SAFE (Survivor Advocates for Empowerment)’s Post

Transwoman's first letter! "First ever letter received in life, and I never knew someone could send us something so beautiful and handmade," one transwoman shared with us. Thank you, Salesforce volunteers, for creating 'Wellness Kits' for LGBTQIA+ individuals. These kits include essential items like bath soap, shampoo, a nail clipper, hand sanitizer, and bandages. Each kit also contains a handwritten letter from volunteers. Sometimes, we as givers under estimate the impact of a small kindness act. What we think as SMALL makes a BIG difference to the people who need it the most. No help is small. Care is Care. Love is Love. Keep Volunteering because it matters! #LGBTQIA+LivesMatter #CommunityDevelopment #WellnessKits #Volunteer #PrideMonth #Volunteering #CSR #CorporateSocialResponsibility #SDGs #SustainableDevelopmentGoals

As we celebrate Pride Month, it’s important to remember that true allyship extends way beyond June. Authentic support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community involves consistent and meaningful actions that start from within our organizations. Here’s how you can make a difference and become a true ally to the 2SLGBTQ+ youth and families who support your brand. Start from Within: ✨ Inclusivity should be embedded in your culture all year round, not just during Pride Month. ✨ Offer training and workshops on diversity, equity, and inclusion. ✨ Invite your team to share their pronouns in their email signatures if they feel comfortable doing so. Avoid Rainbow Washing: ✨ Custom Pride collections can be great, but be mindful of rainbow capitalism. ✨ Ensure your initiatives are genuine and not just for show or profit. Provide Year-Round Support: ✨ True allyship means helping the 2SLGBTQ+ community outside of Pride Month. ✨ Look for ways you can make an impact, like through partnerships, donations, or advocacy. Let’s commit to making a difference every day, not just during Pride Month. Together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive world for everyone. #PrideMonth #RainbowWashing #AuthenticAllyship

📣 Attention grassroots nonprofit leaders and founders! The National Governors Association recently convened to discuss best practices for advancing disability-inclusive workforce policies. It stressed on creating workplaces that not merely accommodate but celebrate the abilities of every individual, specifically those with disabilities. 💪 Are we perhaps overlooking this in our work? Remember, apart from serving communities, a nonprofit's power lies in promoting diversity and inclusion. Let's implement strategies that not only hire but also retain individuals with disabilities, fostering a more inclusive work environment. Education awareness of this issue is essential, so spread the word! 📢 While our labor of love may feel daunting at times, these steps can spotlight our cause, showcasing both our heart and smart in serving societies. Your nonprofit could be the catalyst for change in your community and beyond. 🌐 Inspired? Encouraged? Still have questions? Let's chat! 💬 We celebrate victories together and address challenges collaboratively. Continue creating magic through empathy, inclusivity, and difference. You're creating a more inclusive world! #NonprofitPioneer #InclusionMatters #GiveHopeDaily #MarketingForChange.

Happy Monday, Community Champions! As we embark on a new week, let's harness the power of unity and empowerment within our community. Together, we can uplift, inspire, and drive positive change that benefits us all. Here are three ways we can empower our community this week: 1️⃣ Support Local Businesses: Let's make a conscious effort to prioritize shopping locally and supporting small businesses in our community. Every purchase made from a local store not only contributes to the local economy but also fosters a sense of camaraderie and support among neighbors. 2️⃣ Volunteer and Give Back: Dedicate some time this week to give back to those in need. Whether it's volunteering at a local shelter, organizing a community clean-up, or simply lending a helping hand to a neighbor, small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the lives of others. 3: Amplify Voices: Take the opportunity to amplify the voices of marginalized or underrepresented members of our community. Listen actively, engage with empathy, and advocate for inclusivity and equality. By standing together, we can create a more equitable and inclusive community for all. Let's empower each other to create a community where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Together, we can make a meaningful impact! 🌎 #CommunityEmpowerment #Unity #SupportLocal #Volunteer #Inclusion #Empowerment

"You can try and remove our books, but you can’t remove our stories." This #PrideMonth, we are celebrating and amplifying the radical act of preserving LGBTQIA+ stories and the individuals and organizations that are advocating for the visibility of LGBTQIA+ lived experiences. Explore how others are combating book bans in this great article from Nonprofit Quarterly https://lnkd.in/gbjktjcG In the coming weeks, follow along as we share organizations and advocates across the US that are leading this important advocacy. #PrideMonth #BannedBooksBanLives #LivedExperiences

