An aspiring eagle scout takes on LGBTQ+ youth homelessness
Through a series of TikTok videos, a scout from Boston is using their eagle project to raise awareness about and gather donations for LGBTQ+ homeless youth.
As someone who spends way too much time on TikTok, I can confidently say I’ve never heard the following words on my For You page: “My name is Jackie, and I’m a part of Scouts BSA, and I’m currently working on my eagle project.”
The algorithm feeds me an endless stream of LGBTQ+ content, no doubt about that, but I’ve never seen content about Scouting on the app. I imagine there isn’t much of it to begin with on TikTok, so I was surprised when I stumbled upon Jackie McCormick’s video in a Facebook post.
The aspiring eagle scout from Boston has 20,000 followers on TikTok, and recently posted a whole series of videos about their eagle project, which focuses on youth homelessness in the LGBTQ+ community. McCormick’s videos point out that 700,000 unaccompanied minors experience homelessness each year. To make matters worse, 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+.
“This isn’t because of the specific person’s gender or sexuality, but it’s because of how other people react to it,” McCormick explains in one video. Many are forced out of their homes, or run away as a result of abuse and family issues.
I was already painfully aware of these facts. When I was in college, my senior keystone project was an investigative piece of journalism that exposed the depths of LGBTQ+ youth homelessness in Boston, and profiled one particular individual experiencing it. You can read that piece here.
Unfortunately, the situation has not improved since I did that project in 2017. Folks like McCormick are trying to change that. The TikTok videos are actually part of their eagle project’s educational outreach component.
One video gives an in-depth description of Youth on Fire, a drop-in center in Cambridge, Mass., that caters to youth facing housing insecurity. It offers meals, showers, laundry, health services, workshops and much more — plus community-building programs and art projects. (As part of my investigation, I also spent a lot of time in and around Youth on Fire).
Another video gives viewers tips on how they can take action and get involved. McCormick suggests starting with education and evaluating your own biases toward people experiencing homelessness. Then, they suggest volunteering at a homeless shelter, or donating clothing and hygiene supplies.
But McCormick is also getting directly involved beyond TikTok. “I knew I wanted the education piece behind it, but I also just didn’t want to stop there,” McCormick told me.
Their project includes a gift card drive for Youth on Fire. McCormick explains that gift cards are the most-requested item for Youth on Fire because it makes sharing funds much easier than, say, giving people money directly, which is legally a lot more challenging for an organization. Plus, it gives people the ability to buy whatever they need, rather than receive donated items that might not be as relevant. (If you’re looking to support McCormick’s project, you can buy a gift card for Youth on Fire through this Amazon wish list.)
Ultimately, McCormick hopes that the combination of education and action will inspire people to continue working to alleviate LGBTQ+ youth homelessness.
“Me doing something once is going to be helpful, but also having other people knowledgeable about this cause … then they can continue with things if they so please. At least it gives a better chance of continuing,” McCormick said.
The 18-year-old is headed to college next year, and said the experience has also inspired them to pursue work in this field.
“I would love the opportunity to come back and intern with [Youth on Fire],” McCormick said. “I truly think that is the type of organization I could see myself working with later in life.”
