The Rainbow Book project started as an EAST Project at Pulaski Heights Middle School as a resource for LGBTQ youth. We have put together a map of safe spaces for LGBTQ youth in our area. The Rainbow Book is modeled after “The Green Book” from the 1930s, which was a book of safe places for African-Americans to travel across the southern United States.
Two PHMS students, Emi Oden and Clair Parsons, created a Geoform in ArcMap and emailed it to local businesses who have committed to being a safe space. Group member Henry Kramer also designed a special logo for the project, and one of our community partners, Electric Ghost Screen Printing, printed stickers for each business to display on the door to their business.
These students have partnered with Lucie’s Place for this project. Lucie’s Place provides homeless LGBTQ young adults in Central Arkansas with safe living environments, job training, and counseling services in order to ensure life-long stability and success, and works to promote equality and acceptance for LGBTQ young adults.