Help The ECG GSA Provide A Safe Space For Students

My name is Kayden Johnson, a fellow student at E. C. Glass High School. I watched my best friend, Brittany Harris, co-president of our GSA, fight for a fairly awarded grant. Her and the other members of our GSA, like Chester Lobb, worked tirelessly day and night writing and perfecting their presentations and projects. On November 14, I watched how the Lynchburg City School Board ripped the hope from Brittany’s eyes with a 7-2 vote to send their hard earned money back. Watching her carry the message of many and battle with anxiety has brought great pain in my heart. Like many American schools, the anxiety of shootings is all too common. Being forced to go to a place that does not guarantee your safety or security is a difficult decision to make on a daily basis. Being on the spectrum or having special needs does not make this decision process any easier. Being bullied on top of it all makes the weight ten times heavier, and drags mental health to an all time low. All our GSA wanted was a guaranteed safe space for students where they can decompress from it all, which was earned when they won the “50 States 50 Voices” grant. Students from all walks of life deserve to be protected, and in a place where lockdowns happen all too frequently, we at least deserve a space to take a break and process it all.

They earned their money, and the board had no right to rip it from them. This room is for ALL students, ALL colors, ALL genders, ALL sexualities. If we’re allowed to have Fellowship of Christian Athletes, we should be allowed ONE free and safe space to be secure. This room is a UNIFIED effort to ensure at least ONE peaceful environment, even if the time is limited.

Any money received will go directly to our GSA to either provide a dedicated safe space, or provide the school with better accommodations for students suffering from mental distress or special needs.

There is no other ulterior motives, advertisements, or agendas tied to this. Therefore, any money received will be for the people, by the people. In order to avoid having to seek approval again, the goal has been set to the maximum they can receive!

Here will be attached a recently published article from the Washington Post and the original student/teacher testimonies during the school board meetings:

Washington Post (credit for cover photo)

Section M1 50 Voices 50 States Grant Discussion

Section E1 Grant 50V/50S

Section F CHAIR COMMENT for Student Testimonies