LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER AND CEO
Dear Friends and Change-Makers,
As we gather here at the threshold of transformative change, I am thrilled to welcome each of you to a milestone event in our community’s journey—the 2024 BlaqOut Empowerment Summit. Today, we celebrate not just the power of visibility and voice but the audacious spirit of our Black queer and trans family whose resilience redefines the possible every day.
BlaqOut has always stood at the vanguard of advocacy and support for Black LGBTQ+ lives. Our mission is not just to respond but to revolutionize—to dismantle barriers, to amplify silenced voices, and to forge pathways of wellness and dignity that have long been denied. Our impact resonates in lives uplifted, rights secured, and health disparities bridged. We are here because we believe in a future where every Black queer and trans individual thrives in the fullness of their potential.
We are immensely honored to host Dr. Robyn Neblett Fanfair, a trailblazer in the realm of HIV prevention and a luminary in public health leadership, as our keynote speaker. Dr. Fanfair’s pioneering work has not only shaped policy but has ignited hope across communities vulnerable to HIV. She embodies the spirit of bold leadership and visible impact that BlaqOut prides itself on.
As you engage with the summit’s programming and connect with fellow visionaries, let each moment fuel your commitment to the cause. Today is about drawing strength from each other, challenging the status quo, and crafting a narrative of empowerment that echoes beyond these walls.
Thank you for standing with us. Together, let’s celebrate our achievements and ignite new fires of activism and advocacy. Let’s show the world the unstoppable force of unity and passion.
Here’s to making history—together.
With fiercest pride and deepest gratitude,
D. Rashaan Gilmore, Founder/President and CEO, BlaqOut
BLAQOUT’S IMPACT
PREP LEADERSHIP
• First to offer “1-Step PrEP” in the Kansas City Metro
• Missouri’s Largest TelePrEP Provider
• Top Provider of Sexual Wellness for Black LGBTQ+ People
• 96% PrEP Adherence Rate
PRIMARY CARE TRANSFORMATION
• Exclusive Whole Person Healthcare by and for Black LGBTQ+ People
• Pioneering New and Innovative Models of Direct Primary Care
• Novel Chronic Disease Management Tools and Support Groups
THE BLAQBOX: A SAFE SPACE AND MEDICAL HOME
• Kansas City’s First Permanent Safe Space for Black LGBTQ+ Community
• Host to Pioneering Events: Black Queer History Exhibits, Rainbow Tours, and More
ADVOCACY AT THE FOREFRONT
• First State Member of Equality Federation with Direct Healthcare Services
• Founders of the Black Queer Leadership Collective
• Leaders in HIV Decriminalization through the Vanguard HIV Policy Fellowship
RESEARCH INNOVATION
• Pioneers of the Vision 2020 Comprehensive Health Needs Assessment
• Expanding Groundbreaking Research to Multiple Major Cities in 2025
EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT PROGRAM
Registration and Lunch
Attendees are asked to go directly to the buffet line upon registration.
Master of Ceremonies
André D. Singleton
Co-Creator, The Very Black Project * * *
Welcome
BlaqOut 2025 and Beyond
Organizational Reflections, Updates, and Announcements
AIDS in KC
Documentary Film Screening
Keynote Address
Dr. Robyn Neblett Fanfair
Director, CDC Division of HIV Prevention
Give A F_ck Campaign Preview Trailer
Show Me: MO Power
Facilitated Talk Back Session with Black LGBTQ+ Community Leaders
Closing Remarks
D. Rashaan Gilmore
Founder/President and CEO, BlaqOut
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
ANDRÉ “BLOODSTONE” SINGLETON
André “Bloodstone” Singleton is an Oakland-based educator, human rights activist, and multi-disciplinary artist who was born in Kansas City, Missouri.
André is widely known as the co-creator of “The Very Black Project,” a popular social awareness initiative that celebrates the African Diaspora. He is part of a generation of pioneers who are committed to a mission of uniting people of all cultural backgrounds and helping others have a better understanding of each other.
