2. Mission Statement
The Pride Center of the Blue Ridge
endeavors to provide an inclusive home
that connects, supports,
enhances, and empowers the LGBT
community, our allies, and our neighbors.

3. History / Timeline
 September 2013 - Initial Town Hall Meeting / UNCA
 Brainstorming vision, values, resources and next steps
 Survey
 November 2013 -Initial Task Force Meeting
 Structure & stakeholder engagement
 February 2014 - 2nd task force meeting
 Sub-committees
 Research for needs assessment outline
 March 2014 - Presentation of each committee
 Name and Mission Statement approved
 “Donate” button on Blue Ridge Pride Site
 Survey refined

4. Moving Vision into Action

5. Agenda
6:00 – 6:15 Socializing, Food and Networking
6:15- 6:25 Welcome
6:25-6:30 Explanation of Blue Ridge Pride Role
6:30 – 7:00 Committee updates
6:30 – 6:40 Research Committee
6:40 – 6:50 Physical Plant Committee
6:50 – 7:00 Community Outreach
Committee
7:05 – 7:20 Q & A
7:20 – 7:30 Call to Action

6. Meeting Structure
 Task Force Meetings: will meet on the 3rd
Monday of the month from 6-7:30pm at Land
of Sky offices.
 Sub-committees Meetings: will be expected
to meet face-to-face, via email or
teleconference between task force meetings.
 Town Hall Meetings: will take place 2 times per
year (April & October) and will include food
and socializing.

7. Research Sub-Committee
5 Areas of Research
1. National LGBT Center Initiatives
2. Other LGBT Community centers and
the Successes and Failures
experienced on their paths
3. Needs Assessment
4. Making the Case - Physical, Social
and Mental Health Equity Issues
5. Grant Funding Opportunities

8. National LGBT Community
Center Initiatives
 Center Link (http://www.lgbtcenters.org)
 Mission is to support the development of
strong, sustainable LGBT community
centers and to build a unified center
movement.
 Attained membership and appear on
national map with directory information
as “WNC LGBTQ Community Center”

9. Other LGBT Community
Centers
 Establishing relationships with other local (NC,
SC, VA) centers to seek advice and guidance
 Conducting interviews with leaders from
centers, on topics including:
 Needs assessment
 Physical Plant (what are facilities like and for
what uses, renting v. buying, monthly
expenditures)
 Services offered
 Funding

10. Needs Assessment
 Of utmost importance for determining the
goals of the center and the path toward
those goals
 Ongoing effort – done annually to connect
with the community we serve and make sure
we’re meeting the need/seek direction for
improvement
 Consists of surveys from community members
as well as other data
 Census information, historical, political/legal,
economic, demographic data

11. Needs Assessment Continued
 Currently have a survey online available
through Blue Ridge Pride website
 Collecting paper surveys from non-wired
participants
 Seeking community partners to distribute and
store surveys for pick-up
 Focus on gathering surveys from marginal
populations: elders, disabled, those without
regular internet access
We need YOUR help collecting valid
data!

12. Making the Case – Physical,
Social and Mental Health
Equity Issues
 Health Outcomes are a major priority and good method for
fundraising
 LGBT population experiences worse health outcomes
 LGBT less likely to seek/receive medical care
 No national data since no federal survey seeks sexual
orientation data
 Growing population
 110% growth in Buncombe County since 2000
 Political climate changing
 Health Visitation laws
 Recent Federal declarations
 Recent State Laws (VA, KY)
 Prioritize at-risk populations: youth, elders, disabled, HIV+

13. Grant Funding Opportunities
 Have accessed grants through The
Foundation Center
 Granting organizations have a focus on
healthcare and social connectivity, and
cost savings
 BCBS, NIH, private foundations
 Anticipate that grants will be a small
portion of funding center, based on
interviews with other efforts

14. Next Steps
• Continuing to interview local
community centers
 Completing Needs Assessment
 Seeking assistance from Outreach committee
and community partners with distribution of
survey
 Bringing together supplementary information
 Goal to complete by end of summer
 This will guide physical needs, funding
goals/methods, location, and a way forward

15. Survey Distributors
 Community stakeholders/partners who
are interested in distributing surveys to
clients or customers and storing them
between pick-ups may contact
keverleeburchett@gmail.com to
coordinate
Thank you for your assistance!

16. Physical Plant
Our Building Vision
 A safe downtown location
 Building must be accessible in both location and
design
 The Center must be a Community Investment
 The design and building functions must support
sustainability

18. Outreach Committee
Purpose
 Communicate the Mission of the Center.
 Ensure that there is a consistent message
 Assist with the distribution of information,
surveys, multimedia, and other forms of
communication to our community.

19. Current Efforts
 Variety of experience on the Outreach
Committee
 Facebook Page -- Please “like” the page and
share with everyone. LOOK FOR UPDATED
INFORMATION ON FB PAGE
http://www.blueridgepride.co
m/CommunityCenter.php
 There is a current mode for email blasts. You will
receive them if you have provided us with your
email address

20. Current Efforts continued
 By providing the Task Force your email
address, you will receive updates in a
confidential manner.
 Have informed Asheville Citizen-Times of
the Task Force and Community Center.
 Reaching out to LGBT friendly allies
 Coordinating information tents/tables at
community events, NOT just LGBT/Equality
related

21. Current Efforts Continued
 Using continuous data from Research
Committee to determine best modes of
outreach.
 Identifying segments of population not being
reached
 Obtaining suggestions/information from the
community and other organizations
 Using current relationships to assist with
reduced marketing costs
 Town Hall

22. Future Developments
 Outreach Committee Chair portal
through Website
 This will allow for questions/suggestions to
come directly to the committee
 Multiple articles in MountainXpress,
Asheville Citizen-times, other publications
 Eventual coverage on WLOS
 Continued Town Halls

23. Future Developments Cont.
 Develop Public Relations Strategic Plan
 Snail Mail
 Phone calls
 Logo
 Create additional marketing materials

24. Administrative / Finance
Subcommittee
Goals – Create draft of operating
procedures including accounting, legalities,
sustainability and organizational structure
Tim Wallace
Blue Ridge Pride, Inc.
(P) 828-338-8BRP (8277)
tim@blueridgepride.com
www.blueridgepride.com

25. Objective Responsible Person Timeline / Due Date
Set up acceptable accounting practices
Create pro forma budget (including
budget for operational expenses, start up
and research)
Research legalities including
organizational structure, insurance and
liability
Create organizational structure and
identify best practices to hire an executive
director

26. Questions and Answers
 Write your question on the card provided
 Indicate who you would like to answer the
question

27. In closing…we move forward
Evaluations
 What part(s) of the
presentation struck you
most?
 How do you feel when
you think about what
has been presented?
 Do you see
opportunities for your
contribution?
Call to Action
 What can you do to
support and
enhance the
center?
Please use the post-it
note, place in the
appropriate flip sheet
and included contact
information.