In communities across the country, LGBTQ+ youth continue to face significant challenges, including social isolation, bullying, homelessness, and limited access to affirming mental health resources. Here in the Coachella Valley, those realities inspired the creation of the Marsha P. Johnson Youth Drop-In Center, a safe and welcoming space where young people can find support, connection, and community.
The center was established after the Transgender Health & Wellness Center (TH&WC) identified a critical lack of physical safe spaces, peer support opportunities, and accessible resources for LGBTQ+ adolescents throughout the region. While many young people turn to the internet in search of community, online spaces cannot replace the value of in-person
support, mentorship and genuine human connection.
We named the Marsha P. Johnson LGBTQ+ Youth Drop-In Center, known as MPJ, to honor Marsha’s legacy of advocacy and community care. Carrying her name is both a tribute and a promise: to create a space where LGBTQIA+ youth are affirmed, supported and empowered to be their authentic selves and where they are seen not as problems to be fixed but rather as young people worthy of being heard, valued and believed in.
The opportunity to bring this vision to life came through a grant initiative offered by the Desert Healthcare District. The funding focused on expanding mental health support for local youth through innovative programming, outreach, peer engagement, access to therapy and the creation of safe community spaces. As a trans-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Palm Springs, TH&WC embraced the challenge and successfully secured funding to help make the project a reality.
Additional community support helped open the doors of the Marsha P. Johnson Youth Drop-In Center in January 2024, including an initial $10,000 contribution from the Palm Springs Front Runners and Walkers. Since then, the center has grown into a vibrant after-school resource serving LGBTQ+ and allied youth Monday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
More than just a drop-in center, MPJ provides opportunities for young people to explore their interests, develop life skills, and build lasting friendships. Youth have participated in field trips to local thrift stores, movie theaters, Cathedral City's LGBTQ+ Days, and Safe Schools' Pride Prom over the past two years. These experiences allow participants to engage with their community in affirming environments while creating positive memories and connections.
The center also offers practical resources that help address everyday challenges many young people face. Services include a food pantry, hygiene products, gaming and recreation opportunities, academic support, study spaces, resume-building assistance, and referrals to additional services when needed. By meeting youth where they are, the center helps create a strong foundation for personal growth and long-term success.
Under the leadership of Director of Youth Services Renae Punzalan, the center continues to provide meaningful programming that supports the emotional well-being and healthy development of local youth. As Special Events Coordinator for TH&WC and a youth chaperone for many of our activities, I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand how transformative these opportunities can be. Many of the young people who walk through our doors simply need a place where they can be themselves without fear of judgment. They need trusted adults who will listen, encourage, and help them navigate life's challenges.
Through mentorship, positive peer engagement, and supportive programming, we help youth build confidence, independence, and skills that will serve them well into adulthood. Every young person deserves to feel safe, valued, and supported. The Marsha P. Johnson Youth Drop-In Center exists because local leaders, advocates, businesses, and community members recognized that need and chose to invest in the future of our youth.
Community members who would like to help sustain this work can become a Guardian Angel through The Butterfly Society, TH&WC's monthly giving program. Ongoing contributions help support the Marsha P. Johnson Youth Drop-In Center and other affirming services that empower transgender, nonbinary, and LGBTQ+ individuals throughout our region.
For many young people in the Coachella Valley, MPJ is more than just a drop-in center. It is a community, a support system, and a place to belong. Learn more at trans.health/marsha-p-johnson-lgbtq-youth-drop-in-center.
Steven Janji is the special events coordinator for the Trans Health & Wellness Center and works alongside Renae Punzalan, director of youth services, supporting programs and opportunities that empower LGBTQ+ youth throughout the Coachella Valley.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Marsha P. Johnson center creates safe space for local LGBTQ+ youth
