Through hands-on and digital research projects, workshops, and interactive discussions, the ONE Archives Foundation mentors a core group of high school student leaders from across Los Angeles to become ambassadors for LGBTQ history in their communities and schools.  The program includes hands-on research at the ONE Archives at USC Libraries, LGBTQ history presentations by community organizers, group discussions on LGBTQ topics, research and workshops, and field trips to LGBTQ organizations and landmarks throughout Los Angeles.

As a capstone to the program, each student creates a personal passion project that displays their knowledge of LGBTQ history and culture. Through the Youth Ambassadors program, not only will students be able to utilize their perspectives in depicting LGBTQ history, but they will also gain community service hours, professional research experience, project development skills, and tools to increase visibility of LGBTQ history and culture in their communities.

Thank you to our Youth Ambassadors for Queer History Program Founders, Rob Saltzman and Ed Pierce!

Rob and Ed have been strong supporters of LGBTQ organizations both locally and nationally. Rob and Ed met as students at Harvard Law School in the late 1970’s. They were together as a couple for 36 years from 1979 until Ed’s death in 2015 at age 63. Rob and Ed were legally married in California in 2008. Their lives together were focused on friends, family and children, combined with a lifelong passion for social justice and community service.