2000-2010Building the Leadership and Power of LGBTQ Youth of Color

 PROGRAM GUIDE FIERCE Mission FIERCE is a membership-based organization building the leadership and power of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth of color in . We develop politically conscious leaders who are invested in improving ourselves and our communities through youth-led campaigns, leadership development programs, and cultural expression through arts and media. FIERCE is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of social justice movement leaders who are dedicated to ending all forms of oppression. History Fabulous Independent Educated Radicals for Community Empowerment (FIERCE) was founded in 2000 by a group of primarily LGBTQ youth of color. FIERCE was founded on the principle that LGBTQ youth must realize and manifest our own social and political power to change our conditions, to shape our futures, and to become effective agents of change in our communities. While many organizations provide opportunities for LGBTQ youth to access services, none serve as a city-wide avenue for LGBTQ youth to direct our own social change agendas. FIERCE continues to serve as one of the nation’s few whose mission is to engage LGBTQ youth of color in community organizing. Why FIERCE? Why Now? FIERCE came about ten years ago because there was no organization in New York City poised to respond to the urgent needs of LGBTQ youth, who are more often perceived and treated like victims or criminals in many of the institutions that are mandated to serve us. While many organizations provide opportunities for youth to become involved in community organizing, none serve as a citywide avenue for LGBTQ youth to direct our own social change agendas. Organizations whose focus is primarily LGBTQ youth tend to do service-oriented programming. FIERCE was founded on the principle that LGBTQ youth must realize and manifest our own social and political power to change our conditions, to shape our futures, and to become effective agents of change in our communities. FIERCE continues to serve as one of the nation’s few whose mission is to engage LGBTQ youth in community organizing (as opposed to advocacy or direct services). Our unique contribution is our focus on collective action through leadership development and base-building with some of the most marginalized youth in New York City: primarily low-income and homeless LGBTQ youth of color.

 Building the Leadership & Power of LGBTQ Youth of Color: FIERCE Celebrates Ten Years 2000-2010

On behalf of FIERCE Youth Membership, Board of Directors and Staff: Welcome to FIERCE’s 10th Anniversary Gay-la Extravaganza! Tonight, we celebrate 10 years of FIERCE, and as we look back, we recall the thousands of people who have been part of building this amazing organization. As an active FIERCE member, I can’t tell you how many people have told me that they are FIERCE supporters. I’ve met countless member alumni and several former staff and board. So many people have been touched by FIERCE over the past decade and have helped it grow into the strong organization we all know today. FIERCE is covered in our fingerprints and our love.

From our radical LGBTQ youth of color members and fabulous alumni, to die-hard allies, a super supportive staff, incredible donors, and amazing former and current board members: we have all played a part in making FIERCE a safe space where LGBTQ youth of color can build our power and exercise it... FIERCELY. On behalf of the FIERCE Youth Members, Staff and Board, we thank you. We are thankful for all the people who came before us—those who laid the foundation on which FIERCE stands today. We look to our past to motivate our future, and we are lucky to be in a movement where we’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the most inspirational leaders of our time: Marsha P. Johnson, Regina Shavers, Willie Ninja, Bob Kohler and to name a few, and we know that the list is long.

We are grateful for those who support us and always have our backs. To our allies: thank you for standing in partnership with us as we work together to build a dynamic movement that is rooted in racial, economic, and gender justice and that fights for the liberation of all our communities. To our donors: thank you for believing in the power of youth-led grassroots organizing and for your deep commitment to sustain the work of LGBTQ youth members.

As an Active Youth Member, I’m forever grateful to my fellow FIERCE members for working tirelessly to carry out the vision of this beautiful organization. Our membership base has grown steadily because of our sense of responsibility to bring our community into the fight for justice. As FIERCE member Rudy “Elegost” Rosado once said: “Base-building is the pulse of the organization, always flowing and strongly connected to the heart – our members.”