Enduring a terminal illness and accepting his own sexuality empowered André
KEYNOTE
DR. ROBYN NEBLETT FANFAIR
CAPT Robyn Neblett Fanfair, MD, MPH serves as the Director of the Division of HIV Prevention, in the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention at CDC. In this role she provides scientific leadership and strategic direction to manage and coordinate the work of the Division to reduce new HIV infections, advance health equity, and improve the health of people with HIV.
Dr. Neblett Fanfair began her career as a HIV prevention researcher, clinician, and public health practitioner. As a CAPT in the United States Public Health Service, she has been active in preparedness and response, deploying to support emergency responses for Ebola, Zika, Hurricane Irma/Maria, and COVID-19.
A board-certified internist she serves as a primary care provider for veterans with HIV at the Atlanta VA Medical Center.
Dr. Neblett Fanfair received her B.A from Brown University, her M.D. from New York University School of Medicine, and her Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
REACH BEYOND
2025-2030 Purpose Plan
At BlaqOut, our work is fueled by more than just a vision—it’s driven by purpose. From our inception, we have always believed that serving the Black LGBTQ+ community requires more than good intentions; it demands a clear, actionable plan that aligns with our deepest commitments. That’s why we’ve crafted BlaqOut’s 2025-2030 Purpose Plan, known as REACH Beyond—a five-year road map that doesn’t just tell us where to go, but why we’re going there.
This Purpose Plan isn’t a standard strategic document. It’s a bold declaration of our intent to not only meet the needs of our community but to transform lives. While traditional strategic plans often focus on goals and steps, our Purpose Plan is anchored in the very essence of why BlaqOut exists. It’s a promise to deliver on our mission with passion, precision, and purpose. Accordingly, we’ve ensured that every aspect of this plan reflects the urgency and gravity of our mission at a time when there are growing challenges and complexities for those whom we are privileged to serve.
REACH Beyond is built on five powerful pillars: Research, Engagement, Advocacy, Care, and Housing. These pillars address the systemic inequalities that have long plagued our community and lay the foundation for creating spaces where Black LGBTQ+ individuals can thrive. Yet, we knew this wasn’t enough. To truly ensure our long-term impact, sustainability, and resilience we added a sixth pillar—Organizational Excellence. Together, these six pillars represent BlaqOut’s unyielding pursuit of equity in a landscape where the resistance is great, but our resolve is greater.
As we approach 2025, BlaqOut stands at a critical juncture and we are poised to make our most significant impact yet. The REACH Beyond Purpose Plan is not just a guide—it’s our unshakable commitment to lead with purpose, to innovate with courage, and to ensure that our vision becomes a lived reality. This plan is our promise: to push boundaries, to challenge the status quo, and to never settle for anything less than the transformative change our community deserves.
On the following pages, we invite you to learn more about the goals that inform and uphold each of the six pillars in BlaqOut’s REACH Beyond Purpose Plan.
PURPOSE AREA: RESEARCH
“Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.”
—Zora Neale Hurston
Priority Statement
Control our own destiny by producing and accessing community data to better understand ourselves, control our narrative, enhance our reach and funding efforts, and contribute to the larger body of scientific knowledge.
Goals
• Establish a nationally-renowned research center focused on the lives of Black LGBTQ+ people.
• Enhance Blaqout’s credibility, reach, and funding by leveraging data. Begin BlaqOut’s second research study to include multiple cities and states across the country.
BlaqOut’s roots lie in research. In fact, our journey began with groundbreaking research in 2017 when we embarked on an unprecedented community health needs assessment, diving deep into the heart of our community’s most pressing issues and potential solutions.
Seven years later, our commitment to Community-Based/Engaged Participatory Research (CBPR) remains unwavering, driving not just immediate impacts but creating lasting, transformative change. At BlaqOut, research is more than a methodology—it’s a pathway to empowerment, equity, and enduring transformation.
“I firmly believe that research is not just a part of what we do—it is the bedrock of our entire organization and is foundational to who we are. Our work is grounded in the real-life experiences and needs of those we serve, recognizing the community as a valued social and cultural asset.”
—D. Rashaan Gilmore, BlaqOut Founder/President and CEO
PURPOSE AREA: ENGAGEMENT
“We need to go back to real community engagement that sees us as people. We need to take back our lives by engaging our families and educating our communities.”
