North Shore Alliance of Gay & Lesbian Youth

NAGLY has been hands down the best thing for our family since our child came out to us. The most important thing when your child comes out is to give them love and support and to hear them when they tell you who they are as a person and NAGLY gets that. They give parents the tools to understand what their kids are going through and the tools to help them through it. Most importantly they treat the kids as humans and individuals. From the minute we walked in to NAGLY our child felt seen. I mean, being a kid is hard enough as it is; finding a space where you can be yourself and make friends while also being given the tools to thrive as a person is something I wish I had as a kid. Our child has been given the space to learn and grow and we have found a place to go for support as a family. These are good humans and we are endlessly grateful for all they do.

I have been both a youth being served by NAGLY and a peer leader at NAGLY, and the whole time I've been with NAGLY, I have felt like I have found a community I thought I'd never find. NAGLY has been the most inviting place I've ever been to. They have both helped myself and many other youth through thick and thin, and I proudly say that a lot of my growth was because of NAGLY. I highly recommended that anyone who supports the community learn more about NAGLY.

I have attended and volunteered at NAGLY for a little over 2 years now. I am very grateful for this nonprofit. I have met the kindest people there who have always been there to support me and my future as a adult trying to find his footing in a society that is built against my existence. It has been a great place to meet other individuals around my age and build friendships and a feeling of belonging in a community. As I mentioned, the staff are great, putting much effort and passion into what they do. NAGLY offers many programs for kids and young adults, from clubs and weekly meetings to special events. There is never a obligation to have to attend anything, you go when you can or wish to. The programs can very from fun and socialising to talking about more serious topics and how to handle them. The environment is very inclusive and the staff take great precaution on everyone's safety, as many of us are part of marginalized groups and thus of a greater target to hate and violence. Many of the staff are part of the LGBT community themselves and so have a understanding of where we are and the struggles we face. Staff are honest and genuine, and that seems to be harder and harder to find these days. It's such a vital place to have for young lgbt people and I'm glad to have known about it.

Amazing community full of wondering and supportive people both volunteers and youth alike! They are vital to the mental health of our young LGBTQ+ community on the Northshore. Especially considering our current political environment.

I recently ran into a parent whose kids go to NAGLY and he said that it was one of the best things that had ever happened to their family. NAGLY provides a safe/brave space for LGBTQIA+ kids of any identity to just be kids while learning to grow into happy, fulfilled, successful adults. I can't recommend NAGLY highly enough.

NAGLY provides crucial support and services to youth and young adults on the Northshore. They are a premier agency and point of contact for so many providers who work with youth who identify as LGBTQIA and they strengthen our ability to access services for this population. In the midst of providing crucial services they also plan a lot of fun activities where youth can enjoy themselves in a safe space.

my dad is homophobic but nagly isnt 10/10 would go again i go every week mwahahaha

NAGLY has been a wonderful resource for my child and I for the past 1 1/2 years. Their biweekly little rainbows group has connected us with other queer families and they’ve become like family to us. We love the staff and all they do for the community.

My daughter became a NAGLY youth in middle school and it is not hyperbole to say NAGLY saved our lives. The programs are excellent for youth and their parents. The staff are amazing and the space welcome. Love NAGLY.

As coordinator of the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, I work with Jen, Tony, and the middle school group at NAGLY. I’ve witnessed first hand the sense of community and belonging NAGLY creates for these kids. The group runs smoothly and each participant listens attentively and gives space to the others. It’s been my pleasure to donate LGBTQIA+ to their library.

NAGLY and its staff are truly a treasure for our LGBTQ+ youth and their families. They provide free, engaging and supportive programming for kids, teens, young adults and their parents. Perhaps more importantly they have created a welcoming space where kids and teens can meet friends and and adult allies who understand and support them. The staff is responsive to the needs of each individual and help them build independence and become leaders.

Nagly is an organization that has greatly improved the well-being of our youth. Their peer-led groups are especially welcoming and accessible to those in need of connection and acceptance. We are so grateful to Nagly for their service to the area's LGBTQ+ children/teens!

