On Saturday, October 20, 2012, Hispanic Black Gay Coalition (HBGC) held its second annual Youth Empowerment Conference. Nearly 150 youth attended a full day of workshops to celebrate and strengthen the intelligence and power of LGBQ/T youth, particularly teens and young adults in Black and Latin@ communities.

Special guests People.com editor and transgender activist Janet Mock and Boston City Councilor Felix Arroyo addressed the youth, offering insight and inspiration. Organizations and groups from across the city and region, including GLAD, BARCC, The Theater Offensive, Bklyn Boihood, Massachusetts Asian and Pacific Islanders (MAP) for Health, and MassEquality presented workshops to educate and empower youth to build understanding, connect and collaborate to create personal and social change.

This event was free thanks to the sponsorship and support of The Haymarket People's Fund, The Hyams Foundation, Greater Boston PFLAG, Boston GLASS at JRI Health, BAGLY and the Unitarian Universalist Social Just Fund.

Youth learn yoga techniques to reduce stress at HBGC’s 2nd Annual Youth Empowerment Conference, held last Saturday at MIT’s Tang Center in Cambridge, MA.

HBGC Youth Empowerment Conference workshop facilitator Dishon Laing helps conference participant Zuleny Gonzalez enhance her resume.

Boston City Councilor At-Large Felix G. Arroyo and executive assistant Lydia Vega prepare for Arroyo’s morning address at HBGC’s 2nd annual Youth Empowerment Conference.

Youth browse the information and giveaways at the resource fair at HBGC’s 2nd annual Youth Empowerment Conference. Organizations including ABCD Health Services, MAP for Health, The Network/La Red and DotWell participated in the fair.

Nearly 150 youth listen to People.com editor and transgender activist Janet Mock’s lunchtime keynote address at the 2nd Annual Youth Empowerment Conference.

People.com and transgender activist Janet Mock shares insight and inspiration with nearly 150 youth during her keynote address at HBGC’s 2nd annual Youth Empowerment Conference.

Multigenerational Asian women’s taiko drumming group The Genki Spark pound out powerful rhythms during their performance at HBGC’s 2nd annual Youth Empowerment Conference.

HBGC co-founders Quincey Roberts (2nd from left) and Corey Yarbrough (far right) hang loose with Youth Empowerment Conference workshop facilitators Sebastian Flowers (left), Jckee Fontaine (center) and Ryann Holmes (2nd from right) of New York City-based masculine of center collective Bklyn Boihood at The Social Network, the official afterparty for HBGC’s 2nd Annual Youth Empowerment Conference.

Youth listen to a presentation at HBGC’s 2nd annual Youth Empowerment Conference.

Youth write down their thoughts and reflections during a workshop at HBGC’s 2nd annual Youth Empowerment Conference, held last Saturday at MIT’s Tang Center in Cambridge, MA