pride center of the blue ridge - town hall meeting 4/21/14
TRANSCRIPT
Mission Statement
The Pride Center of the Blue Ridge
endeavors to provide an inclusive home
that connects, supports,
enhances, and empowers the LGBT
community, our allies, and our neighbors.
History / Timeline September 2013 - Initial Town Hall Meeting / UNCA Brainstorming vision, values, resources and next steps
Survey
November 2013 -Initial Task Force Meeting Structure & stakeholder engagement
February 2014 - 2nd task force meeting Sub-committees Research for needs assessment outline
March 2014 - Presentation of each committee Name and Mission Statement approved “Donate” button on Blue Ridge Pride Site Survey refined
Moving Vision into Action
Agenda6:00 – 6:15 Socializing, Food and Networking
6:15- 6:25 Welcome
6:25-6:30 Explanation of Blue Ridge Pride Role
6:30 – 7:00 Committee updates
6:30 – 6:40 Research Committee
6:40 – 6:50 Physical Plant Committee
6:50 – 7:00 Community Outreach Committee
7:05 – 7:20 Q & A
7:20 – 7:30 Call to Action
Meeting Structure
Task Force Meetings: will meet on the 3rd
Monday of the month from 6-7:30pm at Land
of Sky offices.
Sub-committees Meetings: will be expected
to meet face-to-face, via email or
teleconference between task force meetings.
Town Hall Meetings: will take place 2 times per
year (April & October) and will include food
and socializing.
Research Sub-Committee
5 Areas of Research1. National LGBT Center Initiatives
2. Other LGBT Community centers and the Successes and Failures experienced on their paths
3. Needs Assessment
4. Making the Case - Physical, Social and Mental Health Equity Issues
5. Grant Funding Opportunities
National LGBT Community
Center Initiatives
Center Link (http://www.lgbtcenters.org)
Mission is to support the development of
strong, sustainable LGBT community
centers and to build a unified center
movement.
Attained membership and appear on
national map with directory information
as “WNC LGBTQ Community Center”
Other LGBT Community
Centers
Establishing relationships with other local (NC, SC, VA) centers to seek advice and guidance
Conducting interviews with leaders from centers, on topics including:
Needs assessment
Physical Plant (what are facilities like and for what uses, renting v. buying, monthly expenditures)
Services offered
Funding
Needs Assessment Of utmost importance for determining the
goals of the center and the path toward those goals
Ongoing effort – done annually to connect with the community we serve and make sure we’re meeting the need/seek direction for improvement
Consists of surveys from community members as well as other data Census information, historical, political/legal,
economic, demographic data
Needs Assessment Continued
Currently have a survey online available through Blue Ridge Pride website
Collecting paper surveys from non-wired participants
Seeking community partners to distribute and store surveys for pick-up
Focus on gathering surveys from marginal populations: elders, disabled, those without regular internet access
We need YOUR help collecting valid data!
Making the Case – Physical,
Social and Mental Health
Equity Issues Health Outcomes are a major priority and good method for
fundraising LGBT population experiences worse health outcomes
LGBT less likely to seek/receive medical care
No national data since no federal survey seeks sexual orientation data
Growing population 110% growth in Buncombe County since 2000
Political climate changing Health Visitation laws
Recent Federal declarations
Recent State Laws (VA, KY)
Prioritize at-risk populations: youth, elders, disabled, HIV+
Grant Funding Opportunities
Have accessed grants through The Foundation Center
Granting organizations have a focus on healthcare and social connectivity, and cost savings
BCBS, NIH, private foundations
Anticipate that grants will be a small portion of funding center, based on interviews with other efforts
Next Steps
• Continuing to interview local community centers
Completing Needs Assessment
Seeking assistance from Outreach committee and community partners with distribution of survey
Bringing together supplementary information
Goal to complete by end of summer
This will guide physical needs, funding goals/methods, location, and a way forward
Survey Distributors
Community stakeholders/partners who
are interested in distributing surveys to
clients or customers and storing them
between pick-ups may contact
coordinate
Thank you for your assistance!
Physical PlantOur Building Vision
A safe downtown location
Building must be accessible in both location and design
The Center must be a Community Investment
The design and building functions must support sustainability
Outreach Committee
Purpose
Communicate the Mission of the Center.
Ensure that there is a consistent message
Assist with the distribution of information,
surveys, multimedia, and other forms of
communication to our community.
Current Efforts Variety of experience on the Outreach
Committee
Facebook Page -- Please “like” the page and share with everyone. LOOK FOR UPDATED INFORMATION ON FB PAGE
http://www.blueridgepride.com/CommunityCenter.php There is a current mode for email blasts. You will
receive them if you have provided us with your email address
Current Efforts continued
By providing the Task Force your email address, you will receive updates in a confidential manner.
Have informed Asheville Citizen-Times of the Task Force and Community Center.
Reaching out to LGBT friendly allies
Coordinating information tents/tables at community events, NOT just LGBT/Equality related
Current Efforts Continued Using continuous data from Research
Committee to determine best modes of outreach.
Identifying segments of population not being reached
Obtaining suggestions/information from the community and other organizations
Using current relationships to assist with reduced marketing costs
Town Hall
Future Developments
Outreach Committee Chair portal
through Website
This will allow for questions/suggestions to
come directly to the committee
Multiple articles in MountainXpress,
Asheville Citizen-times, other publications
Eventual coverage on WLOS
Continued Town Halls
Future Developments Cont.
Develop Public Relations Strategic Plan
Snail Mail
Phone calls
Logo
Create additional marketing materials
Administrative / Finance
Subcommittee
Goals – Create draft of operating procedures including accounting, legalities, sustainability and organizational structure
Tim Wallace
Blue Ridge Pride, Inc.
(P) 828-338-8BRP (8277)
www.blueridgepride.com
Objective Responsible Person Timeline / Due Date
Set up acceptable accounting practices
Create pro forma budget (including
budget for operational expenses, start up
and research)
Research legalities including
organizational structure, insurance and
liability
Create organizational structure and
identify best practices to hire an executive
director
Questions and Answers
Write your question on the card provided
Indicate who you would like to answer the
question
In closing…we move forward
Evaluations
What part(s) of the presentation struck you most?
How do you feel when you think about what has been presented?
Do you see opportunities for your contribution?
Call to Action
What can you do to support and enhance the center?
Please use the post-it note, place in the appropriate flip sheet and included contact information.