The Folsom Lake College Pride Nest strives to build and foster a program that offers a welcoming, safe hang-out and learning environment that prioritizes love, compassion, and safety. We work to facilitate and support opportunities that cultivate the development of students, staff, and faculty through leadership, self-love, self-acceptance, and advocacy. We come together to promote ongoing coordination and collaboration among LGBTQ+ serving organizations and to guide students on the path to successful graduation from college.
"Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we'll ever do." -Brené Brown
A safe, educational environment where students, staff, and faculty can be their true selves with no judgement. An environment and program where love and compassion are the foundation and at the forefront. A program where we position our students, staff, and faculty to achieve their greatest academic, professional, and personal successes.
Love
We create a culture where actions are rooted in love. We support those who are in crisis and in need. We develop a program and team that comes together and has passion for creating and making a difference in the lives’ of our community and education. We make time for ourselves and address our own needs and development.
Diversity and Inclusivity
We embrace what each person or group brings to the Pride Nest. We are made up of the perspectives and experiences of many. Vulnerability: We recognize the courage and bravery that it takes to be open about our identities, experiences, beliefs, and differences. We will ensure that everyone feels safe and that they belong here. We take assertive action whenever necessary.
Innovation
We continually look to innovate and improve programming and services for the Pride Center. We collaborate with the college, district, and with external partners to create a campus where LGBTQ+ people and marginalized communities shine.
Integrity
We operate to uphold the mission of Folsom Lake College, the Equity Center, and of the Pride Nest. We honor and apply our values in our actions and actively look for improvements in the work we do.
Eli Smith
Eli is a current FLC student is excited to join the Folsom Lake College Staff as their new LGBTQ+ Student Personnel Assistant/Pride Nest Lead. With a strong background in LGBTQIA+ community organizing, Eli is excited to bring his lived and professional experience to Folsom Lake College. He has spent many years as a volunteer and staff member at The Sacramento LGBT Community Center assisting and leading programming to create an environment where LGBTQIA+ people can be their true selves. Most recently, he was tasked with developing the community engagement program, where he had the opportunity to lead college-level internships and a volunteer program that was critical to the support of the community during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Sacramento Pride's success.
Eli's transition and passion to working in higher education is driven by his late uncle Dr. Tim Larrabee. Tim was an educator at heart who consistently advocated for the LGBTQ+ community in education. As a dean and professor at Oakland University's School of Education, he was thoughtful in driving initatives that better supported the LGBTQIA+ campus community.
This opportunity and position is very special as Eli is able to do it in honor of his uncle and continue to make FLC a place where LGBTQ+ people can thrive and succeed. Eli is pursuing his undergraduate degree in public relations and plans to do his graduate work in higher education.
During his free time, you can find Eli exploring the city, finding new things to cook, working out, and being a couch potato. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Folsom High School Athletic Boosters and is on the Sacramento Pride Planning Committee Leadership Team.
EJ Ricafrente
EJ is a current student here at Folsom Lake College, now in her second semester. She works with the Equity Center, APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans), and the Pride Nest! She enjoys hiking, reading, dancing, and playing video games. EJ is working towards getting a computer science degree. She hopes to help foster a safe and inclusive environment in the Equity Center and with the Pride Nest. She has been a long time advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and appreciates the opportunity to help others in the community. She will continually help the center grow and produce work they're proud of to the people who seek services with us. EJ is grateful to be working here and looks forward to seeing you all!
CALL 911 OR GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, YOU ARE AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO YOURSELF, AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO OTHERS, OR ARE IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION.
The Folsom Lake College Pride Nest is committed to helping our students, staff, faculty, and community access important LGBTQIA+ health and wellness information.
General Support Lines
Crisis Text Line: Text "COURAGE" to 741741- A live, trained counselor recieves the text and responds from a secure online platform.
National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 to get crisis/suicide support. Available 24/7 anywhere in the United States.
Teen Line: Call 1-800-852-8336 Nationwide (6:00 to 10:00 pm PST) or text TEEN to 839863 (6:00 to 9:00 pm PST) to reach highly trained teen listeners that provide aupport, resources, and hope to any teen who is struggling.
LGBTQIA Support Lines
These toll-free lines are staffed by either trained LGBTQIA+ youth or adults or by trained youth or adults that are LGBTQIA+ friendly.
Trevor Project: Text START to 678-678 or call 1-866-488-7386 to reach a Trevor counselor who is understanding of LGBTQ+ issues and won't judge you. Your conversation will be anonymous, and you can share as much or as little as you like. The Trevor Project's mission is to end suicide among LGBTQIA+ young people.
Trans Hotline: Call 1-877-565-8860 to reach the Trans Hotline 24/7. Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is a peer support phone service run by trans people for our trans and questioning peers. Call us if you need someone trans to talk to, even if you’re not in a crisis or if you’re not sure you’re trans.
General LGBTQIA Hotline: Call 1-888-843-4564 Monday through Friday from 1:00 to 9:00 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm (PST). The LGBT Hotline provides a confidential safe space where callers of any age can speak about sexual orientation or gender identity/expression issues.
Youth LGBTQIA+ Hotline: Call 1-800-246-7743 Monday through Friday from 1:00 to 9:00 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm (PST). The Youth LGBTQIA+ Hotline provides confidential support and resources to youth 25 and under.
Senior LGBTQIA+ Hotline: Call 1-888-234-7243 Monday through Friday from 1:00 to 9:00 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm (PST). The Senior LGBTQIA+ Hotline provides confidential support and resources for those 50 and above.
Coming Out Support Hotline: Call 1-888-688-5428 (888-OUT-LGBT) Monday through Friday from 1:00 to 9:00 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm (PST). The Coming Out Support Hotline provides a safe space to discuss concerns/questions on coming out for all ages.
Topic Specific Support Lines
National Sexual Assault Hotline: Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. Available 24/7 and is confidential.
National Human Trafficking Hotline: Call 1-888-373-7888 to reach the National Human Trafficking Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in more than 200 languages. All calls are confidential and answered live by highly trained Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocates.
Domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking: Call (916) 920-2952 to get 24/7 support and information from WEAVE, for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and sex trafficking.
As a student or employee of Los Rios, you have access to the WEAVE confidential advicate who is available to confidentially support or provide information for those who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or sexual harassment. The confidential advocate is not an employee of Folsom Lake College. The confidential advocate is provided through WEAVE, Sacramento County's primary provider of crisis intervention services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. To reach the Confidential Advocate, email weave@losrios.edu or call (916) 568-3011.
National Runaway Safeline: Call 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929), to access support as a runaway youth. All services are free and 100% confidential.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline: Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to reach SAMHSA’s National Helpline, which is a confidential, free, 24/7 information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
National Suicide Loss Helpline: Call 1-800-646-7322 to get 24/7 support if you are grieving a suicide death.
Interested in Joining Our Community?
Please fill this form out if you are interested in joining our Pride Nest Community! Why should I join? You will be kept up-to-date with our latest programming and initatives here on campus and around the Los Rios Community College District! This will also give you the chance to join many LGBTQIA+ community events in the greator Sacramento area!
I am not a student or staff/faculty but am still interested in supporting this program, what do I do? Please be sure to click the Community Member/Alumni option and follow the prompts.
Upcoming Events
Contact
Eli Smith, he/him/his
smithe@flc.losrios.edu
(916) 608-6440
Schedule to meet Eli
Ej Ricafrente
ricafre@flc.losrios.edu
(916) 608-6440
Hours
Monday through Thursday:
8:30 am to 5:00 pm