APRIL 2022

ADVOCATE~CELEBRATE~ EDUCATE~ SERVE

Dear community,

Blue Ridge Pride works because people get involved. We remain, at this point, an all volunteer organization. Our annual festival takes a lot of volunteers to help the day of the event but did you know there is plenty of work behind the scenes before the festival. And our programs are delivered to the community by dedicated individuals giving their time, talent and energy. Some volunteer a few hours a month, some volunteer a lot of hours a month. I hope you will take some time to consider how you might help our organization by giving us a few hours of your time and talents.

It really does take a village!

in gratitude,

Butch Thompson- Board of Directors, President

COMMUNITY PARTNER FUND

The Community Partner Fund is flowing strong! The fund distributed $2,000 in first-quarter grants to support a range of individuals and activities working to serve and showcase the WNC LGBTQ+ community. Second-quarter funding is now open with requests already coming in.

We've done our best to simplify this process to make it easily accessible to all. Interested in applying? Find out more information here.

Believe in this work and mission? We're accepting donations! Let your dollars speak for your values by joining Blue Ridge Pride in helping to amplify this local impact. Every person and every dollar counts

ORAL HISTORY

LGBTQIA+ Archive is hosting a community oral history training workshop at Old Marshall Jail (Marshall, NC) on Friday, April 22, 2022. This is a free workshop; registration is preferred (link below).

Workshop Agenda

1 - 3 pm, Training Workshop

What is Oral History?
Panel Discussion with Diverse LGBTQIA+ Narrators
Best Practices for Conducting Life History Interviews

3 - 4 pm, Social Share Hour

Sharing artifacts and digital media from the archive
Undergraduate research intern presentation

People are welcome to the workshop 1 - 3 pm at Old Marshall Jail and/or to the Social Share hour 3 - 4 pm. Snacks provided by Zadie's Market (thanks to Blue Ridge Pride). Beverages for purchase during the Social Share Hour. To register click here https://forms.gle/MZFSjaVQwuMrbMsa7

GENERATION PLUS

Rainbow Inspiration had a wonderfully exciting guest in April. Meet Ingrid Cole, manager of a local pie company in Woodfin. Ingrid, also a professional actor and singer, will describe the freedom she found in telling the truth and how people have repeatedly surprised her in the best of ways.Check it out via this link and be sure to catch Rainbow Inspiration every 1st Wednesday of the month. Powered by Blue Ridge Pride in partnership with AARP Mountain Region.

Click here to hear her story

Registrations now open for the 2022 Blue Ridge Pride Festival

We are looking forward to the return of Blue Ridge Pride Festival this September 24, 2022 in Asheville’s Pack Square Park from 11 am to 7 pm. The theme this year: Inclusion Y’All!

View Event | Add to Google Calendar | Add to iCalendar.
Vendors and exhibitors: reserve space at link or contact email
Performers: contact Nancy Sue Ellyson @ email.
Sponsors: contact David Perry @ email

Watch this space for more details and volunteer opportunities.

A BENEFIT FOR

BLUE RIDGE PRIDE

Themed Garden Party, we look forward to seeing some beautiful costumes and mask. This is a limited timed event by ticket only. Plenty of fun, dancing, shows, niblets and costume prizes!