as someone who is an unwavering advocate for LGBTQIA+ students and an exemplary ally for queer youth.

KRIS KIFER
they/them/theirs
Tutor, Birds of a Feather
Kris Kifer is a tutor for Birds of a Feather, a project of The Children Are Our Future, which provides homework support for queer third through ninth grade students. Kris offers tutoring support that engages and motivates students while allowing them to be their authentic selves. Drawing on their fifteen years of teaching experience, Kris uses their soft directing and true interest in their students as individuals to design sessions that celebrate students’ strengths and passions while addressing their individual needs in reading, writing, math, and science. Kris helps students improve their grades while gaining confidence in themselves. Kris is described as a patient person who deeply respects their students and takes the time to listen and get to know the unique and complex experiences of each student.

LAUREN BURKE
she/her/hers
Student, Pajaro Valley High School
Lauren Burke is a student at Pajaro Valley High School (PHVS) who is described as a go-getter who loves a challenge and “makes magic happen.” Lauren helped lead the planning of PVHS’s National Coming Out Day Event which was well attended by a wide-range of students. Lauren cheered students on and walked through the rainbow door with her fellow students when they were too nervous to go through alone. Lauren works to make everyone feel included in all activities and events on campus. In addition to her work for the LGBTQIA+ community, Lauren is also on PVHS’s volleyball team, helped plan the school’s first haunted house, started a Black Student Union at PVHS, and is single-handedly planning the school prom. Lauren is what a true ally looks like.

MARILE ROBINSON
she/her/ hers
Board Member, The Diversity Center
Marile Robinson is a board member at The Diversity Center (TDC), and was instrumental in creating a physical space for youth at TDC. Marile was the co-chair of the capital campaign to buy the building TDC resides in, managed the changes in the facade to create a welcoming appearance, managed the new roof project, and donated furniture to create a comfortable space for LGBTQIA+ youth to gather at TDC. Marile also volunteered to take the forty hour training “Training and Coaching Intensive: Working with LGBTQ+ Youth in Systems of Care” to update her knowledge on LGBTQIA+ issues in order to facilitate trainings on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Marile is working to increase understanding, awareness, and acceptance within our community.

MATT SALISBURY
he/him/his
Owner and Instructor, Lightspeed Martial Arts Academy
Matt Salisbury is the owner of Lightspeed Martial Arts Academy who creates safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth wherever he is teaching. At Lightspeed Martial Arts, Matt maintains safe restrooms and changing rooms for all genders, and he makes sure the names and pronouns of his students and employees are respected, gracefully correcting others when needed. Lightspeed Martial Arts’ Tae Kwon Do tournaments and martial arts belt testing are non-binary and trans inclusive, creating a rare and much needed safe space for trans and nonbinary athletes. Matt teaches both at his studio and at several local schools, and always teaches every student respect, honor, and open-mindedness. Matt is described as someone who leads by example and is a hero for his students every day.

NADINE SAID
she/her/hers
Librarian, Mission Hill Middle School
Nadine Said is the librarian at Mission Hill Middle School where she has been intentional about increasing LGBTQIA+ visibility and support since her first day on the job. Nadine created a robust collection of books by and about LGBTQIA+ people, and implemented pink stickers on book spines to support students in discreetly finding these books. Nadine updated the library webpage to include links and resources on LGBTQIA+ issues for students and families, and each year she creates LGBTQ+ History Month shelving and wall displays. To increase student readership of LGBTQIA+ literature, Nadine created a reading incentive program where students receive a pride pin or bracelet for every LGBTQIA+ book they read. Nadine’s love and kindness makes Mission Hill’s library a warm and welcoming environment for all.

RHIANNON SOTO
she/her/hers
Social-Emotional Counselor | Muskequeer Club Advisor, Branciforte Middle School
Rhiannon Soto is the social-emotional counselor and Muskequeer Club Advisor at Branciforte MIddle School, where the club has flourished under her leadership. Beyond hosting the weekly club meetings, Rhiannon has coordinated with BTV, the student TV show, to show video promotions for events like Coming Out Day and Day of Silence; supported the library with adopting the Purple Sticker Project to support students in finding LGBTQIA+ themed books; hosted The Diversity Center on campus to make community connections; is supporting the school with their participation in the Safe Schools Project’s LGBTQ+ Model Schools Pilot Program; and supports the Muskequeers with many more events and activities. Rhiannon is described as a selfless and invaluable ally whose leadership is an asset to the entire school.

WREN REEVE
they/them/theirs & he/him/his
Accessibility Trainer, EDI Educators and Coordinator, Diverse Youth Meetups
Wren Reeve is the accessibility trainer for EDI Educators and the program coordinator for Diverse Youth Meetups, and has been a fierce advocate for the LGBTQIA+, Disabled, and Neurodiverse communities for many years. Wren brings an intersectional lens to all of their work, and as coordinator for Diverse Youth meetups provides invaluable mentorship for youth across the county. Wren provides workshops to local businesses, organizations, and educators on accessibility, gender and sexuality, and more, with the help of their fellow trainers, and is helping EDI Educators launch meetups for youth who identify as LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and/or neurodiverse. They have helped plan a series of safe space dances, and are actively bringing youth-requested educational opportunities to life. Wren’s activism is an asset to our community.