Officially founded in 2000 and with roots dating back to the 1980s, Charlotte Pride identifies as the leading LGBTQ+ organization in the Carolinas, producing events, programs and advocacy initiatives that empower our communities.
The annual Pride Festival & Parade attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees to the Queen City, making it one of the Southeast’s largest Pride gatherings. This year, the event will be held at First Ward Park (301 East 7th Street), with the festival spanning over two days (Aug. 16-17) and parade taking place along Tryon Street (Aug. 17).
Behind the glitter, floats and cheers lies a simple truth: This event only happens because of volunteers.
With just three staff members and a seasonal intern, Charlotte Pride relies on an extraordinary network of volunteers who dedicate months each year to bring this event to life. These selfless individuals are the stern and the engine of Pride, turning chaos into choreography and vision into reality.
As the organization prepares for its 2025 festival, Meredith Thompson, Managing Director of Charlotte Pride, shared why long-term volunteers matter and why the organization is determined to keep them engaged.
When Thompson joined Charlotte Pride three years ago, she brought decades of business experience and a passion for community work. “My wife was retiring, our rent was going up, and I was ready for a new chapter,” she explained. “I had always loved nonprofit work and volunteered on the side. Then this position came through in a Charlotte Pride newsletter. It just felt like the dream.”
That dream came with weighty responsibility. “Charlotte Pride has only three staff members. There is absolutely no way we could deliver a Festival & Parade for hundreds of thousands of people without volunteers,” she said.
Today, Thompson oversees roughly a dozen volunteer teams that operate throughout the year. These groups handle everything from logistics and safety to vendor management, parade staging, and artistic programming. “We have volunteers who have been with us for years,” Thompson noted. “They are our stability and our strength.”
One example is the vendor team, led by Ryan Beaupré and Esha. “The work they do is incredible,” said Thompson. “They review every application in detail, manage spreadsheets, answer questions and handle on-site operations. And they do it all without pay, because they care deeply about this community.”
Beaupré echoed that commitment: “I started volunteering in 2015, stepped away for a bit and came back because this matters. We’re not just looking for vendors who can pay. We want those who show a real connection to the LGBTQ+ community. It is about authenticity.”
Thompson says the motivation that keeps volunteers engaged comes down to passion, purpose and people. “The volunteers who stay long-term are collaborative, curious and open-minded,” she explained. “They want to connect. That is why we hold in-person team huddles every month. It’s not just about ticking tasks off a list; it’s about building relationships.”
Volunteer appreciation events and leadership opportunities are also part of the strategy. “We create updated team descriptions every year,” Thompson added. “We want to make space for new people while honoring the experience of those who have carried the weight for years.”
The weight is real. Planning Charlotte Pride is not a seasonal gig. “It’s a year-round effort,” Meredith said. “People give their evenings, weekends, even vacation time. They do it because they want to see others feel safe and celebrated.”
One moment still stands out to her. “At a post-festival dinner, Tiffany, one of our longtime volunteers, got emotional and said, ‘Y’all are my why. You’re why I do this.’ That hit all of us. It reminded me that this is more than an event. It is a community effort to create something meaningful.”
While Meredith coordinates from a leadership perspective, volunteers like Tessa Malayan and Tiffany Crooks embody the heart and soul of Pride on the ground.
Malayan, who leads the parade team, first joined Charlotte Pride during the pandemic. “I told myself, when this is over, I need to get involved more. I wanted to fill my philanthropic cup,” she said. After moving to Charlotte from Arizona, Malayan searched online for organizations that matched her values. “Charlotte Pride came up. I had seen them on social media, checked the website, and sent in a write-up about myself. A couple of weeks later, they asked if I wanted to join the parade team.”
Despite having no parade experience, Malayan jumped in headfirst. “It is chaotic and stressful, but in the best way,” she said, laughing. “Once you see the floats rolling and the smiles on people’s faces, it makes everything worth it.”
Her role includes approving applications, managing the parade lineup, and coordinating the staging area. “If you see someone running around like a chicken with its head cut off, that’s me,” she joked. Her motivation is personal: “Our daughter came out when she was eight or nine, and I’m part of the community too. Our home has become a safe space for her and her friends. Volunteering with Pride is a way to extend that safe space to the larger community.”
For Crooks, the path to Pride began with music. “I started off singing with One Voice Chorus and performing at Flourish,” she recalled. Flourish is the festival’s arts and culture showcase, and when the program needed a coordinator, Crooks stepped up. “I said, ‘I’m interested,’ because it was something I loved. That was seven years ago.”
Since then, Crooks has curated a vibrant mix of visual art, spoken word and live music for festival-goers. “Providing a platform for queer artists has been incredible,” she said. “I still remember the first time we tried using a makeshift teleprompter during a show. It was chaotic, but we made it work and then improved it the next year.”
Now Crooks is preparing for a new chapter. “I’m training others to take over Flourish,” she said. “It’s time to branch out and volunteer in other spaces, like Charlotte Black Pride or the LGBTQ Chamber. I want to see the full landscape of our community.”
Her advice for new volunteers? “Do it. Whether it’s with Pride or another group, find your place and give your time. That’s how we build a deeper community.”
According to Thompson, the volunteers who succeed share three qualities: passion, patience and flexibility. “You have to believe in the mission,” she said. “Otherwise, the long nights and early mornings will feel overwhelming.”
Volunteers who are allies share similar qualities. “We do have some volunteers who are purely just allies,” explained Beaupré. “And they’re really tied to it because they know it’s a cause that impacts someone who’s important to them.”
Malayan agrees. “Everybody has a different idea of what Pride should look like. You have to listen, adapt and create something that feels inclusive for everyone.”
Crooks adds resilience to the list. “Things shift. Plans change. You figure it out and keep moving forward.”
Pride is a celebration, but it is also a lifeline in a challenging climate for LGBTQ+ rights. “Being visibly supportive matters now more than ever,” Beaupré said.
Thompson summed it up simply: “Our volunteers aren’t just helping with logistics. They are creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, and celebrated. That is what Pride is about.”
The 2025 Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade is Saturday, Aug. 16 through Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. Charlotte Pride Week, which includes a variety of celebratory Pride events all around the city, hosted by local businesses and organizations, runs Friday, Aug. 8 through Friday, Aug. 15. Expect more space, more art and more opportunities to connect and as always, volunteers will make it possible.
If you’ve ever considered giving your time, now is the moment. Whether you enjoy organizing, creating or simply lending a hand, there is a role for you.Learn more or sign up to volunteer at charlottepride.org.