The GLBT Community Projects Fund at The Miami Foundation is a partnership with the National LGBTQ Task Force to support organizations and programs that advance education and public awareness of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues in Greater Miami. Below is a list of our 2017 grantees.
4Ward Miami – $10,000
Gay8 Festival, a Hispanic LGBT art, music and street festival in Little Havana, on “Calle Ocho” from 14th to 17th Avenues. The Festival attracted 30,000 by its second year and aims to connect parts of South Florida that don’t typically connect; thereby promoting connection and diversity.
Aqua Foundation for Women – $5,000
TransCon is an annual conference designed for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals and their allies. The conference provides a safe space to educate and empower the community and provides multiple resources for transgender individuals including a job fair. The conference will be held in March 2018.
Barry University – $3,375
Barry University’s School of Social Work’s annual Transgender Day of Remembrance & Resilience memorializes those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia, bringing attention to continued interpersonal, structural & cultural violence endured by this community. This event honors trans lives and creates support for the transgender community.
BORSCHT CORP – $5,000
Borscht requests funds to produce Flaming Films, the only film fund & year-round cinematic programming for Miami’s LGBTQ voices. Flaming Films will support the creation of 10-12 new short films and transmedia projects by Miami’s LGBTQ community then pair these works with Flaming Classic’s immersive, bimonthly programming.
Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education– $2,500
To build and retain increasingly stronger ties with Miami’s Jewish GLBT residents and visitors, and to instill a sense of pride and respect among all the members of the GLBT community through the MJFF year-round programming, educational platform, and marquee Festival.
Citrus Health Network– $15,000
Safe Haven for Homeless Youth is a Citrus Health Network specialized housing program serving high-risk homeless youth, who are LGBT, ages 18-23. The goal of the program is to prevent “throwaway” or runaway youth from becoming homeless or recruited in sex trafficking, by providing a safe haven where they can transition to independent living.
Equality Florida Institute– $15,000
The Safe Schools Program assists Miami-Dade School District in implementing nationally recognized best practices in support of LGBTQ students, a vulnerable and poorly supported population. Students benefit from formalized protective policies and supportive programs within their schools that confront discrimination and promote safety and wellbeing.
FIU Foundation– $2,500
Initiatives that create safe spaces for youth are critically needed. Given the country’s current climate of fear and intolerance, creative enterprises that bring us together and help those that are most vulnerable are much needed. These youth initiatives strive to empower and help LGBTQA youth, particularly trans, homeless and queer youth of color.
FUNDarte– $2,500
Expanded to a month-long, the proposed 9th Season of Out in the Tropics (OITT), May 24 – June 24, 2018, embraces 1,120 LGBTQI 15-minute micro-theater performances, gender-fluid flamingo, story-rich poetry, a folklorist musician, a prolific lesbian Cuban painter, a Brazilian multi-disciplinary theater performance and educational artist workshops.
Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services– $5,000
GCJFCS has expertise in refugee cultures, norms and the obstacles LGBTQ refugees face when seeking assistance & advocacy in the US.
With a $15,000 grant GCJFCS will provide 4 educational forums to other refugee serving agencies as well as LGBTQ service providers to improve services, increase capacity and provide competent researched services.
Jewish Community Services of South Florida– $10,000
Lambda Living Senior Program proposes to address the needs of LGBT seniors through the provision of counseling and case management services, educational workshops, and a variety of social activities offered throughout the year. Primary focus is on outreach activities to connect with those LGBT seniors who are ‘higher risk’, specifically low-income.
Jonathan Spikes Foundation– $5,000
I Know What I Am Stage Play provides students a safe environment to engage important social issues while cultivating analytical and facilitative skills necessary for healthier and more nuanced conversations. As a result, students are better equipped to fully participate in critical analyses that encourage self-reflection and assessment of biases.
Lawyers for Children America– $10,000
The program gives LGBTQ youth in foster care the support of lawyers who provide the youth with holistic legal representation and mentoring, as well as education on self-advocacy. The program also empowers youth to participate in group advocacy to improve the system for all LGBTQ youth.
Legal Services of Greater Miami– $7,500
Through this program, Legal Services of Greater Miami will legally assist transgender persons with the following: health care access, subsidized healthcare assessments & related advocacy, name changes, appeal health coverage denials and represent to increase income resulting in increased access to healthcare. They will also provide education about health rights of transgender persons to better identify opportunities for healthcare advocacy.
Lotus House Women’s Shelter– $15,000
The Rainbow Lotus Program will provide 70 homeless LBTQ individuals and 40 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.
Miami Beach Gay Pride– $10,000
The 10th MBGP18, April 6 – 8, will be an all-inclusive, family-friendly weekend of events where people can be themselves and celebrate their unique identities in a safe environment open to the public. We are expanding on our women’s focused programming and building on our most successful Latin focused program to include more diverse entertainment.
Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services– $5,000
By providing a GLBT Family Specialist, this project targets 150 at risk youth ages 10 and older that identify as GLBT youth who are either in the foster care system, who are runaways, homeless, are DCF dependent or involved in the juvenile justice system that require more intensive and specialized services and aftercare supports.
Miami Children’s Museum– $2,500
LGBT-led families and families with gender non-conforming children are encouraged to participate in MCM’s Rainbow Families day in June 2018. Children and families can enjoy a full-day of activities including creating a painting that showcases what makes their family special and adding their piece to our collaborative Rainbow Mosaic art project.
