#AWP20 Service Project

Support Fiesta Youth, One of the Largest LGBTQ Youth Organizations in South Texas!

AWP is proud to be partnering with Fiesta Youth at #AWP20! Fiesta Youth is the leading LGBTQ youth organization in San Antonio, and we are honored to be hosting a book drive with them at the conference! Please donate any books appropriate for ages 10-19, with a special focus on LGBTQ literature. Used books are acceptable, but we ask that they be in excellent condition. You can also purchase a special medal to support their mission. And please come by to say hi to the Fiesta Youth volunteers at their bookfair booth!

Youth and staff holding up a banner, dressed in pride outfits

Already the largest organization for LGBTQ youth in San Antonio, Fiesta Youth plans to soon expand into Corpus Christi. They hold weekly youth-led meetings, yearly events like their prom, and other educational and enrichment programs designed to help youth build a sense of community through friendship. That they are able to do all of this almost exclusively through the work of volunteers is beyond commendable, and it is our sincere wish for the AWP community to show love and support to Fiesta Youth as they enter their seventh spectacular year.

Please read David Laidacker-Luna’s letter to AWP attendees below and an interview our Membership Associate Ely Vance recently conducted with him.

Youth and staff matching in the San Antionio Pride Parade

A Letter from Fiesta Youth President, David Laidacker-Luna

Dear AWP Community,

Fiesta Youth is extremely grateful to be partnering with this year’s AWP conference. We are very excited to be able to provide a collection bin of any donated books that will help our youth between the ages of 11-18 increase their knowledge and vision of life: to help them see some of our visionaries, creative writers, authors, and publishers that have interest in their lives to help bring about creative thinking and see that they too could have an avenue to express themselves in their own future. We hope that all participants in the conference stop by our booth, learn about our organization, donate a book, buy a Fiesta medal, or just make a donation. We love to educate anyone that wants to hear how the LGBTQ youth of San Antonio and all of South Texas benefit from our organization.

We have exciting programs being worked on for the youth that participate with our organization. We have a “Life after High School” program coming in May. We host the largest LGBTQ youth prom every year. We are providing $5,000 in youth scholarships this year. We are hosting a weeklong summer camp for the first time this year. Lastly, we hope to offer another branch of Fiesta Youth to our sister city of Corpus Christi later this year in the hopes of reaching more youth that can benefit from the programming we provide.

Thank you to AWP for allowing us to educate all of those attending the AWP conference, and we look forward to meeting you during your stay in beautiful San Antonio, Texas.

In pride,

David Laidacker-Luna
President, Fiesta Youth

Youth and staff positing for a photo

Not Coming to #AWP20 but Still Want to Help?

We understand that not everyone is able to make it to the Conference, but there are still great ways to support Fiesta Youth from afar! Anyone can make a donation directly to the organization. Additionally, youth attending Fiesta Youth's college workshop in May are all provided with a book on admissions for free. You can purchase a copy of Admission Matters: What Students and Parents Need to Know About Getting into College to help Fiesta Youth cut the cost of hosting this event. Please ship any orders to: