Youth Outlook

08/27/2026

Lo! Another Champion is set to be crowned: A most hearty "Huzzah!" for Dr. Jessica Lapinski of Outpatient Family Medicine Transformed, the recipient of our Jill Poehlman Individual Community Partner award!

Dr. Lapinski has been a member of the West Suburban Community Network for at least 5 years and is one of the leading gender affirming care providers in our area. She left Northwestern because she wasn't able to spend enough time with her patients and opened her own practice "Outpatient Family Medicine Transformed". As rollbacks to gender affirming care have plagued our area, Dr. Lapinski has stuck her neck out and continued providing care for all ages.

She's taking on patients from many of the states where clinics have closed and provides innovative ways to reduce the cost for medicine, bloodwork, etc.

Through all of her busy life, she still shows up at Youth Outlook's conference, networks with us, comes to community meetings, etc. We are lucky to have her in IL!

Congratulations, Dr. Lapinski! Thank you for all of your hard work and community advocacy!

08/25/2026

Today, we mourn the loss of an out and proud ally who used her platform for decades to support the LGBTQ+ community. For 35 years she has been supporting the community with her music, her philanthropy, and her platform. From her early support of gay families in the 1990s to penning the iconic song "Travelin' Thru" for the movie Transamerica in 2005 to her continued support of transgender rights, Dolly Parton had a proven track record of supporting the communities that skyrocketed her career.

In lieu of flowers, her family has asked for donations to be made the The Imagination Library, her philanthropic project supporting literacy for young children around the world: https://imaginationlibrary.com/

Rest in Peace, Ms. Parton! Thank you for your longstanding allyship and advocacy.

08/24/2026

Prithee, take heed! The festival fast approaches; there are but two months to go before our magical night of reverie swings wide the gates of the realm! Join us in Aurora, IL on Friday, October 23rd.

Tickets are already flying fast, with just a few VIP tables remaining! As a remind, VIP guests receive a royal experience with premiere buffet access, a dedicated tavernmaster queue, a bottle of complimentary champagne for the feast, and a bespoke pin featuring our crest!

Visit d2d.cbo.io to patronize our festival and ensure your entry into our mystical realm. You can also proffer an offering for our silent auction, and sponsorship opportunities abound!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Gather, good Gentles, and harken to our words: The Royal Realm of Youth Outlook decrees that we shall have a grand festival complete with feasting and merriment as we champion LGBTQ+ youth. Welcome, all, to Ye Olde Dare to Dream: Renaissance Reverie!

Free-flowing libations (open bar), a buffet feast (buffet dinner), a fortuitous silent bidding tournament (silent auction), the Crowning of Champions (annual awards), and generous tithings (fund-a-need/paddle raise) are all features of this most glorious gala.

Enter our magical realm of mystical merriment as you join us for our foundational event supporting LGBTQ+ youth all across northern and central Illinois. This is our premiere gala, and we can't wait to open wide the gates for all of our guests!

To acquire admission within the gates, please visit https://d2d.cbo.io

Original event logo and assets created by Intan Zulkifli ( on instagram / intanzulkifliart.portfolio.site )

08/20/2026

Hark! The Royal Realm has some very important announcements to share: by unanimous decree, DeKalb and Virtual Drop-In Center Youth Leader Nikki Sinclair (any/all pronouns) will be crowned with the Michael Fairbanks Youth Advocacy Award at Ye Olde Dare to Dream: Renaissance Reverie!

This is a first, as every single nomination for this award went to Nikki (making it a very easy decision for our awards committee!). Nikki's impact is difficult to overstate; from being the only youth to show up weekly to our DeKalb center to welcoming every new face that crosses his path both in person and online, Nikki has grown right alongside and with the agency.

They have a strong understanding of what it means to be a mentor for younger q***r adolescents. Also, she stays up-to-date on local q***r events throughout the Chicagoland area AND accessible online resources for the q***r community, frequently forwarding those resources to our Virtual Site Leader so they can be pinned and shared with the group.

At the DeKalb center, Nikki makes sure that the younger kids get to voice their opinions and share their thoughts during group discussions, encouraging them to contribute. Whenever DeKalb is closed for a holiday, Nikki organizes group outings, such as bowling or picnics in the park, so that the youth still have that time and space to spend together.

Beyond the Drop-In Centers, Nikki is BOOKED and BUSY in the DeKalb q***r scene from Rocky Horror performances to running Dungeons and Dragons groups. Nikki greets every single person that comes up to our table and shares about our services. Nikki walks in all of the parades we participate in each year, tables at every event in DeKalb (and we mean every event!), has shared about Youth Outlook at high schools, in front of donors, and during protests.

We are also most pleased to share that Nikki will continue our annual tradition of being our Keynote Speaker at the Gala, following in the footsteps of her peers and demonstrating her public speaking prowess for all gala guests.

Congratulations, Nikki! We know you'll continue to make a positive difference wherever you go!

08/19/2026

The Summer 2026 series of Rainbow Sprouts concludes this Saturday, August 22nd, 2026, from 1:00-3:00 PM in Aurora!

Please send an email to [email protected] for specific location details.

We're wrapping things up with a Self-Care Day!

If it is your first time attending, register at the link in the comments.

08/19/2026

What is a tournament without fabulous prizes? We rely on the generosity of those who enter our Royal Realm to bequeath fantastic finds to our silent bidding tournament.

Prizes we are seeking include:

- Enchanting Event Tickets: sports, music, theatre, and other live experiences
- Gallant Gift Certificates: local, national, or high-tourist-area dining and entertainment
- Aristocratic Autographed Memorabilia: from LGBTQ+ leaders, entertainers, athletes, or academics
- Unequivocal Unique Experiences: vacation stays, private dinners, or golf outings
- Courtly Consumables: wine, spirits, chocolates, craft goodies, or small-batch delights

If you are interested in donating an item to our auction, please email [email protected] with details about your wares, and we will coordinate with you to transport them to the tournament. You can also visit d2d.cbo.io to make an inquiry.

This is a wonderful option for fantasy fans who are unable to join us in person to support our Royal Realm. All items will be available for virtual bidding once the silent bidding tournament opens! (Craftsfolk and artisans, while we won't have a market at the Gala, we are sure our guests would be elated to battle it out for your bespoke pieces, especially as they relate to the theme)

All donations are 100% tax-deductible.

08/18/2026

Support LGBTQ+ Youth in Your Community: Become a Drop-In Center Volunteer!

Our Drop-In Centers offer a safe space where LGBTQ+ youth can be themselves, build connections, and thrive! By volunteering, you help keep these life-changing spaces open and make a positive impact in your community.

Here are just a few reasons to volunteer with us:
- Flexible opportunity - minimum 3.5 hours, one night per month
- Expand your skills and gain valuable experience
- Help provide vital services while joining a supportive, welcoming team

Submit your applications at tinyurl.com/VolunteerYO. Schedule too packed to join us this round? No problem! We host these semi-annual trainings twice a year, every Spring and every Fall. We'll be here when you're ready to take the leap!

Fall 2026 training begins September 19th, but we encourage those interested in participating in this round of training to apply by September 12th.

08/12/2026

Today is a reminder of why we do the work: It's International Youth Day! The LGBTQ+ youth we serve are at the center of everything we do, and on days like today, we want to take a moment and celebrate them a little bit extra.

We could not be more proud of the community they have built for each other: one where those who have been around for a while are not afraid to show newbies the ROPES, where youth who might not have had the opportunity to come out of their shells can spread their wings and thrive, where the youth of today can (and have!) become the organization leaders of tomorrow. They show us every day how to build a better world.

Looking to join in on the celebration? There's an avenue for that: whether it is a financial donation, an in-kind donation, or a donation of your time, we invite you to become part of our mission. We have a multitude of ways to get involved, and you can visit our website to explore them all.

08/11/2026

Exalt Your Experience with a VIP Table (NEW for 2026!)

Good Gentles, we are most pleased to announce a brand new opportunity to elevate your festival experience: The Realm is offering a limited number of VIP tables complete with accommodations befitting royalty!

A VIP Table includes the following:

- Priority access privileges for the buffet (normally reserved for monarchy)
- A premiere VIP lane at our open bar with a dedicated tavernmaster
- A complimentary bottle of champagne at the table so our court members can toast the cause
- A bespoke wooden pin featuring a full-color print of our shield crest, created by artist Intan Zulkifli and designating holders as members of our VIP court

The only way to enjoy these enchanting enhancements is by pledging an oath to fill a table.

Join us on Friday, October 23rd in Aurora, IL! Tickets, sponsorships, and VIP tables are all available now at d2d.cbo.io