Community Update: May 21
Time has moved forward very quickly. We want to provide this update to our community and supporters. The last few months have been busy and important for the organization. We are continuing the process to rebuild Side by Side and focusing on racial and gender equity.
Virtual support groups continue
Our No. 1 priority remains serving LGBTQ+ youth through our support groups. We are thankful for our dedicated group of lead facilitators, counselors and youth who show up for each other every week.
While the virtual format has presented various challenges, we have learned new opportunities for connection. The virtual format has allowed us to reach more youth who typically may have been unable to attend groups in-person because of geographic or other barriers.
The world we are living with is slowly opening up more and more. Side by Side staff and board are beginning conversations around what re-opening looks like. We continue to assess the vaccine rollout for youth ages 12-15 in Virginia and will make decisions in the future for when it is safe to meet in-person for groups.
Building a better Side by Side
Side by Side is undergoing an organizational audit and actively incorporating lessons learned from what we have experienced. We will start the racial equity training for board, staff, and volunteers this summer. We are also looking at new leadership structures that center racial and gender equity and incorporate youth voice.
Our Interim Executive Director has been engaging in one-on-one conversations with staff to better understand their roles and co-develop positions descriptions that best support the direction Side by Side is moving in. Together, we’re creating processes that ensure transparency and accountability, along with collaboration and communication, while discerning opportunities to best serve youth.
We continue to receive youth and community partner feedback on what they value as our core efforts and resources most needed from Side by Side, and ideas on how to continue what we do well, and find better ways to achieve what we have not. Re-examining our mission, culture and core values includes identifying and routing out white supremacy patterns in our organization, with a specific focus on how we can best serve Black and Brown LGBQ+, Transgender, and Non-Binary youth.
New Leadership Model
We are excited to launch a Co-Executive Director model for Side by Side. This process has started with the creation of the Co-ED Search committee. The committee consists of community members with diverse lived experiences, staff, board and community partners. They are working hard to select the organization’s first Co-Executive Director - Development. This position will focus on Side By Side’s fiscal and organizational development, communications, and partner engagement. We will share the job posting in the coming weeks. We encourage you to share this opportunity with your networks.
You’re invited: Upcoming community events
Community is incredibly important to Side by Side. We are excited to host an in-person event at the Goochland Drive-In Theater on Thursday, June 3 for a showing of Cruella . All Side by Side youth, families, staff, board, jr. board, volunteers and community partners are invited. There will be plenty of room for social distancing – and lots of fun, together. Please register and join us.
During Pride 2021, June 1-30, Side by Side is participating in GiveOUT Day! This is a national month-long fundraising campaign that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. Stay connected to our social media to learn how you can support Side by Side during this effort.
Last but not least, Springtime in the Summer is coming!!! We’ll be sharing details soon about our annual fundraiser. Keep an eye out for the date and ways you can participate.
Thank you again for your continued support of Side by Side and the LGBTQ+ youth we serve.