Hey Y’all,
One year ago, I walked into the Charlotte Pride offices for the first time as the organization’s new communications manager. My predecessor had been with the organization for over a decade, and I was under no preconceived notion about the amount of work I had ahead of me or how big the shoes were that I had to fill. I’ve tried my best to step into the role and make it my own.
The past twelve months have certainly been one hell of a ride and I have grown and learned beyond measure. Nonprofit work is not for the faint of heart; it’s hard work and it’s also heart work. You have to love it and every day I’ve spent at Charlotte Pride has made me love this work event more. It’s given me a deeper understanding of just how important what we do is for the community and how much of a responsibility that is. I don’t take that lightly; seeing behind the curtain to know how much time and energy so many people give into making our yearly events and programs happen has been so humbling. Before I took this job, I had no idea just how much people sacrifice to make what we do possible.
One thing I do know is how proud I am to work alongside such an amazing group of people. Charlotte Pride has two paid staff, and my colleague is amazing, but the beating heart of our organization is the people that volunteer countless hours to help plan and organize events like our job fair, film festival, and Pride weekend. And this coming year, we have people helping to bring back some of our other programs that were put on hold at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. If 2023 was a landmark year, I can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store.
No organization gets it right all the time, but I know for a fact that every single person in this organization cares deeply about doing everything we can to support and uplift the LGBTQ community in Charlotte and beyond. Charlotte Pride envisions a world in which LGBTQ people are affirmed, respected, and included in the full social and civic life of their local communities, free from fear of any discrimination, rejection, and prejudice. I’ve never met a group of people that truly embody the mission of an organization like the people at Charlotte Pride. There is much to do, and they give it their all.
Another thing I know is that, even with all of the donated time and energy of our volunteers, none of this would be possible without our generous donors. We are so grateful to everyone who has financially supported our work in 2023 and we hope you will continue to support us in 2024. As we wrap up the year and gear up for the next, we encourage you to become a Friend of Pride this holiday season and make a financial donation to Charlotte Pride. If you donate between now and December 31, you’ll get entered into a raffle for a chance to win tickets to see Wanda Sykes next May.
Interested in becoming a Friend of Pride and making a financial donation to Charlotte Pride? Visit https://charlottepride.org/friends/ to learn more.