Over the past 10 years, FIERCE has inspired LGBTQ youth of color to fight for our community and demand justice. It has given us the tools and the space to grow our political consciousness, deepen our skills as organizers, make friends we’ll have forever, and become lifelong social justice movement leaders. Very few spaces give young, trans and queer folks of color the chance to show our creativity, leadership and style, while also empowering us to create solutions to our problems and make changes that impact the day-to-day lives of everyone in our community

FIERCE is an organization made by us, for us—where we organize to change the conditions that the rest of the world tells us we cannot overcome: homelessness, racism, police harassment, transphobic and homophobic violence, ageism and gentrification. Every day, we prove those haters wrong. Every day, we work to create our new world, and we do that standing side-by-side, in solidarity with all of you. In the spirit of Stonewall: The REBELLION IS NOT OVER! Thank you for being here to celebrate this historic milestone with us. With love, Ash Hammond FIERCE Active Youth Member Welcome to FIERCE’s 10th Anniversary Gay-la Extravaganza! Thursday, 13 of May, Two-thousand Ten | Highline Ballroom | New York, NY 6-7:30pm Pink Carpet Celebration Program 6:00pm FIERCE Reunion Mingle with FIERCE members, alumni, founders, staff, board, and supporters FIERCE Art Gallery Walk & Interactive Art Projects Complimentary hors d’oeuvres & Cash Bar 6:30pm Reflections on the Past 10 Years of LGBTQ Youth Organizing at FIERCE Welcome Kimberley Armstrong & John Blasco FIERCE member & Gay-la Youth Fellow & FIERCE Organizer

“If No One Will Listen” Performed by FIERCE member Joseph Lee Edward Written by Keri Noble

Appreciations Veronica Tirado, ‘Stitch’ Jeff Frank Barua-Valverde,Chris Baez, & Rickke Mananzala FIERCE members & FIERCE Executive Director

Reflections Jesse Ehrensaft-Hawley, Bran Fenner, Krystal Portalatin FIERCE Co-Founders

“Superwoman” Performed by FIERCE member Felicia Paris Written by Alicia Keys, Linda Perry, and Steve Mostyn

Reflections Justin Rosado, Rudy “Elegost” Rosado, Cheyenne Rosado FIERCE alumni and current members

Multi-media Slide Show Produced by FIERCE member Media Crew

Spoken Word Written & Performed by Desireé Marshall FIERCE Lead Organizer

Close Michael Owens, Ash Hammond, Raquel Laviña, & Ellen “Manny” Vaz FIERCE members, FIERCE Board member, & FIERCE Communications Director 8-11pm FIERCE Night Out! Concert Featuring Performances by Meshell Ndegeocello, Toshi Reagon & BIGLovely with Fred Cash, Adam Widoff, Judith Casselberry, Allison Miller, Gina Breedlove, Marcelle Davies Lashley & Joseph Magistro, Staceyann Chin, House of LaDosha, FIERCE Member Beau, John Blasco Testimony by FIERCE Alumni June Brown Hosted by Micia Mosely 11:00pm AFTER GLOW Presented by FIERCE in association with UBIQUITA WORLDWIDE Featuring Legendary DJ Bill Coleman, DJ RIMARKABLE, & Dj.shErOck.  PERFORMERS Meshell Ndegeocello 10 time Grammy nominee, Meshell Ndegeocello, is a renowned bassist/singer/songwriter who has collaborated with The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Sting, John Mellencamp, Mos Def, Herbie Hancock and many, many more. Combined sales of Meshell’s albums total nearly 1 million copies in the US alone. Meshell released her 8th album, Devil’s Halo, on October 6, 2009 on Mercer Street / Downtown Music (David Gray, Ozomatli, Femi Kuti). Canonized, marginalized or just scrutinized, Meshell Ndegeocello has given up with the politics of explaining herself. After 20 years in an industry that has called her everything from avant garde to a dying breed, what

Photo: Mark Seliger unquestionably remains is the fearsome bassist, prolific songwriter and the creativity and curiosity of an authentic musical force. With that, she has earned critical acclaim, the unfailing respect of fellow players, songwriters and composers, and the dedication of her diverse, unclassifiable fans. For the sake of setting the record straight, a few brass tacks remain: Meshell was born in Germany, raised in DC, signed at 23, and has been nominated for 10 Grammy awards. www.meshell.com