O Cinema– $2,500
O Cinema requests support for the launch of our Queer Brunch series, a new monthly event that combines LGBTQ films with meals and educational discussions at an accessible price. Our goal is to use film as a catalyst to reach across the spectrum of age, race, gender expression, and socioeconomic backgrounds, supporting a cohesive LGBTQ community.
OUT Miami Foundation– $10,000
This program will build on our positive momentum in recruiting, engaging, and mobilizing volunteers, and we will be adding two new components– an expansion of our Volunteer Engagement Trainings for nonprofits, and the creation of volunteer engagement programs specifically targeting women & youth in local public schools.
Out My Closet– $5,000
Out My Closet, Inc. (OMC) is a New York and Florida based 501(c) (3) organization. OMC supports and educates poor and distressed LGBT youth, by making clothing donations, providing counselling services, conducting vocational and educational workshops, and maintaining a multimedia presence to both educate and raise awareness around LGBT issues.
OUTshine Film Festival– $10,000
The festival will bring residents and all GLBT film-lovers a high-quality, thought-provoking, and entertaining selection of new filmworks. The wide array of programs will include features, documentaries, and shorts, as well as complementary events which will range from Q&A and panel discussions to themed social events to a closing awards brunch.
Pet Project for Pets– $5,000
Each year we lose 50 – 75 clients. When a client passes away or becomes unable to care for their pet/s the pet project provides foster care until a forever home can be found. In some of these cases pets need medical attention and or medication that Pet Project for Pets now must provide in full. We estimate 2017 – 2018 we will take on 63 pets fully.
Pioneer Winter Collective– $7,500
The Pioneer Winter Collective bring awareness of issues specific to the LGBTQ community with its youth initiative LEAP, and dance performances created through interactions made in LEAP. Now in its fifth cycle, there are more youth served, performances offered, locations featured, as well as annual youth leadership summit that has led to an intergenerational workshop series.
Pridelines– $15,000
Pridelines, Miami’s LGBTQ Community Center, is home to the many programs, services, meetings, and events we offer to Miami’s LGBTQ community. From our Center we build community, create safe space, and provide support and referral services to LGBTQ-competent health service providers. By supporting our Center, you are supporting our community.
Reading Queer– $5,000
RQ Writing Academy is a workshop series led by queer writers and is open to all aspiring writers of the LGBTQ community, including youth and adult populations. The RQ Literary Festival presents leading queer writers and artists. The RQ @ O Cinema Film Series co-presents queer films coupled with a meal and a mini-workshop.
Safe Schools South Florida– $10,000
SSSF will adapt and update foundational LGBT 101 and Gender Diversity curricula to create two online learning modules. The Online Learning Academy will enhance SSSF’s ability to reach more educators via a more accessible training delivery method, creating informed, equipped, and affirming school educators who improve outcomes for LGBT students.
SAVE Foundation– $10,000
Business Equality Network – Building off of two years of success, SAVE will continue to build BEN, enrolling small businesses in a network of pro-equality companies in minority communities. This will allow us to continue to show that being pro-LGBT is positive for business. This year will include the development of a branded certification process.
South Broward Post 8195 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States– $2,500
The VFW Post 8195 Stone of Hope Military Outreach and Wellness Program purports to provide mental, spiritual and physical healing to veterans, focusing upon LGBTQ Veterans returning from the Global War on Terrorism who experienced war time traumas, resulting from traumatic war injuries due to the recently overturned “Don’t ask Don’t tell” ruling.
Survivors Pathway– $12,500
This program will provide trauma informed mental health services to Latino immigrants LGBTQI victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. This project will also deliver legal advocacy services at the eleventh circuit of the court, domestic violence unit, at the City of Hialeah courthouse and at Survivors Pathway.
TransSOCIAL– $5,000
TransSOCIAL’s Trans and LGBTQ+ Competency Training program is designed to increase the number of safe and affirming healthcare providers available to our community. The training involves cultural and organizational competence for the entire staff of healthcare facilities, including the implementation of best practices and sustainable re-engagement.
Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida– $5,000
UC|CU’s Celebrate ORGULLO 2017 honors the life of Spains iconic Music & Cinemaic Diva – SARA MONTIEL through Art, Music, Photography, Film and Spoken Word, Oct. 1-15, 2017. Entering our 7th year, Celebrate ORGULLO continues to showcase quality events, artists, performances & programming to Miami’s first Hispanic LGBT Pride festival.
VIDA Legal Assistance– $7,500
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. This project will strengthen survivors’ ability to support themselves, access other services and lead to a life free of abuse.
Zoetic Stage– $2,500
South Florida Premiere of Tony Award-winning FUN HOME by Jeanine Tesori & Lisa Kron. FUN HOME is a musical adaptation of the 2006 graphic memoir by lesbian cartoonist Alison Bechdel and is the first broadway musical to feature a lesbian protagonist. This production will bring this groundbreaking theater piece to Miami for the first time.
YES Institute– $2,500
This grant will support the education of 50 Miami-Dade teachers attending one of our full-day courses on the topics of gender and orientation. In addition, 20 one-hour community dialogues will provide education on communication, gender, and orientation to 2,000 community members—families, teachers, healthcare professionals, and youth.