|/4 m Si-ill '£« .i * v
- - --h*- *■
SMlfe'
',sn ii^v
Rbkca
Somoni
Thanks to the latest technologies, we can move your teeth quickly, safely
and with less discomfort. The only catch? You, when your braces come off.
A Facelift For Your Smile. 301 Glenwood Ave., 834-4450
Leaders from across North Carolina discussed the fight for marriage equality
and its impact on the range of issues our community groups are working on.
Leadership Summit Held
ENC, NC GALA Convene
First Statewide LGBT
Leadership Summit
LGBT Organizations from Greenville
to Asheville were represented at the
Statewide LGBT Leadership Summit,
held Saturday, March 5 at
Replacements Ltd. in Greensboro. More
than 70 leaders representing over 50
LGBT and allied organizations from
around the state participated in the
meeting.
Equality NC Foundation -and NC
GALA Institute for Equal Rights cqn
vened fire meeting to strengthen com
munication between LGBT organiza
tions and leaders across the state.
"Equality NC and NC GALA orga
nized this event because we believe that
connecting leaders and fostering collab
oration across organizational and
regional barriers makes our movement
stronger;" said Ian Palmquist, Executive
Director-Programs of Equality NC.
"The model for the Summit was
based on the success of Equality
Federation in brining leaders of
Statewide groups together; it made
sense that local leaders within North
Carolina could learn so much from each
other as well.”
The program began with each group
giving a very brief summary of their
work and recent success — a moving
testament to the incredible work our
community is doing. The agenda also
includes short resource presentations
and time for participants to caucus by
areas of interest. A discussion about die
fight for marriage equality and its
impact on all of the issues our commu
nity cares about was an engaging end
for ti\e meeting. Perhaps the most valu
able aspect of the meeting was the net
working of leaders who are working on
similar issues in different areas.
"The coalition building and network
ing among organizations was impor
tant," said Janet Joyner of Carolinians
Allied for Safe Schools and GLSEN
Winston-Salem. "Good, non-partisan
strategic work.
"I was both encouraged and ener
nM^ arwi ^ye^ity ; pf
organizations in our state that are
actively engaged for LGBT citizens in
advancing our civil rights, or providing
much heeded legal, educational, health
and social services on many levels. It
was an impressive group," she added.
Other Summit participants agreed
the meeting was a success, and there
was consensus that another summit
should be held in six months. An e-mail
listserv will also facilitate ongoing com
munication across regions.
"We realized that there were so many
groups in North Carolina who are
doing fantastic work, but they are often
working in isolation," said Palmquist”
"The Summit was a very successful
vehicle for strengthening our move
ment by connecting our leaders and
organizations across the state."
Groups interested in sending a repre
sentative to future summits should con
tact Ian Palmquist at Equality North
Carolina: (919) 829-0343.
Summit participants discuss strategies for making public schools safe for
LGBT students during a breakout session.