We are raising funds to send our beloved teenager Maathai to an LGBTQ+ leadership camp in southern California. We are so incredibly excited for this opportunity for Maathai to attend Camp Brave Trails, in part because Maathai has spent the past year learning a great deal about social justice, activism, and advocacy.

Since entering their teen years (M is now 14), they have become deeply connected to their non-binary identity and to engaging issues of gender, queer rights, and challenging transphobia and all homophobic expressions. They participate in LGBTQ peer groups here in Asheville, follow queer voices on social media, and read books and 'zines dedicated to themes affecting the LGBTQ community (especially for middle- and high school age youth).

This 9-day summer camp will be held in the San Bernadino National Forest in Southern California in late June. Rima, M's mom, will accompany them from North Carolina to California. We are raising funds to afford the camp and round trip travel costs for Maathai.