—Beverley Ditsie
Priority Statement
Build and foster meaningful relationships with Kansas City’s Black LGBTQ+ communities to address the lack of safe space and create a sense of community.
Goals
• Develop and host culturally relevant gatherings, events, and programming to promote a sense of community, safety, and solidarity for the Black LGBTQ+ community and our allies in Kansas City and beyond.
• Maintain a permanent, physical safe space that the Black LGBTQ+ community can call home.
Missed the point entirely! BlaqOut is of the community, not just another clinic in the community. While advancing healthcare access for Black LGTBQ+ people will always be paramount to our mission, we believe our connection to community runs deeper than finger pricks and test results—that’s why engagement exists at the core of our work.
Through our engagement efforts, we’ve created a vibrant community hub where acceptance, support, and empowerment flourish. Building and fostering meaningful relationships to create a sense of community and address the lack of safe space for Black LGBTQ+ people is the cornerstone of BlaqOut’s model— everything else is icing on the top.
“Engagement is the conduit through which we do everything. We want you to know, feel, and believe that BlaqOut is a safe space for you.”
—Tusday Dudley, BlaqOut Chief of Staff
PURPOSE AREA: ADVO CACY
“People did not really need to be led; they needed to be given the skills, information, and opportunity to lead themselves.” —Ella Baker
Priority Statement
Ensure legal protections, health equity, and equal opportunities for the Black LGBTQ+ community.
Goals
• Establish BlaqOut as the leading voice on policy issues affecting the Black LGBTQ+ community in Kansas City and beyond.
• Build political power for the Black LGBTQ+ community in Kansas City and beyond.
• Leverage our political power to influence change for the Black LGBTQ+ community in Kansas City and beyond.
BlaqOut was founded with the understanding that Black queer people deserve to have a voice about our own health and safety. With the introduction of at least 510 anti-LGBTQ+ bills across the U.S. in 2023 and the pre-filing of more than 20 bills aimed at restricting LGBTQ+ rights and diversity efforts ahead of the 2024 legislative session, we recognized the urgent need to explore a focus area that, while new in its formalization, has always been embedded in the heart of BlaqOut’s mission: advocacy.
This year, BlaqOut established the Black Queer Leadership Collective (BQLC), an advocacy program convening Kansas City’s diverse Black LGBTQ+ leaders to unite the voices, experiences, and expertise of Black queer and trans individuals and address the unique challenges that we alone face. By giving voice to some of the most marginalized in our community, our advocacy efforts help ensure not only that these communities aren’t forgotten but that they are empowered to take control of their own lives and futures.
“Where other LGBTQ+ leadership platforms have historically co-opted or excluded Black leadership, we started by creating our own platform.”
—Devin Hursey, BlaqOut Manager of Public Policy and Advocacy
PURPOSE AREA: CULTU RE OF CARE
“When you are doing something that is right, you just do it and take care... Someone has to do this.”
—Alice Nkom
Priority Statement
Transform Black LGBTQ+ health care delivery resulting in measurable improvement in health outcomes.
Goals
• Understand and provide what is necessary for the overall health and well-being of the Black LGBTQ+ community in Kansas City and beyond.
• Implement a scalable and replicable medical home model for the Black LGBTQ+ community in Kansas City and beyond.
• Ensure each BlaqOut member has a novel, elevated, and enhanced experience.
If research is BlaqOut’s foundation and engagement is our cornerstone, the heart of BlaqOut’s work is our Culture of Care. We remain keenly aware of the systemic barriers Black patients continually face each day in America. Our Culture of Care transforms Black LGBTQ+ healthcare delivery and outcomes by prioritizing the holistic health and wellbeing of our community, innovating unique models of care, and optimizing the experience for the people we serve.
Further, our Culture of Care completely reimagines the conventional healthcare experience down to the language we use to describe our stakeholders. Within BlaqOut’s Culture of Care, there are no patients or clients—only members who maintain ownership and representation in the vision and work that we do.
At BlaqOut, not only do providers deliver top-notch medical care, they go above and beyond to make our members feel seen and valued by listening—really listening—to their health concerns, respecting their identities, and understanding their experiences.
