Guilford names new executive
GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Guilford Green Foundation (GGF) has announced the appointment of Nancy Vaughan as its new executive director.
“On behalf of Guilford Green Foundation’s Board of Directors, I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Nancy Vaughan as our new executive director,” said Board Co-Chair Melissa Greer. “Nancy’s demonstrated leadership in serving our community will be essential to our success as we move forward in advancing Guilford Green Foundation’s mission to unite our community by fostering organizations that advance Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) persons and issues,” she added.
Currently, Vaughan serves as mayor of Greensboro, N.C., and brings a wealth of leadership to the post. Foundation Board Co-Chair Jeff Smith shared, “we believe she will be a tremendous asset as we all work together to create a new LGBT center in Greensboro.”
GGF will engage the community’s input and ideas for development of the center. “I have always been impressed by the people behind Guilford Green Foundation and plan to hit the ground running,” said Vaughan. “By harnessing the unique power of Greensboro’s diversity, the foundation has unlimited potential.”
However, not everyone is excited about Vaughan’s hiring. The Greensboro News & Record reported that activists had spoken out against the situation.
A contingency of LGBT individuals and the Queer People of Color Collective spoke out against the move on Feb. 2. The objections stem from protesters assessment that a “white, heterosexual, non-transgender woman” was “inappropriate for a group that represents LGBT interests,” the newspaper shared.
The article went on to say that Carly Springs who represented the collective read a statement and answered some questions. The statement read: “Greensboro’s queer and trans community of color stands in outrage and opposition” to the hiring of Vaughan. “This is offensive to us because it continues the history of erasure and suppression experienced by LGBTQ people of color and our grassroots organization. Queer and trans people of color experience the most marginalization of the LGBTQ community and yet our needs are the least represented and our leadership the least recognized by supposed ‘LGBTQ-affirming’ organizations.”
The statement was critical of GGF for its lack of inclusivity of transgender individuals in event programming and its leadership, the News & Observer reported.
Vaughan offered no comment to the statement, sharing that she felt it inappropriate for her to speak on behalf of the foundation.
Greer voiced that she had received “nothing but positive feedback” since the hiring. She added that Vaughan would be able to unite communities, a mission of the foundation.
Vaughan was Equality North Carolina’s 2015 Ally of the Year. Its executive director, Chris Sgro, said that “full equality” was not possible unless “we are walking arm-in-arm with our allies.” He added that straight ally attacks were tragic for advocacy.
Holden Cession, who is with the collective, said it was returning the $1,300 grant awarded to NC Trans Pride in Action for a pride event which was received from GGF.
In other news, the foundation has announced that after an extensive review that it was modifying its granting and partnership process. It will adjust the number of grantees, but make awards higher; will align with partners who offer valued programs and services to the community; and it would become a leader in facilitating the delivery of programming to address the needs of the local LGBT community.
info: ggfnc.org.
PFLAG slates meeting
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Greensboro will hold its upcoming chapter meeting on Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m., at College Park Baptist Church, 1601 Walker Ave.
The organization has also announced that its Carter Stroupe Memorial Scholarship is accepting applications. LGBT and allied recipients are able to use the $1,000 funds to further their education. Criteria for selection is based upon an applicant’s exhibition of courage and leadership in their schools and communities.
Deadline is March 30. For more information and eligibility visit PFLAG Greensboro’s website.
info: pflaggreensboro.org.
Foundation seeks input
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Adam Foundation is gearing up for the 2016 Adam Festival in late fall.
They are currently seeking input from the community on its theme, as well as feedback on the 2015 event. Visit surveymonkey.com/r/2CXL6RM to lend a voice to the conversation.
Contact the foundation’s administrator, Jasmine Gregory, with questions, concerns or festival information at admin@adamfoundation.org.
info: adamfoundation.org.
Have news or other information? Send your press releases and updates for inclusion in our News Notes: editor@qnotescarolinas.com.
Share your news with us
Does your organization or special interest group have events or great information to share with our readers? If so, be sure to send in your information to specialassignments@qnotescarolinas.com. In the upcoming months, we’ll feature one of you in our news notes section in each issue. Are you a part of a Meetup, Yahoo or Google group and do you do something that’s really newsworthy? Do you provide a service for the community or hold fundraisers for worthy causes? Do you educate the public about LGBT issues or concerns? Of course, this is only a sampling of things we are interested in. It’s the aim of these pieces to inform, enlighten and educate our readers about what we’re doing here in the Carolinas to champion LGBT rights, as well as offer resources for those who may be interested in what your group is doing.