By SUSAN TROWER
West Sound Academy

PORT GAMBLE — In February, a group of West Sound Academy students wanted to do something that was bigger than participating in the school’s Queer Straight Alliance club — a project that would help the local community and have a lasting impact.

The students were all highly aware of the tragic issue of teen suicide, especially among LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) youth. They greatly admired the work that the Trevor Project, a nonprofit based in California, does providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth throughout the United States.

The student group decided on their project: an event to raise money for the Trevor Project, while helping the public, and LGBTQ youth especially, become more aware of this important mental health resource. Members of West Sound’s QSA, led by seniors Ben Taylor and Megan Hall, joined with other upper-school students to work on planning a festival with rock bands, artists, and food vendors for the coming summer.

That event — Listen to Your Art Music and Art Festival — is Aug. 22 in Port Gamble.

Is hosting a music festival for 500 at an events venue as easy as having friends over for pizza at your parents’ house? The answer, of course, is no — but it is possible, with a lot of hard work and help from the community. Students started weekly meetings, assigned tasks, and went to work signing up sponsors, artists, and food vendors. Contracts were signed with eight bands. A Facebook page was set up.

Initial funding was needed for everything from a six-yard dumpster to boards and paint to make a highway sign to go by Hostmark Avenue and Highway 305. The Rotary Club of Poulsbo-North Kitsap presented Listen to Your Art student leaders with a community service grant of $500, and local businesses came through with sponsorships. The Listen to Your Art team set up a page on gofundme.com that reached its goal in only 12 days.  (Additional donations to the site will go directly to The Trevor Project.)

West Sound Academy’s Head of School Barrie Hillman couldn’t be more proud of her students. “Too often, teens are judged simply because of their youthful, often colorful, appearance. However, teens today are philosophers, creators and inventors, and many of them share a commitment to humanitarianism. The teen organizers of Listen to Your Art saw a need to raise awareness and have created a positive message and method to help give voice to LGBTQ teens or any teen feeling that their voice is being quashed.

“Listen to Your Art is truly a grassroots effort derived in the hearts and minds of kids who care about other kids. I can’t wait to celebrate all their hard work on August 22nd and to hopefully raise awareness and donations for the Trevor Project.”

LISTEN TO YOUR ART
When: Noon to 9 p.m., Aug. 22.
Where: Baseball Park, off of Highway 104 in Port Gamble.
Admission: Free. Donations to The Trevor Project accepted.
Bands:
— Blood Pump (hard rock, Kingston)
— Derek Burns Project
— Homeless Man (folk rock, Silverdale)
— Matthew the Animal (alternative rock, Seattle)
— Rose-colored Mirrors (Indie rock, Bremerton)
— Squirrel Jokes (Indie, Kitsap)
— The Lovely Static (Seattle)
— Wauby (Indie pop, Olympia)

West Sound Academy students organized the Listen to Your Art Music and Art Festival to benefit The Trevor Project. Photo: West Sound Academy