I am a former Nagly member from the 1990’s meeting in the basement of the church on Washington St Salem. It was where I met my first friends. Friends still to this day. I was shy, awkward and needed to know I wasn’t alone.
Now as a professional 45 year old and I will tell anyone without Nagly my life would have panned out differently. It’s truly amazing the power of gathering and just being there for each other and this group is vital to the community. Even now with social media and ways for kids to meet each other I am confident Nagly provides a rock for the GLBTQ+ youth on the North Shore. Thank you for all you have done for me and every kid who has walked through those doors. I am proof this organization changes lives

The Little Rainbows program for gender nonconforming elementary age kids is the best thing that has happened to my child’s self esteem and social life. There are not other programs like this in the area. We feel so lucky to have NAGLY near us. Connected with other parents too. Leadership is creative and caring.

I'm a foster parent and had a non-binary child staying with me who is not allowed to be their true identity in their home community. They were able to attend the middle school meeting and really connected with the people at NAGLY in a way that they didn't realize existed before that time. I was so impressed with the staff and the set up of the middle school group. I am so appreciative to know that they exist for any other LGBTQIA+ teens that I foster in my home in the future!

NAGLY is a crucial resource for youth in our community to find acceptance, friendships and support! Their center offers a safe, supportive and fun space for youth to just be themselves. The NAGLY center and staff do amazing work!

I've been at NAGLY before as a youth and my first time there I felt completely safe and loved and it's a great place to be yourself and meet people and get the resources you need. Im now an adult volunteer and I look forward to the days I go to NAGLY. I have learned alot from the meetings that happen and have many fond memories of the space and people themselves. Nagly really does make a difference in my life and many others.

I am proud to serve as a board member for NAGLY. The support NAGLY offers to the youth of the LGBTQ+ community is phenomenal. My daughter was a part of this organization when she was young and she is all the better for it.

I attended NAGLY as a high schooler and it was an incredible resource for me at a time when I really needed the support. I'm forever grateful for NAGLY's impact on my life

As long time supporter and a board member of NAGLY I have witnessed the great work the organization does with LGBTQ+ Youth. It has a fantastic paid and volunteer staff that truly helps the youth we serve live their best lives as their authentic selves.

It always lifts me up personally when I see the youth in our space being happy as LGBTQ+ kids, hear stories of former NAGLY youth who recount how much the program has meant them, or hear parents recount the positive impact of our work on there children.

Having been a business executive for many years I am very comfortable saying that it is very well run and highly respected tin the community.

GO NAGLY!

NAGLY is an amazing place that is both life-changing and life-saving for the youth that it serves. Even as an adult volunteer I find myself uplifted. inspired, and encouraged every time I go to NAGLY!

I have been attending Nagly since 2010 and it has become my second home. Nagly made me feel like I belonged and could actually make a difference in the community. I went from attending as a youth to now being an Adult Advisor. Attending Nagly has been one of my greatest joys in life.

NAGLY was part of my formative years as a youth. Its impact on me led me to stay actively involved for many years so I was able to give back. The care, courage, and outreach displayed by the youth, staff, and volunteers is unparalleled.

I have been a part of this organization in one form or another since I was 14 years old. I am now 33. This organization has been paramount in my self actualization and my ongoing commitment to assisting others.

NAGLY is an amazing center that has really helped me! When I first came out as transgender, my mom told me about this place and it was amazing and super helpful to talk and socialize with people who where going through similar experiences. I made many new friends who all love and support one another. NAGLY has helped me so much through the last year and a half and I truly don't know where I'd be without it.

NAGLY is great, with people who you can share experiences with, who will speak and also listen to you. Amazing place to make friends and connect with people.

I have been a part of the nAGLY family for almost 3 years. Both as a youth and a volunteer. nAGLY has been so welcoming to me and supportive of myself and other youth in our exploration of ourselves and finding a place in the nAGLY and greater LGBTQ+ community.

i attended their virtual transcendence meetings! the staff is amazingly helpful and kind, and they create a wonderful sense of community.