Being an Active Listener and Supporting LGBTQIA+ Colleagues 🌈 Here are some practical tips to be better allies and create inclusive spaces: 👂 Listen Actively-When an LGBTQIA+ friend or colleague shares their experiences, lend an empathetic ear. Create a safe space for them to express themselves without judgment. Sometimes, all someone needs is someone who truly hears them out. 📕 Educate Yourself-Take the initiative to learn about LGBTQIA+ history, terminology, and issues. Understand that everyone’s experiences are unique. Avoid making assumptions or invalidating their feelings. 📣 Amplify Voices-Share their stories, art, or advocacy work on social media or within your network. Use your platform to elevate their voices. Encourage others to do the same. Visibility matters, and your support can make a difference. ✊ Be an Upstander-If you witness anti-LGBTQIA+ comments or jokes, speak up. Be an effective bystander and challenge harmful behavior. Your intervention matters in creating a more respectful environment. 🌈 Support LGBTQIA+ Organizations-Attend local community events, donate to LGBTQIA+ charities, and uplift LGBTQIA+ artists and businesses. Your support contributes to a more vibrant and inclusive community. Remember, allyship is an ongoing commitment. Let’s actively listen, learn, and stand up for equality. Together, we create a more supportive world! 🏳️🌈 #ListenWithEmpathy #LearnAndListen #AllyshipMatters #QueerVoices #EqualityCareers #30daysofallyship  

Bridging Communities: The Future of Volunteering in the Digital Age and Its Impact on LGBTQIA+ Initiatives The future of volunteering is here, and it's shaping up to be more inclusive than ever before. With the help of technology, we're witnessing a digital renaissance of volunteering, one that transcends geographical barriers and unites people from all corners of the globe in support of causes they care about. And nowhere is this more evident than in the LGBTQIA+ community. In this article, we explore how remote volunteering and technological advancements are revolutionizing community support, with a focus on inclusivity and its far-reaching impacts on LGBTQIA+ communities. Initiatives like NYC Pride, which symbolize not just a local celebration but a global movement towards equality and acceptance, are leading the charge. The move towards digital volunteering and global inclusivity is a beacon of hope for LGBTQIA+ communities. It showcases a powerful shift towards a world where support and celebration of diversity are not limited by physical boundaries. By embracing remote volunteering and utilizing technology to bring people together, initiatives like NYC Pride can amplify their impact, spreading a message of love, acceptance, and unity across the globe. As we continue to navigate this digital renaissance, the essence of volunteering evolves, ensuring that no matter where we are in the world, we can contribute to a cause that champions equality and celebrates diversity. So let's come together and bridge communities, embracing a new era of community support for LGBTQIA+ initiatives. #NYCPride #Volunteering #LGBTQIA+ #Inclusivity #CommunitySupport #DigitalAge www.nycpride.org NYC Pride

October 11th is National Coming Out Day While we're not the greatest fans of the 'coming out' notion (the obligation on LGBTQIA+ folks to share their gender or identity), we absolutely do celebrate with those in our community who; ✔️ Choose to share their LGBTQIA+ identity ✔️ have the privelege of safety to share their whole selves with the world ✔️ support, love and welcome LGBTQIA+ folks to be their whole selves ✔️ identify as LGBTQIA+ and who haven't or choose not to share their gender and sexuality We also acknowledge today, that; 👉 Not everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community can safely share their gender or sexuality 👉 Not everyone 'comes out' the same way or at all - it's a personal choice 👉 'Coming out' is not often an isolated event - and generally it's a repeated experience over a lifetime and this can be fatiguing and scary 👉 While for many, it is an empowering and important experience, for others, it is not, and that's OK On days of significance, we want to take the opportunity to share important learnings for queer and ally folks alike. 🏳️🌈 Nobody owes you explanation or details about their sexuality or gender - in fact there are very few scenarios in which it is even relevant or appropriate to ask (e.g. in determining medical care) 🏳️🌈 If someone shares their gender or identity with you, it comes with an expectation of privacy and trust - it's not your story to tell. 🏳️🌈 Celebration of LGBTQIA+ identities is an important part of acceptance and change but isn't isolated to a singular day of the year. Love, support and welcome should be part of everyday. So if you are or care for someone who may be LGBTQIA+ there are simple things you can do to help make a world of acceptance - today and everyday. 💡Educate yourself - it's not the burden of LGBTQIA+ folks to educate. While we may not mind sharing learnings and advice, not everyone in our community can or wants to, and it's about our collective learning - so we all need to take the initiative and share the effort 💡Reach out - for many, being LGBTQIA+ may be an isolating or difficult experience. The Rainbow Brick Road Report of Gippsland LGBTQIA+ experiences affirms that LGBTQIA+ folks experience a disproportionate level of discrimination, exclusion and even violence. Being an active Ally is important. 💡Celebrate with us - where you are welcomed into someone's world, where they share their journey and identity with you - walk through that door. Be a part of the special moments, the significant days and the celebrations - Allies are critical for our shared progress And finally, to our wider Rainbow Family - wether 'out' or not, remember 💓 You are loved, important and welcome with love, Gippsland Pride Initiative Join us in watching this fantastic video previously produced by Barwon Health to learn a little more: https://lnkd.in/gtaNVNCq