Staceyann Chin Staceyann Chin is a fulltime writer and activist. She is the recipient of the 2007 Power of the Voice Award from The Human Rights Campaign, the 2008 Safe Haven Award from Immigration Equality, the 2008 Honors from the Lesbian AIDS Project, and the 2009 New York State Senate Award. She unapologetically identifies as Caribbean and Black, Asian and lesbian, woman and resident of New York City. A proud Jamaican National, Staceyann’s voice was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, where she spoke candidly about her experiences of growing up on the island and the dire consequences of her coming-out there. Widely known as co-writer and original performer in the Tony award winning, Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway, her poetry has seen the rousing cheers of the Nuyorican Poets’ Café, on e-woman shows Off-Broadway, and writing-workshops in Sweden, South Africa, and Australia. Chin’s three one-woman shows, HANDS AFIRE, UNSPEAKABLE THINGS, and BORDER/CLASH all opened to rave reviews at the Culture Project in NYC. Be it on “60 Minutes,” or in the New York Times, Staceyann has a reputation for telling it exactly like it is. Staceyann is the author of the memoir, The Other Side of Paradise, published by Scribner. Simon and Schuster, Inc. www.staceyannchin.com

House of LaDosha The House of LaDosha is a family act that performs a dark/crunk plethora of music. It consists of Dosha Devastation (Antonio Blair), Cunty Crawford LaDosha (Adam Radakovich), and Golisha Nomi Simone LaDosha (Ojay Morgan). They draw inspiration from such things as Paris Is Burning, popular culture, fashion icons, female rap artists, and gay city living. The entire concept is an art performance composed Santiago Felipe of deeply saturated sounds and visuals. It is fun, high energy, sexual, and sometimes frightening. Definitely

Photo: a spectacle not to be missed. GET INTO HUH!!! http://www.myspace.com/houseofladosha

DJ Bill Coleman Superstar DJ Bill Coleman has enjoyed 23 years in the music business and 29 years of DJ-ing (from cradle to turntable...) Bill’s diverse experience and musical expertise makes him a mad scientist of the music world. He plays for and with the crowd, always gauging the response that his listeners are giving Karl Giant back — and give back you will when DJ Bill Coleman is in charge! www.peacebisquit.com Photo:  PERFORMERS Toshi Reagon & BIGLovely Toshi Reagon is a talented, versatile singer, songwriter and musician with a profound ear for sonic Americana- -from folk to funk, from blues to rock. She masters each of these genres with vocal strategies that easily spiral and swoop from the expressively sinuous to the hard-charging, a combination of warmth and mischief. While her expansive career & diverse stylings have landed her comfortably at Carnegie Hall, the Paris Opera House & Madison Square Garden, you can just as easily find her turning out a music festival, intimate venue or local club. Toshi finds home on any musical stage. Toshi has had the pleasure of working with Lenny Kravitz, Lizz Wright, Ani Difranco, Carl Hancock Rux, Nona Hendrix, Pete Seeger, Chocolate Genius & many other

Photo: Sharon Farmer amazing artists, including her favorite collaborator, her mom, Bernice Johnson Reagon. Toshi Reagon knows the power of song to focus, unite and mobilize people. If you’ve been lucky enough to be in Toshi’s presence, you know you can’t walk away from her without feeling better about yourself as a human being. She aims for nothing less. Toshi has been the recipient of a NYFA award for Music Composition, a Peabody award, The Black Lily Music and Film Festival Award for Outstanding Performance. She is a National Women’s History Month Honoree, and is the 2010 recipient of OutMusic’s Heritage Award.... plus Toshi loves FIERCE! www.toshireagon.com

DJ RIMARKABLE Redefining the word “remix”, Mariaelena “RiRi” Garcia, aka DJ Rimarkable is a renaissance woman indeed. A vocalist, lyricist, drummer, producer and DJ, her multiple talents have taken her to many stages. Truly mastering the DJ technique of “Reading the Crowd”, she has earned the moniker, “Rimarkable” after rocking international dance floors for more than 13 years. She is a member of the all female-DJ squad Ubiquita NYC, tour DJ for Deb Botkin hip-hop artist Invincible and a producer/recording artist on legendary DJ/Scholar, Bobbito Garcia aka Kool Bob

Photo: Love’s record label, Alala Recordings. http://www.facebook.com/djrimarkable