It's a nice thing to do on a friday evening (/afternoon their time) and it has a cool and welcoming atmosphere.
Their zoom calls allow for people all over the world, such as myself, to take part in the community and join in with activities.
The various social media channels and discord server allow for us to easily stay updated on the goings-on of nagly and to join in or opt out of whatever we want.

NAGLY has given me a space to live my best life. I have found an amazing community here, both as a scared middle school kid and as a peer leader here. The people here are truly special. So glad I found this place!!!

A super welcoming environment to learn about new topics and make friends!

I try my best to go to their transcendence youth meetings every friday and they always make my week. It feels amazing to be in a group where everyone has had similar experiences to myself. NAGLY’s constant support week after week is incredible, and I cannot recommend them to people more.

It impacted the people around me enough for me to want to go myself and I am so excited to go after all the good things I heard!

Nothing but good things to say, the workers really care about the youth involved in any activity/meeting. Wish i had a space and the resources this non profit provides for the youth.

I love that NAGLY provides a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth and provides them with a place to grow in our community and develop tools and skill to help them on their journeys. I wish such spaces were available for all our at risk youth across the country and can only be grateful that, at least in one place, there are caring people making a difference for at-risk youth.

NAGLY has done so much for our family, providing a fun and welcoming place for our daughter. They have had great online events during the pandemic and everyone who works there is so helpful.

I live very close to NAGLY and have attended many events there. It provides a safe, supportive environment for young people. I have attended art exhibits there and have so enjoyed meeting and talking with the young artists! Community spaces such as this are so important. Thank you NAGLY!

NAGLY has been a literal life saver for so many youth and young adults in the area. It’s a safe place to be themselves completely. The volunteers are some of the most caring people I have ever met.

Wonderful organization for my child and our family. So supportive and welcoming and a safe space for youth. They also provide consultation and training to schools at no cost.

NAGLY provides an array of incredible resources and opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth, their families and loved ones, and the community in general. As an educator, I was so impressed by NAGLY that I became a volunteer.

This is a crucial and vital resource for lqbtq youth and their allies. My son experienced terrible bullying in middle school and Nagly was a brave space for not only him but also me his mom to find a supportive community. The staff and leadership could not be more committed.

I visited NAGLY in Summer 2018 when I was still in the age range for it. I found the environment to be very accepting and open to lgbtq+ youth who are normally shy (something I deal with a lot) or are neurodivergent. There are quiet spaces to study a library, a lounge with very comfy furniture, caring adults and mentors, clothing, hygiene products and occasionally food. It felt like home.

I worked with NAGLY in multiple roles over the course of several years, about ten years ago (early 2010s). I first became involved as a researcher interested in learning about LGBTQ youth’s lives, and later returned as the adult coordinator for the youth-led health education and outreach program. During this time, the organization met in the basement of a church, and before the doors even opened for the once-weekly evening meeting, you could tell that NAGLY was an incredibly special place for the youth it served. Young people would arrive early and sit or lean against the rails of the steps to chat, sing to or discuss the most recent Lady Gaga song, no matter the weather. I was humbled by the adult and youth advisors, who would purchase, bring and prepare healthy snacks for youth, knowing that for some of them it may be their main food for that day. I was most impressed by the youth participants themselves—ranging in age from young teens to early adulthood, everyone was included and celebrated. When a hesitant young person walked through the door, someone from this tight-knit community would walk over within seconds with a warm welcome. The Board of this organization was always looking forward, and as a feminist researcher I appreciated that they were somewhat hesitant at first to allow me, a researcher they did not know, into their space. Now that I am a foster parent, I have a different appreciation for the ethical and protective approach taken by the organization’s leadership. This is truly a community-based organization: it relies on the community, partners with other organizations, creates community, and gives back. I was only involved with NAGLY for about two years, but I still feel a sense of pride as I watch this phenomenal organization grow from afar.

I first discovered nAGLY in my late teens through a friend. We attended meetings together WAY back when it was in its infancy. Unfortunately, I was at the aging out age when I found nAGLY so was not able to attend for long. But that small experience had a big impact. I thought often of nAGLY over the years, about how important it is to have a space like that. I came from a home that was not accepting of my sexuality and I came from a time before GSA's. I was bullied in school and punished at home for my identity. Back then, it wasn't even legal for someone like me to get married. So I really appreciated being in a space where there were other people like me and I didn't feel so strange or alone.

