For the past few
months, more than 40 individuals, including a wide array of
organizational leaders and business owners serving Greater
Milwaukee’s LGBT communities, have gathered to create the Greater
Milwaukee LGBT Visioning Project to discuss a unified collaboration
among LGBT communities and allies.
During the two
initial community meetings in February and March, the Greater
Milwaukee LGBT Visioning Project realized that building stronger LGBT
communities requires respect, trust and inclusivity. Participants
also recognized that the process needed to be taken on thoughtfully
to ensure its success and that it should be led and guided by as many
members of the community as possible.
“It was
important for me to be reminded that in order to succeed we needed to
be patient,” said Joseph Pabst, a supporter and philanthropist of
LGBT communities.
In order to move
forward, the participants created a fluid catalyst committee in
charge of leading the efforts. The catalyst committee has open
membership and any community member can join at any time. The mission
of the group is to provide a forum to determine shared interests and
effect collaboration among LGBT communities.
Scott Schmoller, a
participant in the catalyst committee’s activities stated, “Quite
often, many of us in LGBT communities are so focused on our own
immediate needs and personal affiliations that we overlook our
community as a whole and how all of us can be bettered through
collaboration and a stronger sense of community.”
To determine these
shared interests and develop a community vision, the group is
initiating information-gathering efforts to determine individuals’
perceptions of the Greater Milwaukee LGBT communities and resources.
This will be done through widely disseminated surveys, interviews and
listening sessions at PrideFest.
The catalyst
committee will review all the information gathered to determine
strategic goals and action plans. Finally, these action plans will be
implemented in order to mobilize and empower presence that fosters
equality and well-being for LGBT people.
The Greater
Milwaukee LGBT Visioning Project is eager to grow and prosper through
the inclusion of as many in the voices as possible. For more
information regarding the project or to volunteer, contact Maria
Cadenas at 414-225-0244.
|
Home 