Dj.shErOck* A native of Los Angeles currently living in New York, Dj.shErOck began her career in music as a singer/songwriter, and dancer. Now taking a hiatus from performing her own music due to her desire to only work with the best producers, Dj.shErOck has found a creative outlet in the art of dj’ing. For Dj.shErOck dj’ing is a great way to express her passion for music. Dj.shErOck has residencies in some of New York’s hottest spots. A weekly event “Eden”, at R BAR, The Standard Grill, Los Dados Restaurant and the monthly party “In the Mood”, with Talib Kweli, and D.J. Eque. In addition to her residencies, she is also apart of the Ubiquita NYC’s The Ladies Of Ubiquita. Dj.shErOck spins a collective mix of world music, soulful house, eccentric dance beats, tribal beats, rock ‘n’ roll, hip hop, reggae and underground tracks, consistently keeping herself aware of what is new and hot in music, and adding her unique touch to every set she plays. http://djsherock.com/

DJ Tikka Masala DJ Tikka runs That’s My Jam with Trent Brooks, DJ’s at the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, The Bell House, that hot loft/basement/warehouse party you were at last weekend, and assorted venues across New York City and Brooklyn. The mix includes music from all the different places she’s lived—from India to NJ to Oakland and now Brooklyn. Tikka Masala has been seen on stages, or rocking afterparties for Toshi Reagon, Meshell N’Degeocello, Talib Kweli, DJ Premier, Jean Grae, MC Lyte, Pharoahe Monch, TV on the Radio, The Gossip, Murray Hill, and the list goes on. After 5 years of non-stop DJ-ing in NYC and Brooklyn’s hottest clubs, Tikka settled down to create That’s My Jam,

Allison Michael Orenstein possibly Brooklyn’s largest mixed queer dance party, with Trent Brooks. http://djtikka.com/ Photo:  FIERCE Accomplishments

Leadership Development: FIERCE has intensively trained over 250 LGBTQ youth of color leaders through the Education for Liberation Project (ELP). Our leaders have inspired thousands of homeless and low-income LGBTQ youth in New York City into collective action. Many of our members have gone on to become leaders and organizers in other multi-generational social justice organizations in New York City and across the country.

Base-building: FIERCE has reach thousands of homeless and low-income youth, many of whom have become members, making FIERCE one of the only membership-led organizations of LGBTQ youth of color in the United States. FIERCE’s growing membership base and leadership development efforts made it possible for FIERCE to leverage our crucial campaign victories over the last ten years. Our current membership base exceeds 1,200 youth, making FIERCE one of the largest membership-led youth organizations in the country.

Campaign Development: FIERCE has prevented the displacement of LGBTQ youth of color in historically safe spaces in the West Village, particularly the Christopher St. Pier, amidst rapid redevelopment in the neighborhood. Our efforts have also ensured that more City resources are directed specifically to the needs of homeless and low- income LGBTQ youth. Our campaign victories over the years have proven that FIERCE has built sufficient power to impact public policy and the allocation of City funding.  FIERCE Campaigns