Since joining RISE as a Helpline volunteer in November 2021, Alice has worked across various teams in RISE, and currently works as our Older and Disabled Women's Caseworker in our Communities Rising team. Read more about her journey from volunteer to caseworker below: What drew you to work in the third sector, specifically VAWG? I co-founded a safeguarding organisation in 2019 which gave me a direct insight into the lack of resources and funding for people's basic right to safety. Improving this on any level is a long and arduous process which I continue to campaign for. But in the meantime, I was in a fortunate position to give my time as an extra resource to help upkeep a vital sector. Now I can’t really imagine myself doing anything else. When did you join RISE and what was the process, did you find it hard? I joined RISE as a volunteer in November 2021. The helpline was looking for advisors so I sent in a short application and was offered an interview soon after. The process was simple and a lot of importance was placed on my wellbeing and self-care rather than my direct skills or experience, which made me feel really supported and empowered through the interview and induction process. What were some of the things you were asked to do in your role, which were your favourite parts, and what have you taken away from your experience as a volunteer? The helpline role is varied and you’re never quite sure what you might be doing that day, which I love! Something I really enjoyed was the encouragement to find my own voice and style of working in difficult situations. Connecting with people at a pivotal stage of their life is a real privilege, and their strength and stories will always stick with me. Can you describe what skills you have gained from volunteering, and what these have brought to your professional and personal life? Are you able to find balance whilst volunteering? As a helpline volunteer you hold a lot of responsibility; so self-advocacy and being able to communicate boundaries within a professional setting are really important. This is a key skill that I’ve developed and carried through to other areas of my work and personal life in order to balance my own needs with effectively holding other people’s trauma and experiences. What’s next for you? I now work as the Outreach Community Worker in the Communities Rising team. My role is to create partnerships around Brighton & Hove to improve the Domestic Abuse support and recovery offers for Older and Disabled women, with a focus on community and empowerment. Next up for me is to continue advocating for the improvement of access to services for women and LGBTQ+ people. https://lnkd.in/ep5tAWpF #VolunteersWeek

Half way through the first week of Pride month, Big Picture Training are celebrating the strides that have been made while recognising the challenges that the LGBTQI+ community continues to face. 🌈 🏳️🌈 Achievements to Celebrate: Many countries have made significant progress in legalising same-sex marriage and protecting LGBTQI+ rights. There has been an increase in LGBTQI+ representation in media, politics, and other public spheres. More companies are actively supporting LGBTQI+ rights through policies, partnerships, and public advocacy. 🌈 Issues to Address: Despite progress, discrimination in workplaces, healthcare, and everyday life persists. It's crucial to continue advocating for inclusive policies and practices. The LGBTQI+ community faces higher rates of mental health issues due to stigma, discrimination, and lack of support. Accessible and affirming mental health services are vital. In some quarters, there have been attempts to roll back rights, highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance and advocacy. Members of the LGBTQI+ community, particularly trans individuals and people of colour, face disproportionate levels of violence and hate crimes. 🤷🏼♀️ How Can We Help? Educate Ourselves and Others: Understanding the issues and history of the LGBTQI+ movement is crucial. Donate to and volunteer with organisations that fight for LGBTQI+ rights and provide essential services. Be an Ally: Stand up against discrimination and support LGBTQI+ colleagues, friends, and family. Being an ally means being active, not passive. Together, we can create a world where everyone is free to be their authentic selves. 🌈💖