As we settle into a new season, our hearts are still full from everything this summer brought — the breakthroughs, the connections, and the young people who reminded us exactly why we do this work. None of that happens without you. So thank you for being a friend at the Lab and supporting our mission 365 days a year.
Now, we’re carrying that energy into fall and we need mentors across all of our programs! As always the first step is simple: a willingness to positively impact the lives of LGBTQIA+ youth. It may sound intimidating but oftentimes all you have to be is present– which often goes a long way.But before we jump into our current openings we want to share the experiences of some of our current Mentors in their words. For Melissa Destefano who first had heard about Rainbow Labs through a one-time work volunteer event which then led to her joining our mentor program and has been with us since for the past year. And the impact all started after attending their first Lab, “When I walked into the first session, I thought, ‘Wow, these kids are amazing.’ They’re all so different, but they have so much in common. And you can tell Rainbow Labs is a place where they feel safe.”
Coincidentally, this experience also mirrored Terrell Green’s, who's been a part of the Lab for the past 3 years, and after all these years, the commitment just seems seamless and more joy than work: “It’s been really fun... It feels like you’re hanging out. I think the mentors who stick around at Rainbow Labs all the way through are authentic people who show up as themselves and share a common thread: we’re in this space together. And I think that is a really cool thing.”
The onboarding process is straightforward: An application, interview, and background check, and the next thing you know, you're helping lead the next generation of LGBTQIA+ young leaders as a Mentor at Rainbow Labs.
Here’s where you can plug in:
Innovation Lab
A STEM-focused after-school mentorship program where youth explore tech and science through hands-on, creative activities. Innovation Lab directly addresses the underrepresentation of LGBTQIA+ individuals in STEM fields — and no STEM experience is needed to join this fall.
Venice High School — Tuesdays at 2:15-3:45pm and Thursdays at 3:15-4:45pm
Commitment: 4 hours per week
(Just a heads-up: the spring session will shift to a cohort model and will need 20 STEM-experienced volunteers — stay tuned!)
Storytelling Lab
A 6–12 week in-school program where LGBTQIA+ youth share their stories, lead projects, and shape their communities through creative art. This one is as powerful as it sounds.
Belvedere Middle School — Tuesdays at 2:15-3:45pm and Thursdays at 3:15-4:45pm
Torres High School — Mondays & Wednesdays, 3:15–5pm
Commitment: 4 hours per week
Leadership Lab
Running September through June, this program puts LGBTQIA+ youth in the room where decisions happen — advising Rainbow Labs staff and board on programming, recruitment, and community needs. As a mentor, you’ll be paired with 1–3 youth for monthly check-ins.
Commitment: 1 virtual session + 1 in-person session per month
Just Want to Show Up Once? We’ve Got That Too:
Sports Lab…is our inclusive, team-based sports clinic where youth show up fully as themselves — and get celebrated for it. Think kickball, soccer, basketball, and a whole lot of joy.
Wednesday, November 18th, 3:30–6pm
Belvedere Middle School
In Rainbow Labs terms, a mentor is an LGBTQIA+ adult who wants to uplift and inspire the next generation of queer, trans, and gender nonconforming youth. The ask is simple: join a lab, connect with a youth, leave an impact. You don’t need to be perfect — again, just present. For many of our mentors is just as rewarding of an experience as it is for your youth.
Hope to see you at a Lab! <3