Safe Spaces Saves Lives Campaign FIERCE launched the Safe Space Saves Lives Campaign in 2005 to ensure that the needs of LGBTQ youth of color were not forgotten in the wake of developments on the Pier. FIERCE demanded that Community Board 2, the Hudson River Park Trust, and West Village residents acknowledge that LGBTQ youth of color are an important and long-standing part of the West Village community and to allow for their voices to be heard in the pier development process. The campaign has been endorsed by 21 LGBTQ organizations across NYC and hundreds of individuals from New York City and across the country. Accomplishments of the Safe Space Saves Lives Campaign include:  Eliminating a $25,000 fee charged to mobile service vans doing outreach on the pier  Stopping the proposal to shut down the pier at 10pm  Preventing the barricading of LGBTQ youth from Christopher Street at 1am  Securing LGBTQ programming on the pier, including the first-ever Global Warming Ball that drew over 500 LGBTQ youth and featured performances by Vogue Evolution. This year, FIERCE secured more free programming on the pier, including LGBTQ film series, health/wellness programs for LGBTQ youth, an artistic night and second annual ball. Our S.P.O.T. Campaign In June 2007, FIERCE launched its newest and most ambitious campaign to date. Our Safe Place to Organize Together (S.P.O.T.) Campaign is working to establish a 24-hour LGBTQ youth center on Pier 40. Through consistent attendance at Community Board 2 meetings and building relationships with LGBTQ organizations and West Village residents, FIERCE has achieved significant accomplishments around Pier 40’s redevelopment, including:  June 2007: Campaign demands were supported by the Pier 40 Working Group and Community Board 2 Waterfront Committee  March 2008: Defeated proposal for privately developed mega-entertainment complex dubbed Vegas on the Hudson  January 2008: Developed a plan for a 24-hour LGBTQ youth center on Pier 40  March 2009: Released policy recommendations to keep the piers a safe space for the surrounding community, while also increasing the voice and power of the community in decision-making processes. Our White Paper: Expanding Access to Public Space at the Hudson River Park provides guiding principles for making changes to the Hudson River Park Act.  September 2009: Voted by the Hudson River Part Trust (HRPT) Advisory Council members to be an organizational member in the Council; HRPT Board officially approved the Advisory Council’s recommendation in December 2009  October 2009: Appointed to the NYC Commission for LGBTQ Runaway and Homeless Youth. FIERCE National Program: In 2009, FIERCE launched a National Program to support LGBTQ youth organizing and LGBTQ youth leadership in broader social justice movement-building efforts. On February 3, 2010, FIERCE hosted a daylong organizing summit at the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force’s Creating Change Conference in Dallas, Texas. The summit worked to build the grassroots organizing skills of 30 LGBTQ youth of color from across the country who increasingly face homelessness, lack of safe public space, and violence. FIERCE also released Coming Out, Stepping Up: Organizing to build the power of LGBTQ Youth—a new national report on the state of LGBTQ youth organizing and recommendations for how to build a more strategic and powerful LGBTQ youth movement that is for and by LGBTQ youth.  From the Executive Director

Dear FIERCE community: Thank you so much for joining us tonight to honor 10 years of organization that has changed so many lives. You all have been so integral to FIERCE’s successes. Celebrating a decade of building power and creating change is truly the culmination of people like you who have made FIERCE the vital community organization it is today. Thank you for your commitment to supporting the leadership and power of LGBTQ youth of color.

I want to share some important updates about my work with FIERCE with you. This Fall, after more than six years on the FIERCE staff, I will be transitioning out of my current role as Executive Director. I am excited about this upcoming change because I will be exploring new ways that I can contribute to the social justice movement. I am also looking forward to my transition because it will create openings for other young people to take on new forms of leadership in the organization. I am thankful for the experience I had growing into my current role and for the opportunity I was given to deepen my ability to lead. I am eager to support the next phase of young leadership in the organization, and I am confident that FIERCE is in strong position to uphold our long-standing commitment to support the next generation of social justice movement leaders.

I have learned so much from working at FIERCE and I have treasured my time here. I first joined the FIERCE staff as Campaign Coordinator in 2004. In the Fall of 2006 I joined FIERCE Co-Founder, Bran Fenner, as Co-Director. In January 2008, I took on the role of Executive Director. Looking back on my past six years at FIERCE, I am fortunate to have been a part of so much growth alongside many of you here tonight. Our membership base has grown from a few hundred youth to well over a thousand members; our leadership development programs have trained over 250 committed social justice movement leaders; and our campaigns have won many concrete improvements for our communities. Our three-year strategic plan (2009 - 2012) is right on track, with one of the most exciting highlights being the launch of our new national program through which we will expand the presence of youth organizing as a strategy for change amongst LGBTQ youth organizations across the country. The FIERCE staff has grown from three to six full-time staff, half of whom have come directly from our membership. Our fundraising strategies, financial management systems, and infrastructure are just as strong as our programs. The strength of FIERCE at this current moment is truly a reflection of our connection to our community, our commitment to movement-building, and the dedication of our members, staff, and close allies.

I often wonder how different my teenage years would have been if FIERCE were around when I was going through many of the challenges our members face today. Feeling isolated and powerless when it came to the injustices I faced was what eventually landed me where I needed to be all along: the social justice movement. I did not have access to a community organization like FIERCE to transform my isolation and anger into action and empowerment. However, it has been so wonderful to be a part of an organization that serves that exact purpose for so many incredible youth across New York City. My most memorable experiences have been the moments where our members do not accept their pain as deserved or inevitable, when they realize their power. It takes a lot of courage to take risks, to demand what is right for ourselves and our communities in the face of massive obstacles. I had profound experiences like that every day at FIERCE, experiences which I will never forget.

