behind the scenes Prior to joining Pride’s staff, Cooke had volunteered for five years — two as a logistics volunteer, and then three years as programming co-chair. “Even though I’ve been involved with the organization for years, I had NO CLUE how complicated this is,” he says. “I knew it would involve a great deal of multitasking and lots of moving parts to every aspect of the festival and our other programming, but I was still surprised. I am never bored at work, but I’d rather be busy than be bored anytime.” Like Cooke, many Pride attendees also don’t get quite how complicated the festival is. That’s the biggest misconception about Pride, he says. “I think some people really, honest to goodness, think the festival and the other programming we do just happens,” he says.
Atlanta Pride by the numbers • Pride attendance: 200,000+ • Number of full-time staff: 1 • Number of part-time staff: 2 • Number of year-round volunteers: 27 • Total number of volunteers: 300+ • Number of volunteer shifts throughout the festival: 258 • Months it takes to plan a Pride festival: 12+
Source: Atlanta Pride Committee v
64 2012 Atlanta Pride
“They don’t understand the months of applications for food vendors, market vendors, parade entries, entertainers, etc. All of those things take a lot of planning and organization and time to review, not the mention the work done with our sponsors, small business partners, and donors.” That doesn’t mean, however, that you need to have a lot of time available in order to get involved with Pride. While some volunteers work year-round, the shortest volunteer shift during the festival starts at just four hours. Far from looking down on those with just a few hours to give, Pride welcomes them — there are 258 volunteer shifts during the festival. “It is cool that I get to meet so many new people who are volunteering for the first time and those friends returning to assist throughout the weekend,” says Pride Board Chair Glen Paul Freedman, who has volunteered with the organization since 1995. “I always hear the same remarks that volunteering allows me to give something back to our community, be truly out and proud and supportive of an organization who treats me and my friends with respect and show us a great time,” Freedman says. “Of course, you get a real cool Pride volunteer t-shirt!”
And if you would prefer to party rather than work during Pride weekend, the Atlanta Pride Committee could still use your help during other parts of the year. “We are looking for people to help with fundraising, stewardship, graphics and design, volunteer development, event planning, and community outreach,” Cooke says. Pride is also debuting a new effort called Pride Ambassadors, a group of volunteers who will attend Prides in other cities, as well as Atlanta Pride events, to “represent Atlanta Pride like freshman orientation leaders at a college.” Look for them during the festival, and then consider whether you would like to join them in the coming months.