2018 LGBTQ COMMUNITY FUND RECIPIENTS

Pictured above: Pridelines, a 2018 LGBTQ Community Fund grant recipient

The LGBTQ Community Fund is a unique partnership between The Miami Foundation and the National LGBTQ Task Force to improve quality of life for LGBTQ residents in Greater Miami and strengthen organizations seeking to make a difference in the lives of LGBTQ people.

4Ward Miami Inc – $5,000

4Ward Miami continues its work in connecting intersections of the LGBTQ community & the broader public & creating awareness of social justice issues through visibility, engagement, cultural arts & entertainment events, including programs, the Gay8 Festival & a new merging program, ImpactOUT International Initiative

 

Affirming Youth Foundation, Inc – $15,000

To provide psycho-education and social supportive care for GLBTQ African American and Hispanic urban core areas of Liberty City and Little Haiti to increase successful coping mechanisms, including sources of support and resilience; and advance the understanding of clinical issues and interventions in the domain of LGBT ethnic minorities.

 

Aqua Foundation for Women, Inc. – $15,000

TransCon, a conference for the transgender community, addresses the lack of adequate mental health services, brings in national speakers, social media marketing to reach the most marginalized trans people, and increases pay to trans people.

 

Equality Florida Institute– $15,000

EQFLI’s LGBTQ Safe and Healthy Schools Program creates a culture of inclusion and respect in Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) by assisting the school district with implementing nationally recognized best practices in support of LGBTQ students, one of the most vulnerable, underserved, and poorly supported youth populations.

 

FIU Foundation, Inc (MPAS LGBTQA Initiatives) – $10,000

Support marginalized LGBTQA youth with their development in becoming strong leaders, peer educators, and social change agents in college and in the greater Miami community; create opportunities where queer youth can serve as strong role models for middle and high school LGBTQA+ students.

 

Freedom Fund Network, Inc. – $10,000

Secure the freedom and safety of low-income LGBTQ and HIV-positive individuals held in jails or immigration detention in Miami–sexual minorities are three times more likely than heterosexual individuals to be incarcerated and according to the U.S. Department of Justice, 10 to 20 times more likely to be sexually assaulted in jail.

 

HistoryMiami Museum – $3,500

Inspired by the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, HistoryMiami Museum’s forthcoming major exhibition, scheduled to run from March 2019 – January 2020, chronicles the LGBTQ story of resilience.

 

Jewish Community Services of South Florida, Inc. – $12,500

Provide affordable and affirming housing for LGBT seniors in Miami which is in very limited supply. JCS/Lambda Living is developing the financial and operational strategies to launch Phase 2 of its housing initiative. Funding supports the research and outreach necessary to launch Phase 2.

 

Lawyers for Children America, Inc. – $12,500

The program gives LGBTQ youth in foster care the support of lawyers who provide the youth with holistic legal representation in dependency court and other legal matters, mentoring, legal rights training, education on self-advocacy, and the opportunity to participate in group advocacy to improve the system for all LGBTQ youth.

 

Lotus House – $15,000

Each year, the Rainbow Lotus Program provides 75 homeless LBTQ individuals and children with shelter, meals, clothing, help accessing benefits, evidence based/informed and trauma focused counseling, health/mental health care, parenting and life skills education, job training, educational completion, and other supports in an affirming environment.

 

Maven Leadership Collective – $10,000

Maven Leadership Collective inspires communities to thrive by embracing meaningful diversity and inclusion of amazing talent, transformative learning experiences, lasting connections, and amplified stories.

 

Miami Beach Pride – $7,500

Support for Miami Beach Pride 2019 from April 1- 7, in Miami Beach, where the community can be themselves without fear of prosecution or discrimination in a free celebration of diversity, inclusion, and acceptance.

 

Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services, Inc.- $5,000

Support of a full-time LGBTQ Family Specialist working with LGBTQ youth and families in community-based and shelter programs.

 

Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Inc. – $5,000

Funding for the continued growth of community-building and community education efforts that will bring underprivileged, underrepresented, and underserved segments of the community into our supportive domain; and ensure the continuation of social justice programming.

 

Pet Project for Pets – $5,000

Expand services in Miami to include all qualified waitlisted clients who are not financially able to care for their companion pets.

 

Pioneer Winter Collective – $4,000

Support of LEAP (Leaders of Equality through Arts and Performance) programming – Pioneer Winter Collective’s community engagement activities that involve LGBTQ youth, elders, and professional artists in multiple intergenerational capacities, including creative workshops, mentoring, and public performances.

 

Prevention305 – $5,000

Support for Project UPTAKE (United Peers Take Action to Knockout the Epidemic), a bilingual, digital, peer-based strategy for HIV testing and PrEP education among Latinx gay and bisexual men and transgender women between the ages of 18 and 34 in Miami zip codes with high HIV incidence.

 

Pridelines Youth Services, Inc. – $15,000

This grant will support critical services, including, health services, access to housing, wrap-around services, case management, social support services and enrichment programs, that we provide to LGBTQ youth (including those experiencing homelessness), transgender individuals, older LGBTQ individuals, and those living with HIV at our Center.

 

Reading Queer – $2,500

The intent of this grant request is to fund Reading Queer’s 2018 RQ Literary Festival, the RQ Writing Academy and the RQ Writers in Residence Program @ The Betsy.

 

Reserve South – $2,500

Support the needs of underserved LGBTQ community members who have dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease and assist their caregivers by providing trained and certified Dementia Care Coaches who will offer comprehensive, one on one, individualized attention and access to services to improve their quality of life.

 

Safe Schools South Florida – $10,000

Improve the social, emotional, health, and academic outcomes of LGBTQ students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

 

SAVE Foundation, Inc. – $10,000

Funding to continue to build and grow the Business Equality Network (BEN) to continue to uplift the narrative that the equal treatment of LGBTQ people is good for business, educate thought leaders on the issue through business leaders, and help foster more inclusive work settings.

 

Survivors Pathway Corporation – $10,000

Provide trauma-informed mental health services to Latino immigrants LGBTQI victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. This project will also give legal advocacy services at the eleventh circuit of the court, domestic violence unit, at city of Hialeah court house and at Survivors Pathway.

 

VIDA Legal Assistance, Inc. – $10,000

VIDA will provide free quality legal representation in immigration matters to LGBTQ survivors of domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, and other violent crimes using a victim-centered, trauma informed model.

 

YES Institute – $10,000

Prevent anti-gay and gender-stereotyped bullying behaviors in schools – preschool through college; provide effective communication and prevention strategies for professionals, students, and families; address root causes of bullying, suicide, end violence; and optimize students’ development in environments that are inclusive to all experiences.