To the current and former members, staff, Board, allies, foundation supporters, and donors: I cannot thank you enough for the many years of guidance, joy, and fabulousness. In my future work, I can only hope to be surrounded by people who are as wonderful as the ones I worked with while I was at FIERCE. I know that you will all give FIERCE’s future staff, members, and Board the same enthusiasm and support that you have offered me. My hope is that you will remain actively involved in supporting FIERCE as members, allies, and donors during the transition and in the years to come.

Once again, thanks to all of you for being a part of building this incredible organization. I look forward to joining you as a FIERCE supporter in the next decade. Happy 10th anniversary, FIERCE!

With deep appreciation, Rickke Mananzala  Who is FIERCE?  From the Executive Director Meet some of our active members! Name: Ash Age: 22 Preferred Gender Pronoun: She, Her Active Member Since: March 2009 Committees: Campaign Steering Committee, National Committee, Media Crew, ELP Graduate Why am I involved with FIERCE? I am involved with FIERCE because I love the work that FIERCE does to keep the West Village a safe space for LGBTQ youth. I want to be part of that! I know what it’s like to have nowhere safe to be myself openly in the community. I grew up in another country where I had to live in the closet. When I came to New York, I could be much more free. I want to protect that freedom from threats like police harassment and privatization. If I were an animal I would be a...lioness because I am loyal and strong.

Name: Chey Age: 19 Preferred Gender Pronoun: She, Her Active Member Since: January 2009 Committees: Campaign Steering Committee, Media Crew, ELP Graduate

Why am I involved with FIERCE? I am a member of FIERCE because as an LGBTQ youth, I see my community going through hard times and struggling to be accepted. FIERCE is all about empowering youth, giving us the knowledge and skills to become leaders. I’m a member because I want to be a leader and make a difference within my community. If I were an animal I would be a...SHARK!!!! They are extraordinary, strong and intelligent animals.

Name: Chris B Age: 23 Preferred Gender Pronoun: Mr., He Active Member Since: September 2008 Committees: Campaign Steering Committee, Media Crew, ELP Graduate, ELP Mentor Why am I involved with FIERCE? FIERCE represents open-mindedness and the power to fight for the rights of the LGBTQ community. It is truly a member-based and led organization that unifies, educates and helps young people! I am dedicated to social justice and making sure that my community is properly advocated for and represented. I will fight for equality and equal access for brighter future! If I were an animal I would be a…chameleon because they have the ability to be versatile and adjust to their environment.

Name: Elegost Age: 21 Preferred Gender Pronoun: He, Him Active Member Since: January 2009 Committees: Outreach Team, Media Crew, National Committee, ELP Graduate Why am I involved with FIERCE? I became involved with FIERCE because I heard about FIERCE when I was younger from my older brother, Justin, who was a member. I became aware of the work that FIERCE was doing, so I signed up as a member. I stay involved now because FIERCE is a rare organization in the larger queer movement and because it has queer youth of color leading ourselves. If I were an animal I would be...a Phoenix (even though it’s a mythological creature) because I will never stay down, always rise up and do what I can and am able to do. FIERCE active members!

Name: Erem-Phoenix PGP: He, Him Age: 22 Active Member Since: September 2009 Committee: Media Crew Why am I involved with FIERCE? I Want to make A Change in the LGBTQ Youth of Color Community If I were an animal I would be...A Lone Wolf

Name: Francois Age: 20 Preferred Gender Pronoun: She, Her, Hers Active Member Since: May 2009 Committees: Media Crew, National Committee, ELP Graduate Why am I involved with FIERCE? I wanted to meet other queer people and I had nothing to do on the day of the new member orientation so I came through to it! I stayed in FIERCE because it opened my eyes to the changes that I and other LGBTQ youth can make in our present day. I stayed because I was taught and given tools to empower myself. Being educated through FIERCE makes me feel strong and incredibly lucky that I can live in this world and be conscientious of what’s happening and teach others to do the same. If I were an animal I would be a...sea otter!

