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CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is partnering with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation on its . Project THRIVE is a multi-year national campaign to create more equitable, inclusive support systems and help families and youth-serving professionals become better equipped to affirm, support, and care for LGBTQ youth.

“AASL’s partnership with Project THRIVE demonstrates the association's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion,” said AASL President Kathy Carroll. “I am thrilled we have the opportunity to work with Project THRIVE to support LGBTQ young people in our learning communities. We wholeheartedly support Project THRIVE's efforts to ensure all students are heard, acknowledged, and supported.”

“We are thrilled to have AASL join HRC Foundation’s Project THRIVE, and applaud their commitment to promoting LGBTQ-inclusive literature options and welcoming school libraries for LGBTQ students,” said Dr. Vincent Pompei, Director of HRC’s Youth Well-Being Program. “We look forward to collaborating with AASL to guide and encourage all school librarians to create a welcoming space, and that their book shelves reflect the broad diversity of their students and the world.”

In partnering with Project THRIVE, AASL joins more than 20 of the nation's largest health, education, child welfare, legal, and juvenile justice organizations in addressing the persistent challenges and barriers that prevent LGBTQ young people from thriving and compromise their health and safety.

Project THRIVE actively promotes the well-being of and lifts up populations of LGBTQ young people with a special focus on those of color, those disconnected from school and work, those involved in the child welfare and/or juvenile justice system, and those experiencing poverty. Project THRIVE’s goals include reducing the significant disparities in mental and physical health outcomes and improving school safety and inclusion so LGBTQ students succeed academically and socially.

Project THRIVE and its partners provide youth-serving professionals with the tools, resources, and training they need to support and affirm LGBTQ youth. Each national partner pledges to identify opportunities within their own sphere of influence to increase awareness about and provide resources to address the unmet needs of LGBTQ youth, and to highlight best practices and success stories from their respective professional fields.

“School librarians historically have addressed the whole child and structured the school library as a safe haven for all learners,” said Carroll. “This partnership continues that tradition and school librarians will now be better equipped to support LGBTQ young people while also authentically incorporating diversity into their curriculum and collections.”

About AASL

The American Association of School Librarians, , a division of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.

About Project THRIVE

is a multi-year national campaign to create more equitable, inclusive support systems and communities for LGBTQ youth. Project THRIVE will build the skills and capacities of all youth-serving professionals to better meet the needs of LGBTQ young people.