Queer People of Color Collective of the Triad September-November 2013 Inagural Issue MISSION/VISION: WE ARE COMMITTED TO INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY BUILDING AND PROMOTING CONVERSATIONS ACROSS THE INTERSECTIONS OF RACE, ETHNICITY, CLASS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY. WE FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING:
WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF COLLECTIVITY AND FOCUS ON THE AFOREMENTIONED SO THAT WE MAY TRANSFORM OURSELVES, THEREBY TRANSFORMING OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR WORLD.
QPOCC is the only community ran organization in this area that specifically supports LGBTQ people of color. Our impact is large as QPOCC has acted as a connection for LGBTQIA people of color that live in the local triad area to now internationally! QPOCC often collaborates with other organization to provide educational and social events while maintaining regular programming. While some events are created for people that identify as LGBTQ and a person of color, and we are intentional about creating autonomous safe space, QPOCC opens up most events to the population at large. QPOCC has been devoted to building relationships, partnering with other LGBTQ organizations and making LGBTQ people of color needs and communities visible throughout North Carolina.
April Parker, QPOCC lead organizer
“On our mission we had a powerful generational representation as we had people born across the five decades since the original march.” (Femi )
COMMUNITY BUILDING -SHARING OUR PERSONAL NARRATIVES AND EXPERIENCES -DISSEMINATING INFORMATION REGARDING ISSUES EFFECTING QUEER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR -LEADERSHIP BUILDING -EXCHANGING OF RESOURCES -UPLIFTING AND SHARING OUR CREATIVE TALENTS SINGING, DANCING, LAUGHING AND PLAYING.
Sankofa Section
written by: Femi Brown Shittu
AUGUST On August 24th 2013, QPOCC collaborated with The National Black Justice Coalition and The Bayard Rustin Center for LGBTQA of Guilford College in the contribution to civil rights history as we organized a trip to our nation’s capital for The dfjgadlfkjvldjfjv [Click here to add a caption] 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, “Queers and Allies to the Capital: 50 Years and Still Marching”. Our goal was not only to be a part of the reenactment of such a prominent moment in our history, but to educate the masses on Bayard Rustin, an out, black, gay, activist who was the architect and lead organizer of the original march on August 27th 1963.
Prior to our trip on August 22nd, we held an informational program, “The Bayard Rustin Teach In” that was about Bayard Rustin and his contributions to the civil rights movement to educate people on someone of our community who doesn’t get
Above: 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington! We OUT Here!! Below: Bayard Rustin Teach In at Elsewhere Museum, Greensboro, NC. To view presentation created by April Parker please go to: http://prezi.com/hcbfqwgbwnto/?utm_campaig n=share&utm_medium=copy
the recognition he deserves mainly because of his sexual orientation. On our mission we had a powerful generational representation as we had people born across the five decades since the original march. (A special thank you to Harris Teeter for the food donations for our journey) The students of the BRC of Guilford College carried a banner which commemorated Bayard Rustin and his contributions. We were pleased to have many people come up to our group and ask who Bayard Rustin was. Thereafter, we participated in the march toward the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial. We observed that we were one of the very few LGBTQ organizations marching and was humbled to be a solid representation.
September PRIDE!!
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On September 13th 2013 QPOCC organized our 2nd annual Triad event which was a talent showcase entitled: Rainbow Revolutionaries- a Hip Hop Concert and Talent Showcase. The event featured a variety of diverse performers including a German rapper and spoken word poets. Our feature performer was Shirlette Ammons , an alternative singer who has been in the music scene for more than ten years and is native of Durham. A special thank you to Churchill’s Downtown Greensboro for the lovely space and the welcoming environment.
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On September 1st QPOCC held LGBTQ Family and Allies Play Day and Potluck. This event was held at Barber park of Greensboro and was open to all members of the community, their families, and allies. We, QPOCC, thought opportunity for fellowship during were able to food was in and showed your
this would be a wonderful the community of the triad to Labor Day holiday. The children enjoy Barber Park’s water park and abundance. Thank you all that came support.
QUEER PEOPLE OF COLOR COLLECTIVE CONNECTS WITH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY!! QPOCC member Nevada Staples was contacted by Mleuben Maccarthy of the St. Pauls Voice Center in Uganda Africa to help support their mission. Upon request the collective was able to tap into community resources to obtain and ship much needed condoms and lubricant to the Uganda rooted organization. Also to support St. Pauls PRIDE event QPOCC members also donated and mailed rainbow items!! This is a new and exciting partnership and QPOCC looks forward to connected and support LGBTQ people of color all across the world!!
CONTACT US! April Parker (862) 588-1521 & Email: queerpoccollective@gmail.com
Upcoming Events/Meetings/Programming October 11th National Coming OUT Day! QPOCC Newsletter Inagural Issue Distributed!! WE OUT HERE!!! October 12th QPOCC Overnight Retreat POSTPONED TILL SPRING Join as we community build and kick it in a cabin! For details please call April Parker (862) 588-1521 Trip Location: 1064 Henry Brandon Road, Alton, VA 27406 ALL WELCOME October 17 QPOCC host Sistah Sinema Screening Movie: Al Nisa: Black Muslim Women in Atlanta’s Gay Mecca Geeksboro Cinema, Greensboro at 9pm Online tickets $7.50 sold here: sistahsinena.greensboro.eventbrite.com Door tickets $10 October 24th Queerly Beloved: Greensboro’s LGBTQ Literature Circle Meeting and BOOKSWAP Queerly Beloved highlights literature created for, by and about people of color. Join US at Elsewhere Living Museum, Downtown Greensboro 6-8:30 6pm Museum Tour 7pm Dinner, $5 cost (reservations required please confirm attendance via FB invite/call 8625881521/or email queerpoccollective@gmail.com ******Bookswap PLEASE Bring your gently used LGBTQ BOOKS to swap for a new book from another member!!!********** Oct 19th QPOCC and Jay Citylights brings a Saturday LGBTQ Mixer!! Happy hour/Open Mic Churchhills, Downtown Greensboro 6-10pm October 26th QPOCC General Assembly Meeting/ Potluck Brunch at 1507 Elwood Ave Greensboro, NC 27403 10am-noon NOVEMBER November 6th Queer Queens Meeting Glenwood Public Library, Greensboro 7-8:30pm Femme identified folks empowerment and support group. November 9th General Assembly Meeting/ Potluck Brunch at Glenwood Recreation Department, Greensboro 10am-noon.
November 10th QPOCC LGBTQ and Allies Family Fun Day at Airbound Trampoline Park!! Join US at Airbound Trampoline Park, Greensboro, 4215 High Point Rd, 2:305:30pm, $15.00/jumper Chosen family, bio family, coparents, village members and allies alike, ALL WELCOME TO Please arrive by 2:30 to sign waiver price is strictly for jumping 3-5. We will meet at the concession stand 5-5:30 afterwards. November 16th Queer People of Color Collective Community Art Show Art for show and sale, highlighting the talents of local, LGBTQ, people of color artists. CFBG, 930 South Chapman Street, Greensboro 5pm-8pm. November 20th Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil November 21st QPOCC host Sistah Sinema screening of Native American Queer Women short films Geeksboro Cinema, Greensboro at 9pm Online tickets $7.50 sold here: sistahsinena.greensboro.eventbrite.com Door tickets $10