The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center and the Newport Community School are among the local organizations that will share more than $100,000 in grants awarded by the Equity Action Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation.
“Thanks to the continuing generosity and commitment of donors to our Equity Action Fund, we have the resources to support work that helps every Rhode Islander feel safe and embraced being their authentic selves,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center will use its grant to support its LEAD (Love, Equity, Acceptance, Dreams) LGBTQIA+ Peer Youth Group. Open to LGBTQIA+ youth ages 12 to 18, LEAD provides them with different kinds of planned programming, focusing on community building and engagement; expressive art; social/emotional learning and social justice.
“This gives them a safe place to discuss challenges and ask questions, and empower them to embrace their authentic selves, whatever that looks like for them,” said Heather Strout, the center’s executive director.
LEAD activities include game days, guest speakers, field trips, queer sex education, intimate partner violence prevention and safer online and social media practices with multiple workshops from Planned Parenthood and the East Bay Community Action Program Trans Whole Healthcare Program. Last year 125 individuals participated in at least one of the programs.
“LEAD participants can mostly expect programming to revolve around community building and engagement, which includes safely finding joy in engaging with other kids from the LGBTQIA+ community,” said Strout.
The Newport Community School will use its grant to support its PROWD! and Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) programs at Thomson Middle School and Rogers High School.
Facilitated by Thomson’s school-based social worker, the afterschool “PROWD! Program promotes health and mental health in Thomson students who identify as LGBTQ+. Students will attend awareness events, design inclusivity flags, make and distribute “PROUD! To be an Ally” pins and participate in a variety of social and cultural trips sponsored or supported by the LGBTQ++ community.
“Now more than ever, LGBTQ++ individuals are being targeted by bigoted laws and policies, which requires everyone to strengthen their advocacy practices. Research shows that programs, partnerships, practices and curricula that center queer and trans people benefit heterosexual and cisgender people too,” said Tracy Shea,
Guided by Rogers’ school-based social worker, the GSA will remain an after-school, student-run organization that unites LGBTQ++ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in their schools and communities.
“The GSA over the years has evolved beyond the traditional role to create safe spaces for LGBTQ++ youth at Rogers and has emerged as a vehicle for deep social change related to racial, gender and educational justice,” said Shea.
Newport Pride will use its grant to support Queer Connections. The program fosters and strengthens queer connections through group activities including playing games, discussing literature and watching movies.
“It’s all about having a great time while connecting with like-minded individuals. We take immense pride in creating a safe and welcoming space for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community to process, express themselves and find support. Your presence matters. Together we’re building a stronger and more connected LGBTQIA+ community,” said Daniel Cano Restrepo, executive director.
More than 70% of the participants live in Newport County. The monthly attendance is usually 10-15 participants, with at least 70% attending three or more sessions yearly.
“We take on the challenges of isolation and lack of community faced by LGBTQ people in Newport County. The program empowers and uplifts the LGBTQ+ community by providing a safe, calm, creative and fun environment where they can connect, network and grow,” said Cano Restrepo.
Newport Sings will use its grant to support Quorus, Newport’s first and only LGBTQIA+ chorus. Founded in 2023, the group performs a variety of music including pop, jazz, and music from all over the world. No previous musical or singing experience is necessary and there is no audition to participate.
“We offer a safe and joyful space for members of the queer community to connect and sing together,” said Elizabeth Woodhouse, founder and artistic director. “Singers have the opportunity to explore and develop their unique voice as well as learn skills to become more confident musicians no matter what their previous musical experience.”
Quorus rehearses Mondays from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport. Members come from Newport County and nearby communities, including Bristol, North Kingstown and South Kingstown. In addition to its upcoming Winter Concert on Dec. 15 at the Calvary United Methodist Church, karaoke style singalongs are scheduled throughout the year and are open to everyone.
“All are welcome to join us for a joy-filled evening of singing, sharing, and community-building. We discover the joy and power of singing in community with others. Our singers have the opportunity to explore and develop their unique voice as well as learn skills to become more confident musicians no matter what their previous musical experience,” said Woodhouse.
The other recipients include Meals on Wheels of RI, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, Haus of Codec, Pride in Aging RI, Project Weber/RENEW, Sojourner House and the Providence Gay Flag Football League.
Guided by a volunteer advisory committee comprised of leaders in the LGBTQ+ communities, the Equity Action Fund supports projects that meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ communities in Rhode Island. Over the years, the fund has made more than $1.3 million in grants to dozens of organizations working on behalf of Rhode Island’s LGBTQ+ communities. The public can support the fund’s work by donating to it on the Foundation’s website.
The Equity Action Fund is just one of the ways the Foundation supports Rhode Island’s LBGTQ+ communities. In recent years, the Foundation has awarded nearly $1.5 million in additional funding to provide housing and health services for LGBTQ+ people among other programs.
The announcement comes as the Foundation has released a multi-year research project on the experiences of the LGBTQ+ communities in Rhode Island, which includes a set of priorities for the future. The study – featuring oral interview transcriptions and a timeline of significant LGBTQ+ milestones – is posted at rifoundation.org/lgbtqinri.
The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Through civic leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping improve the lives of all Rhode Islanders. For more information, visit rifoundation.org.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
