Meet the Teens Building Boats to Sail Down the Bronx River
For three decades, Rocking the Boat has taught Bronx teens carpentry, sailing and river preservation.
Jay Valle
Jay Valle is an NBCU Academy Storyteller. Previously, he was an embed at NBC Out. His investigative reporting on a series of robberies targeting NYC’s LGBTQ community has earned him several GLAAD Media Award nominations.
Latest Posts from Jay Valle
At This Camp, Teens Don’t Just Make Friends — They Make Monster Movies
Spy Hop is helping the next generation of Salt Lake City storytellers find their voices.
This Ski Trip Connects Children with Cancer from Around the Country
“Those bonds will help them as they move forward to battle their disease and realize that they don’t have to battle alone.”
How Soccer Is Improving Teens’ Grades in This Small City
An after-school program in Central Falls, Rhode Island, coaches students on and off the field.
How Strangers Are Connecting Through Pop-Up Choirs
Gaia Music Collective turned a viral moment into a national singing phenomenon.
As HIV Cases Among Latinos Rise, This Clinic Offers Free Care
Pineapple Healthcare offers the Spanish-language resources and care needed in Florida.
This ‘Wicked’ Broadway Actor Is Making History for Performers with Disabilities
Jenna Bainbridge will be the first wheelchair user to portray Nessarose in the show’s 21-year history.
How K-9s Are Solving Navajo Cold Cases
Navajo people are finding their missing relatives with the help of a Native-led K-9 rescue team.
How Knitters Are Keeping Thousands of LGBTQ Homeless Youth Cozy This Winter
Knit the Rainbow has handmade and delivered more than 25,000 winter garments across the U.S.
How Horses, Archery and Meditation Are Helping Veterans Cope with PTSD
A peer-led retreat in South Carolina has supported over 2,500 veterans dealing with trauma, anxiety and depression.
How NYC Nannies Stand Up to Unfair Work Conditions
New York City is home to over 14,000 nannies, many of whom are immigrants facing long hours and low pay. One group is stepping in to help.
These Women and Nonbinary Developers Are Challenging Norms in Gaming
Meet the Bruja Bros, whose first game features Yoruba deities, family reunions and villainous colonizers.
How Free Therapy Is Making a Difference in Philadelphia’s Black Communities
After losing more than 30 loved ones, one man found hope through the resources at Black Men Heal.
Meet the Teens Who Created a Pop-Up Home for Houseless People
The Build program is encouraging youth to develop small businesses that give back to their communities.
How Stonewall Site Was Remade as an LGBTQ Center, Thanks to This Couple
Diana Rodriguez and Ann Marie Gothard met when they were teenagers. Now they are opening the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center.
This Library Is Offering Free LGBTQ Books Amid the Wave of School Bans
Nine volunteers are ensuring anyone in the U.S. has access to over 1,200 books with LGBTQ themes and authors.
Once Suppressed, Native Culture Now Thrives at This Indian Boarding School
Riverside Indian School is helping students reclaim their history, traditions and language.
How Queer Indigenous Youth Are Finding Safety After Nex Benedict’s Death
After the loss of a transgender student in Oklahoma, a group is offering support for Two-Spirit youth.
How a Community of Mentors Inspired a Miami Filmmaker
In Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood, a young creative found his passion for filmmaking and a supportive mentor network.
How Autistic Adults Are Building Community in NYC
Autistic Adults NYC is creating a safe space of support amid the noise and chaos of the Big Apple.
How a Teen Is Uplifting Migrant Youth Through Soccer
The A3FC soccer program is giving migrant kids a safe space to play in New York City.
The Theater Flipping the Script on Race
New Jersey’s Vanguard Theater Company rejects typecasting and helps young people fully express themselves on stage.
The Push to Make LGBTQ Care a Healthcare Standard
The country’s oldest LGBTQ clinic is training the next generation of HIV and trans care providers.
Finding Brotherhood in Coding Class
The Hidden Genius Project is more than a tech training ground — it’s where young Black men are finding community.
