In their own words: A review of ArrowPride and Scouts of Color

This week, I asked the leads of the ArrowPride and Scouts of Color spaces at NOAC to share with me what they witnessed at the conference, and what will stick with them.

If you missed last week, we heard from the leads of Scouts with Disabilities and Women in Scouting.

The responses below have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

ArrowPride

Austin Clark, youth lead for ArrowPride:

What was your biggest takeaway from your affinity space last week?

My biggest takeaway from NOAC was realizing the overwhelming amount of support ArrowPride received from delegates. From allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community to youth and advisers, the people coming into our space and programming represented a large swath of all participants.

Is there a specific moment that will stick with you?

There are a lot of moments to choose from. It seemed like every day there was spoken and unspoken relief from delegates after discovering the space, and knowing that they are affirmed from the Order of the Arrow. By the end of the week there were familiar faces that I would see at every ArrowPride event and every day in the space. If a delegate came to one or all of what we offered during NOAC, my hope is that they would see that they are not alone, that the Order of the Arrow and Scouting at large wants them to participate in this program, and that they can be just as successful as anyone else in Scouting spaces.

What surprised you the most about how folks interacted with your space?

The range of interaction would differ from person to person. Someone may just quietly walk around the space, take a sticker or two, and then quietly leave. Several would do that but find me and tell me a simple “Thank You.” Others may interact with every aspect of our space and hang out in our space for several hours. Regardless of the level of interaction, I am confident that everyone felt affirmed in their identity — potentially for the first time in a Scouting space.

What do you hope to do with the momentum from your space/the conference in general?

Being able to leverage the support ArrowPride received is paramount when determining next steps. I am looking forward to analyzing our responses for interest and finding ways to connect people with ways that they could implement similar programming at a region or section level. I am also looking forward to investigate ways to ensure that the National Jamboree has a LGBTQ+ affinity space.

ArrowPride has set the bar for DEI efforts in Scouting. There were many first-time NOAC delegates in our space. That means that they are expecting an LGBTQ+ community space at every national level event. These youth and adults will also go back to their communities, lodges, and troops and speak to how the Order of the Arrow has made efforts to be inclusive and affirming of queer identities. I am proud that in the future Scouters can point to ArrowPride and attribute it as the event that changed the tide. Moreover, we provide evidence that when Scouting invests and supports DEI efforts, the outcome is affirmed, happy, more resilient youth.

Scouts of Color

Rodrigo Córdova Rosado, lead adviser for Scouts of Color:

What was your biggest takeaway from your affinity space last week?

The Scouts of Color affinity space was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had at a Scouting event. Never before had I witnessed so many members of our Order from backgrounds across the globe and our nation come together appreciate the rarity of a group of Black, Asian, Latino, and more members finding community with one another. From fellowship hours with Mexican fizzy drinks, to group pictures of all who shared a particular background, the word I heard again and again was, simply, joy.

What surprised you the most about how folks interacted with your space?

I was pleasantly surprised by our running out of Polaroid film due to the dozens and dozens of pictures of joyful members stuck on our wall, showing the diversity and range of experiences of those who joined us in the space. I was also delighted to see so many young people come to our space and hang out, have some snacks, play some board games, and just be in community with one another.

What do you hope to do with the momentum from your space/the conference in general?

Following this experience, I’m emboldened to think that we must continue to make intentional space for the celebration of all the identities and backgrounds we bring into Scouting, to keep being an organization that invites folks to bring and show their full selves into our spaces, so we may better learn to love one another.

Did you get a chance to check out the affinity spaces at NOAC? What were your takeaways? Let us know in the comments!