In recent years I found myself with time on my hands and I wanted to do something with it. So I filled out a volunteer application at nAGLY. I knew I wanted to pay it forward. I wanted to help give back to the place that had given me space all those years ago. In a short time I became an adult advisor at nAGLY and it has truly been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Honestly, it reminded me AGAIN that I am not alone. That I have a whole community of people like me out there in the world. I am grateful to nAGLY for this reminder and hopeful that I may continue to be a valuable resource for them.

I brought my son to NAGLY as a way of supporting him and providing him with a social circle he would feel comfortable and accepted in. The added bonus was the support, social circle, and resources I found for myself as a parent! The staff and volunteers are all so wonderful and thoughtful.

Our family needed to find support within the LGBTQ+ community and found it at NAGLY. My husband and I found lots of great support from fellow parents and the advisors, and our child has found a rich and diverse group of friends through the groups and activities offered. Even through the pandemic, NAGLY has worked very hard to provide a safe harbor for all members of this broad community with a variety of offerings that just aren't being seen in other places. While our kid might be missing the monthly dances, they can still enjoy games nights, meetings, and other fun activities online. We are proud to both donate to and benefit from this vital community outreach.

We needed a place where our kiddo could go to find community after she came out in middle school, and found a community in the parents' group as well. Warm, welcoming, supportive--NAGLY is everything you'd want it to be.

nAGLY has been a part of our family's dynamic for many years. When my son came out at 16 years old, he attended his very first nAGLY meeting. I was concerned...would he emerge from the meeting feeling like "this is soooo not my thing" or "I love this place". I prepared myself for either option. When he did jump into my car, he was beaming! He said "There are a bunch of kids just like me! I made so many friends!" As a parent, that's EXACTLY what you want to hear. When my daughter came out at 15 years old, she was already familiar with nAGLY. She jumped right in and found a vast circle of friends with whom she could navigate her journey. nAGLY provided a brave, safe space. The meetings were informative and judgment free. When my kids were there, they were learning how to be safe and maintain good health - emotional and physical. Soon after, I was invited to become an Adult Advisor. I was straight, but it didn't matter. I was "the Mom" that the kids could speak to without worry of penalty or rejection. My work with nAGLY over the years has been one of the greatest joys of my life.
nAGLY's growth has permitted them to open their doors to even more LGBTQ kids and their families. We have nAGLY meetings and a Middle School group. We have EPiC meetings each week for parents, caregivers, and educators that are seeking information on how to assist their youth through life's journeys. We have open hours for "drop-in" so that the kids have a safe place to congregate. There are workshops and cup discussions. There are fun topics and serious ones too. nAGLY is hugely important to LGBTQ youth and their families. It tells them YOU ARE NOT ALONE. For a young person just coming out, that's what you REALLY need to hear. For a parent/caregiver, it's a place to learn how to advocate for the well-being of their young person. There aren't enough stars to properly rate nAGLY and all that they do, but there are plenty of rainbows to share.

Places like NAGLY offer not only a home for those in the LGBTQ+ community, but also a safe haven for them to flourish and educate themselves on matters affecting us today. When I first started going, being different felt like a curse. In the years that followed, I realized that my differences held more value than I had previously considered. Without NAGLY, I don’t think I’d be in a place so well-put together as I am today. I owe them my life, and the credibility to shape me into a better person.

I started going to nAGLY when I was 14 and continued to attend every week until I finished high school. nAGLY gave me more opportunities than I could have ever even hoped for to get involved in the local queer community, which helped my find my own identity and my place in our amazing community.

nAGLY also did an incredible job educating me on the things that I wish I had learned in high school. I learned about queer history, safe sex, and risk reduction in a friendly, safe, and age appropriate environment that provided me with tools that help carry me through adult life.

nAGLY has left me with lifelong knowledge, community, and friendships that I cherish, and seeing the growth nAGLY has experienced in the years since I've left fills me with so much pride and joy for this incredible organization.