“Access and affordability by themselves are not enough. The quality of care itself is just as important as the ethos within which that care is provided. BlaqOut’s Culture of Care ends the days of feeling like a number and not being heard regarding your health and overall wellbeing.”
—Shannon Hoskins,
BlaqOut Director of Member Care and Clinical Innovation
PURPOSE AR EA: HOUSING
The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go and not be questioned.”
—Maya Angelou
Priority Statement
Establish safe housing options for the Black LGBTQ+ community to create wealth and promote health and wellness.
Goals
• Create secure housing as a cornerstone of wealth creation, housing stability, and overall wellness, for the Black LGBTQ+ community and our allies in Kansas City and beyond.
For Black LGBTQ+ people, the intersection of racial and sexual identity magnifies the vulnerabilities that often become underlying causes of poor health outcomes. Disproportionately affected by homelessness and housing insecurity, Black LGBTQ+ community faces a higher risk of violence, discrimination, and mental health challenges. The urgent need for tailored housing solutions for Black LGBTQ+ individuals led BlaqOut to defining a critical pillar of our strategic vision: housing.
BlaqOut’s housing ambition seeks to be more than a program—it aims to be a sanctuary and a stepping stone to financial independence. By providing safe, affirming, and sustainable living environments, our aim is to empower community members to thrive, not just survive. BlaqOut’s approach integrates support services that address our community’s unique needs, promoting resilience and community building, while also focusing on enabling home ownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty and build generational wealth.
“BlaqOut believes that people deserve a home to truly call their own, a place to find refuge and serenity among life’s daily challenges. As housing becomes increasingly unattainable for many, we seek to help our community not only obtain safe housing, but also to take ownership and pride in a space with immediate and future health and financial benefits.”
—Tanya
Carson, BlaqOut Director of Donor Impact
PURPOSE AREA: ORGANIZATI ONAL EXCELLENCE
“Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible.”
—Ronnie Oldham
Priority Statement
Enable BlaqOut to dismantle oppressive systems, improve health outcomes, and consistently deliver high quality services that enhance the lives of Black LGBTQ+ people and our allies.
Goals
• Cultivate a high-functioning team that leverages human capital and technology to achieve BlaqOut’s priorities.
As members of a community whose identities converge at a variety of intersections—Black, queer, trans, non-binary, etc.—we know that sometimes not everything fits neatly in an expected package. The five purpose areas of BlaqOut 2025-2030 Purpose Plan coincidentally form the acronym REACH; however, there’s a sixth purpose area that not only underscores BlaqOut’s commitment to serving our community but makes it possible: organizational excellence.
There’s no denying that most nonprofit organizations do incredible work to uplift their causes, communities, and constituencies. Despite that good and vital work, nonprofits often lack the business acumen to make them viable and sustainable. Numerous reasons exist to explain why many nonprofits don’t have the necessary knowledge, skills, and capacity to fulfill their missions—chief among them is money. However, without these resources, the end result is the same: organizations die, leaving their communities without the critical support services they need.
That’s why organizational excellence represents such a key component of BlaqOut’s Purpose Plan. We don’t want to be another flash in the pan. We intend to be here for decades to come so we can work towards fulfilling our critical mission of improving the lives and wellbeing of the Black LGBTQ+ community.
Organizational excellence is the foundation that will enable us to dismantle oppressive systems, improve health outcomes, and consistently deliver services that enhance the lives of Black LGBTQ+ people and their allies. We achieve this by creating operational efficiency, developing processes for growth and expansion, building cross-functional teams, and joyfully engaging best practices. By focusing on long-term sustainability and the strategic use of social enterprises, we ensure our mission’s impact and financial resilience.
“Organizational Excellence is the ‘beyond’ in BlaqOut’s Purpose Plan. It’s BlaqOut’s commitment to ensuring we have the appropriate processes, systems, tools, and people in place to carry out the work effectively in order to guarantee our long-term efficiency, functionality, and sustainability.”
—Tusday Dudley, BlaqOut Chief of Staff
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”
—Frederick Douglass
entrepreneurial providers with a passion for serving diverse communities apply at Blaqout.org/careers
As BlaqOut expands our services to continue transforming healthcare delivery and outcomes for Black LGBTQ+ people, we’re seeking an additional provider to join our team! But we’re not looking for just any provider. We’re looking for someone with a unique desire to be a part of building something that does not exist: Kansas City’s first medical home for the Black LGBTQ+ community.
