Enlarge Anna Beeman (top row, white shirt) is one of 41 area students who attended Camp Anytown.

Posted: August 14th, 2009 Crystal Dempsey

By Tonya Jameson

When Anna Beeman returns to Charlotte Catholic High in a couple of weeks, the rising senior will be worried about more than SATs and graduation. This month, she made a goal and she plans to accomplish it.

The goal? Eradicate homophobia within the circle of people who are close to her. She wants to set the precedence of tolerance and acceptance. She wants to make sure no one is harassed or made to feel like outcasts because of their sexuality.

That’s a big a goal for a 17-year-old. That’s a big goal for anyone. Anna isn’t just any 17-year-old. She is one of the 41 Charlotte-area high students who attended Camp Anytown, which empowers youth to create more inclusive communities. The Charlotte Coalition for Social Justice sponsors the camp each summer. This year, students hailed from West Mecklenburg, West Charlotte, Harding, Hopewell, Myers Park, Charlotte Latin, Charlotte Catholic and other schools.

They spent four days at the Summit near Greensboro learning about racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of oppression. The students attended workshops and programs about how difference is used to divide us. The workshops are designed to challenge them to reflect on their life experiences and culture. Tears are shed, hugs are exchanged and walls slowly come down.

Anytown is a rare chance for youth of different backgrounds, socioeconomic status, race, gender and religions to have delicate conversations. The dialogues take place during workshops such as one on gender. Girls get to hear what boys think about them and vice versa. It can get ugly, but it’s necessary.

“The goal is to help the students understand their part in the struggle, and to leave the camp dedicated to being agents of social change,” said Lacey Williams, youth program coordinator for Charlotte Coalition for Social Justice. “We just want them to commit to doing something to make their part of their world better.”

Anna is committed to fighting homophobia, but she knows it won’t be easy.

“We arranged a community that seemed possible, and then we got back to our own community where you actually have to do the work that you talked about,” she said. “This is where I actually have to put into motion what I started at Anytown.”

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