I first started at NAGLY as a scared, barely 16 year old girl, identifying as a lesbian with a long trauma history and almost zero social skills. My first meeting topic that night was a serious one, and it was the first time I realized that I was normal- a huge deal for me at the time.

Fast forward through the years, and I've held various positions at NAGLY, most recently as Outreach Coordinator. Through NAGLY, I developed knowledge around everything from life skills to risk reduction, to learning how to genuinely laugh and that my voice has power. NAGLY has taught me so many things, most importantly that I matter. We really put our heart and soul into what we do there, and are there for our youth and staff in a way I've never experienced before.

As a firmly out, transgender identifying person today, I can genuinely say that NAGLY has given me the skills I need, thirst for advocacy, and sense of self that moves me forward every single day. And, I learned all of this about myself while having the best time at our Tuesday meetings, unaware that I was building myself from the ground up.

I look forward to many more years at NAGLY as we continue to grow and be a resource for the North Shore and beyond, and I feel that a 5 star review is great, but I personally would give it a hundred stars if I could. NAGLY saved my life, showed me my purpose, and gave me a family beyond what I could ever imagine.

Wow, where do I even begin?! I'm reaching the age of 20 next month, and I have been going to Nagly since I was 14 years old. Throughout my teenage years I have had struggles a lot of downsides, but knowing that I could look forward to Nagly on Tuesday always helped. Nagly has been a beautiful and therapeutic part of my life. There's nothing but lovely and amazing youth/staff who fully welcomes anyone in the LGBTQ+ community and their allies there. Meetings range from educational and serious to fun and relaxing, but it's always guaranteed to be a great time. If you come here, you will meet your second family. I feel blessed to be a part of the staff here and to watch everyone grow and sparkle in their own way. I've never met such an awesome crowd of people in my life. Please please please come and join us, if you like having fun and being surrounded by embracing and kind people. We're here for anyone who needs help, or just wants to have a good time. I feel inspired because of Nagly, and I'm willing to bet that anyone else would feel the same way too.

I have been going there for almost a decade, and even though I have aged out I still continue to volunteer my time.

For me nAGLY helped me stay social and optimistic when I hit a very dark point in my life. It played a big part of my teen years and really helped me build the confidence in myself. I also built life long friendships from the people I met there and have been very thankful of that.

It is an important place for LGBT youth to really find who they are and be accepted and loved for that because not everyone can be. It has a wide array of meetings from fun and creative to educational and inspiring which help the youth learn and express themselves.

NAGLY is my second home and has made me the person I am today. I started coming at fifteen, insecure and alone, the only queer kid at my school, and have since joined the staff full time. I love NAGLY for building me into a leader, introducing me to the LGBT community, and giving me a reason to live. I would not be here without them.

nAGLY is a pretty neat place.

In all seriousness, I've made a large chunk of friends here and I've felt generally welcomed. The staff are all super nice, kindhearted and helpful. The space is very colorful and relaxing - there's a comfortable youth lounge, a wonderful library, and a boutique where youth can take clothes they might need (especially useful for the Winter). No matter who you are or where you come from I guarantee that you will be welcomed into the nAGLY family.

I went to nAGLY as a troubled teenager, it was a small piece of resbit from my insane adolescence. That was 15 years ago. Recently after losing my mother to cancer I returned as an adult volunteer, and once again found a community where I was welcomed, where I feel I can once find resbit, only in a new way, during another turbulent period in my life. I believe in nAGLY, and I feel blessed to be a part of what is happening there :)

Amazing time! I started out as a youth and the staff/youth were extremely accepting and fun to talk with. The meetings are fun and educational. You will always leave the space with new information and feeling like your thoughts were heard. I eventually became an intern and then a peer leader and it's a wonderful experience. The youth can submit requests for meeting topics or anything else they think will enhance their experience in the space. To add to that there are lots of resources and information to answer any questions that people may have. Overall it's a great space filled with great staff and people. I totally recommend someone to attend ^_^