All Missouri-licensed MDs, DOs, NPs, and PAs should apply. why choose Blaqout?
• Employer-sponsored insurance (medical, dental, vision, and life)
• Two weeks PTO (minimum)
• Remote Monday workdays
• 45-minute member (patient) appointments
• $2,500 education allowance
• 8 hours of weekly administrative time
• 500-600 member (patient) panel
• Great work/life balance
• Fun atmosphere
• Unlimited snacks
• Untraditional office space
BRIDGE GAPS.
INSPIRE ACTION.
COLLECTIVE BLACK LEADERSHIP QUEER
KANSAS CITY
Are you an established or emerging leader that identifies as Black AND LGBTQ+? Are you committed to leading the cause for change?
Join the Black Queer Leadership Collective (BQLC), a dynamic assembly of Black LGBTQ+ leaders dedicated to uniting the voices, experiences, and expertise of Black queer and trans individuals in Kansas City and addressing the unique challenges that we alone face!
Contact BlaqOut Manager of Public Policy and Advocacy Devin Hursey at heydevin@blaqout.org with questions.
About Us
BlaqOut has solidified a place as a disruptive innovator in the field of HIV testing and prevention, telehealth, and PrEP/ PEP access since our founding in 2017. By focusing on improving healthcare access and wellness outcomes for the most marginalized, BlaqOut has created new pathways to better care for our core membership, Kansas City’s Black, LGBTQ+ community and is now able to serve everyone in need of our easily accessible, no-cost services.
Mission Statement
BlaqOut’s mission is to create a community where Black people of queer and trans experience and their allies are connected and supported, have access to safe spaces, and enjoy sufficient resources to help them thrive.
We Believe
We believe that to turn the tide against the HIV epidemic and improve overall health outcomes, grassroots and indigenously-led efforts originating from those most-affected must be given the opportunity to succeed. It is essential that we begin to deploy revolutionary, evidenced-based, and out-of-the-box models to effectively support Black LGBTQ+ people, especially those living with HIV. We recognize how stigma, discrimination and medical mistrust act as tremendous barriers to good health for many Black LGBTQ+ people. And we want to do something about it.
Our Approach
BlaqOut has adopted a holistic approach that aims to look at all aspects of the lives of Black LGBTQ+ people. Accordingly, in all of our activities a conscious effort is made not to problematize the Black LGBTQ+ community by having a singular focus on disease (HIV/AIDS). We approach Black LGBTQ+ people and their lives with a solution-oriented focus that raises awareness of the myriad of health issues impacting our community and offers participants the opportunity to begin developing realistic strategies to combat these issues effectively.
Stay Connected
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates on our progress and a behind-the-scenes look into the world of BlaqOut. Our handle is the same across all social platforms: @blaqoutkc. Learn more about BlaqOut at our website blaqout.org, or email us at hello@blaqout.org
Partner With Us
We are always interested in exploring new collaborative possibilities that are rooted in equity, mutuality, and sustainability. We would love to learn your organization’s ideas on how we can partner to further benefit the Black LGBTQ+ community. As the first stage of our vetting process, please email your ideas to community@blaqout.org. Organizations that meet our top-line criteria will be invited to submit in the second stage of our evaluation.
Let’s improve health outcomes for Black LGBTQ+ people together!
Donate Today
Please consider taking your support to the next level by making a donation at blaqout.org/donate! Whether you choose to make a one-time donation or a recurring monthly gift, your financial contribution makes a profound impact and
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Empowerment Summit Sponsors
Health Forward Foundation
KC CARE Health Center
University Health
University of Kansas Medical Center, Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
University of Kansas Medical Center, Center for African American Health
ViiV Healthcare
BlaqOut Staff
D. Rashaan Gilmore
Devin Hursey
Mathew Davis
Reginald Fears, M.D.
Shannon Hoskins
Tanya Carson
Tusday Dudley
BlaqOut LEAD Fellows
Fawn Lies
Freddie Dolphus
Nasir Montalvo
Program Design
Messenger Ink
