CareFIRST x SMYAL

Teaming Up to Support Local LGBTQ+ Youth

Together with Monumental Sports and the Washington Capitals, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) is committed to supporting the health and well-being of the communities it serves.

Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL) is a local organization whose mission is to empower lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth and provide access to crucial resources they need to succeed. They provide leadership development opportunities, after-school programs, and counseling services and provide a sense of safety and community for those who seek their support. Monumental Sports and CareFirst have teamed up this season to highlight the services SMYAL provides to local LGBTQ+ youth and spread awareness for the important work they are doing in the Washington D.C metropolitan area.

SMYAL Scholarships

SMYAL’s scholarships recognize outstanding LGBTQ+ student leaders who have demonstrated personal growth and a commitment to creating change.

Youth Pride

Youth Pride DMV is a day-long event where LGBTQ+ youth take center stage and celebrate their identities with pride and joy!

Housing Support

Learn how SMYAL provides housing for LGBTQ+ youth in DC

CareFirst x SMYAL Celebrate Pride

Take a look at MSE, CareFirst, and SMYAL's participation in the 2023 Capital Pride Parade

About CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Frequently, your zip code can be a better predictor of health outcomes than your genetic code. CareFirst wants to change that. By proactively identifying and addressing social determinants of health like access to education, food, and financial stability, as well as access to affordable, quality healthcare, CareFirst and Monumental Sports are partnering to advance programming to address disparities, advance equity and transform the healthcare experience.

CareFirst is a not-for-profit healthcare company offering health insurance products and services to 3.6 million members in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. CareFirst annually invests millions of dollars into local communities to increase access to affordable, equitable, high-quality healthcare.

About SMYAL

SMYAL

SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders) supports and empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. Through youth leadership, SMYAL creates opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth to build self-confidence, develop critical life skills, and engage their peers and community through service and advocacy. Committed to social change, SMYAL builds, sustains and advocates for programs, policies and services that LGBTQ+ youth need as they grow into adulthood.

PRIOR PARTNERS

About DC Greens

DC Greens believes that achieving health equity requires resilient, just, and equitable food systems. 

DC Greens advances health equity by creating cross-sector collaborations and advancing equitable, city-wide policy solutions to build a just and resilient food system. We do this work in solidarity with marginalized communities experiencing poverty and food insecurity.

About The Well

The Well is an intergenerational farm and community wellness space in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Ward 8, in Southeast, D.C. This space has been envisioned alongside residents of the community, and is now led by Jaren Hill Lockridge, our Director of The Well and a resident of the neighborhood. DC Greens has built a channel for resources to flow into this community - filling The Well - so that neighbors have what they need to define and create wellness on their own terms.