QUEERSPACE collective: Minnesota’s only 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth Center

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A Discussion with Nicki Hangsleben, Executive Director

QUEERSPACE collective opened its doors in October and is the only 2SLGBTQIA+ youth center in the state.  We wanted to learn more about this fabulous and important space and organization - a discussion with Executive Director and Founder, Nicki Hangsleben, provided us with the essential and hopeful information.  Consider a gift to QUEERSPACE this holiday season – you’ll be supporting the youth, mentors and caregivers who provide a safe place for vulnerable youth in our community.

Q:  You worked for many years in the corporate world, at Land O Lakes. What inspired you to take a detour in your career and start QUEERSPACE collective?

Nicki HangslebenA: At Land O'Lakes I worked in International Development designing and implementing agricultural programs in developing countries. I traveled around the world and worked with amazing communities throughout East and Southern Africa, Asia and the Middle East. I loved my job and collaborated with amazing team members. After 9+ years I started to feel like I wanted to do something a little closer to home. As a Queer person who grew up with Queer community (my mom dated women when I was a kid), I knew having mentors was instrumental to feeling safe and supported when I came out. I saw the mental health crisis facing young people in the LGBTQIA+ community and found out there were very few mentorship programs supporting them. I thought this would be a great way to show up for our youth and our broader community.

Q:  What is QUEERSPACE collective's mission?

A:  QUEERSPACE collective creates space for LGBTQ+ youth to feel safe and empowered to be their true selves.

Q:  Can you share some success stories from your mentorship programs? How have these programs impacted the lives of LGBTQ+ youth?

A:  Over the last 3.5 years we've successfully matched 80+ LGBTQIA+ youth with LGBTQIA+ mentors, supported another 50+ youth through our youth workshops, and through partnerships connected with over 3,000 youth out in the community. We also provide mentor and caregiver training and LGBTQIA+ inclusivity training throughout the country.

I hear from caregivers often that QUEERSPACE has changed their lives and sometimes saved their lives. Many youth who are referred in are dealing with mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. Having a caring adult and community allows them to feel more confident and secure in who they are. We've had some matches who have been together for 3 weeks and some who have been together for 3 years. In addition to supporting their 1:1 matches we also provide a lot of community events so youth and mentors can connect with other youth and mentors in the program. And we provide caregiver training so they can connect with each other as well. Our focus has been about creating community. And it's working!

Q:  How does QUEERSPACE collective engage with the broader community to foster inclusivity and support for LGBTQ+ youth?

A:  Partnerships are at the heart of everything we do. We are intentional about working with community partners and ensuring what we are providing is not redundant. We are part of the Minnesota School Outreach Coalition (MNSOC) and collaborate with other LGBTQIA+ youth organizations to host Q-Quest, Youth Pride and other fun and engaging events in the community. We're also part of the Minnesota Trans and Intersex Resource Network (MNTIRN), an organization working collectively to assist LGBTQIA+ folx arriving in Minnesota from other states. And, we're constantly evaluating ways we can share resources from other organizations with our growing QUEERSPACE community. I firmly believe, as Paul Wellstone once said, "We all do better when we all do better.”

Q:  Can you talk about any partnerships or collaborations that have been particularly beneficial for QUEERSPACE collective?

A:  Yes, partnerships are incredibly important to all we do. We know it takes our full community to best support our young people. We have programmatic partnerships with orgs like RECLAIM!, Family Tree Clinic, Transforming Families, and OutFrontMN, fundraising initiatives with FlipPhone drag brunches and Red Cow, and last year completed a training program for Best Buy’s Teen Tech Centers. Stay tuned for our newest partnership with Worthy Mentoring. Together we're working on a virtual mentorship app to support kids in rural communities.

Q:  What are your long-term goals for QUEERSPACE collective, and how do you plan to achieve them?

A:  We developed a 3-year strategy in the fall of 2023 and have prioritized growing our mentorship programs, opening a youth center, and developing a virtual mentorship platform. Our mentorship programs are continuing to expand, we recently opened an LGBTQIA+ Youth Center and are working on a virtual mentorship app that we plan to pilot in 2025. You can find out more about our 3-year strategy at our website, queerspacecollective.org/about.

Q:  What has been the most rewarding part of your journey with QUEERSPACE collective, and what keeps you motivated?

A:  I'm grateful I can leverage my skills acquired while working for large nonprofits like MPR and corporations like Land O'Lakes and apply them to this new startup organization that is directly impacting LGBTQIA+ youth. I'm also grateful for the amazing team at QUEERSPACE who show up every day for our mentors, our youth and their caregivers, and our partners with creative solutions and incredible programming. I'm lucky I get to lead this incredible organization and continue to show up for LGBTQIA+ youth in our community to help them feel a bit more supported in this often-challenging world.

Q:  What advice would you give to individuals and organizations looking to support LGBTQ+ youth in their communities?

A:  The LGBTQIA+ community is constantly being attacked, especially our Trans community. We are lucky to live in a state with representatives and advocates who have been working diligently for decades to protect our rights. Please make sure you vote. And vote for those who want equal rights for EVERYONE. Please also consider donating to local LGBTQIA+ organizations, including QUEERSPACE collective. There is so much more we can be doing to create more inclusive spaces for our LGBTQIA+ youth. Finally, educate yourself. Learn more about the experiences for trans youth, what it means to be non-binary, how to use they/them or ze/zir pronouns, how to share your own pronouns, and all the ways you can show LGBTQIA+ youth they deserve love and compassion.