Nonprofit Leader: Nicki Hangsleben, Executive Director and Founder, QUEERSPACE Collective

Article by Becky Fillinger

Nicki HangslebenNicki Hangsleben, Executive Director and Founder of QUEERSPACE Collective, is a community hero – she has created a kinder and more supportive world for LGBTQ+ youth by providing a safe space through one-on-one virtual and in-person mentoring.

We talked to her about the origins of QUEERSPACE, their unique mentoring programs and the fun events coming up during Pride Month. Keep reading – you can help in many ways – the easiest is ordering a delicious QUEERSPACE Lime & Sea Salt Lager at all Red Cow and Red Rabbit locations during June.

Q:  QUEERSPACE Collective recently won the 2022 Community Leadership Awards Nonprofit of the Year - congratulations! Please tell us more about the reasons QUEERSPACE was given this award.

A:  We are so honored to have been chosen as Nonprofit of the Year by Quorum! As one of the few organizations in Minnesota and the Midwest directly supporting LGBTQ+ youth, QUEERSPACE Collective is filling a much-needed gap in the LGBTQ+ community. We are committed to working with the broader community to fill this need while not being redundant in our services. Key to the success of QUEERSPACE is the collaborative approach we are taking with youths’ caregivers, partner organizations and the broader LGBTQ+ community. We understand mentorship for LGBTQ+ youth cannot be provided in a vacuum, and the greater the network of support each youth has, the greater their chances for success.

Q:  Your LGBTQ+ mentoring programs are unique in Minnesota and across the nation. As founder, what led you to put together a nonprofit to address this void? Could you tell us more about the mentoring programs?

A:  In the United States, LGBTQ+ youth represent some of the most vulnerable and underserved people in our country. LGBTQ+ youth face on-going discrimination and often lack the support required to feel safe living an open, “out” and authentic life. A staggering 85% of LGBTQ+ youth experience harassment at school and they are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Access to inclusive spaces where LGBTQ+ feel safe to show up as their authentic selves is crucial to their development and emotional, mental and physical well-being.

There are currently over 5,000 mentorship programs across the US with less than 10 focused on LGBTQ+ youth. QUEERSPACE hangouts, our mentorship initiative, is a free youth-centric intergenerational program creating safe, inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and LGBTQ+ adults to connect. LGBTQ+ mentors are matched with LGBTQ+ youth based on youth choice, location, identity, orientation and shared interests. Mentors and mentees connect weekly to hangout, set and accomplish goals, and build resilience through meaningful engagement.

Recent BBQ at Minnehaha Falls

QUEERSPACE also provides opportunities for youth and their mentors to participate in social and educational group events each month to promote a sense of community and provide both mentors and mentees an opportunity to build relationships with others in the program. Activities include games, BBQ’s, queer history, art, and much more. We have a ton of fun at these group events and have seen many of the youth begin to come out of their shells and show up as their authentic selves.

Q:  Over two-thirds of LGBTQ youth said recent debates on the topic and the passed state legislation that targets transgender people have negatively impacted their mental health. Are you seeing an uptick in requests for mentoring for trans youth as a result of the anti-trans legislation?

A:  With the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-trans legislation across our country, there is a growing need for youth-serving organizations to do more to make their programming safer and more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ youth they serve. Over half of the youth that we serve identify as trans or non-binary and are looking for mentors with similar gender identities to support them along their journey of self-discovery. More often than not the trans and non-binary youth that come to us have never met a trans or non-binary adult. Research has shown that having at least one supportive adult in the lives of LGBTQ+ youth reduce their risk of suicide by nearly 40%. Being able to connect with someone who has walked many miles in your shoes is incredibly important in supporting trans and non-binary youth and giving them a chance to see that a healthy and happy future is possible.

Q:  Do you have events planned for Pride Month?

A:  Yes! On June 23 we will be hosting a Pride Block Party at Red Rabbit in the North Loop from 3PM to 9PM. There will be music, food, drinks, and a whole lot of fun! We have great friends over at Indeed Brewing Co. that have created a special QUEERSPACE Lime & Sea Salt Lager that is being sold at all of the Red Cow and Red Rabbit locations throughout the month of June. $1 from each beer sold will be donated directly to QUEERSPACE to support our mentorship program. We encourage everyone that is able to stop by to say hello, enjoy a few refreshments, and celebrate our community together.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Following QUEERSPACE collective on social media, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, is a great way to stay up to date with all of our latest news and events. You can also visit our website and sign up for our newsletter to receive emails about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and ways to continue supporting our mission of creating space for LGBTQ+ youth to feel safe and empowered to be their true selves.