Name: Glossy Age: 19 Preferred Gender Pronoun: He, Him Active Member Since: May 2009 Committees: Outreach Team, ELP Graduate, ELP Mentor Why am I involved with FIERCE? I am involved with FIERCE because I want to spread FIERCE’s work. I also want to help get a 24-hour LGBTQ Center on Pier 40. I believe we have so much potential of getting our point across. We are strong. If we come together anything is possible!!! If I could be anything I would be a...wishing star so I can have people making wishes on me. Then I can help make dreams come true! I love stars so much!

Name: Kimmie Age: 21 Preferred Gender Pronoun: She, Her Active Member Since: Summer of 2007 Committees: Outreach Team, Gay-la Youth Fellow, ELP Graduate Why am I involved with FIERCE? I am on the Outreach Team, and I love outreaching, letting other LGBTQ youth know what’s going on in our community! Being a member has taught me to push my growing edge and about the different aspects of community organizing. Changes need to be made in my community, and I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else to make the changes I want to see. FIERCE is more than an organization; FIERCE is my family. We teach each other so much. I feel like I’ve grown with the organization and am thankful for the all the experiences – the political conversations, going to rallies, creating change. If I were an animal I would be a...colorful, shiny, Teddy Bear! FIERCE active members!

Name: Myra Age: 19 Preferred Gender Pronoun: She, Her Active Member Since: October 2008 Committee: Outreach Team, ELP Graduate Why Am I Involved At FIERCE? I am involved at FIERCE because I believe in fighting for the rights of our community and LGBTQ youth like me so that we can get what we want and need and be treated just as equally as everyone else. I also enjoy being around other youth like myself. It feels great to be around these people because they aren’t just friends, they are my family. I’m learning a lot from them, they are very loving and supportive, and I don’t think I’d get this experience anywhere else. So I’m very grateful. If I were an animal I would be...I’d be a Guinea Pig. They are cute and small but they are very strong and they do what they have to do when it needs to be done.

Name: Stitch Age: 21 Preferred Gender Pronoun: He, Him Active Member Since: January 2009 Committees: Media Crew, ELP Graduate, ELP Mentor Why am I involved with FIERCE? I am involved with FIERCE because I want to be better involved in the LGBTQ community. I also want to enhance my leadership skills. If I were an animal I would be a...cat because I’m always curious.

Name: Veronica Age: 18 Preferred Gender Pronoun: She, Her Active Member Since: May 2009 Committees: Media Crew, National Committee, ELP Graduate, ELP Mentor Why am I involved with FIERCE? I decided to get involved with FIERCE because I was seeking a learning and exciting experience. FIERCE is a LGBTQ youth of color specific organization, which is very rare to come across. I just couldn’t pass on the opportunity to be a member. If I were an animal I would be a...bird because they get to soar within the skies and can oversee the world.

Name: Beau Age: 16 Preferred Gender Pronoun: He, Her Active Member since: March 2009 Committees: Outreach Team, ELP Graduate Why am I involved with FIERCE? I’ve been at FIERCE so far because I want to be active in the change. I want to see FIERCE make my desired changes occur without me being alone in this movement. If I were an animal I would be a...white tiger because they are rare and feisty. FIERCE Board of Directors FIERCE Staff J. Bob Alotta, Chair John Blasco, Organizer Andre Banks Emerson Brisbon, Leadership Development Associate Natalie Chin Rickke Mananzala, Executive Director Maya Iwata Desireé Marshall, Lead Organizer Naomi Jackson Krystal Portalatin, Youth Development/Operations Director Raquel Laviña, Treasurer Ellen “Manny” Vaz, Communications Director Thomas Jean Lax Micia Mosely Felicia Pless Karen D. Thompson, Secretary

FIERCE Gay-la Planning Committee Youth Members Myra Aguirre Angie Alphonso Special thanks to the following for your Kimberley Armstrong, Gay-la Youth Fellow contribution to the FIERCE Gay-la! Chris Baez All the FIERCE members, alumni, allies, and founders “Stitch” Jeff Frank Barua-Valverde who contributed their time and enthusiasm to making David “CC” the Gay-la possible. Joseph Edward Highline Ballroom Tyrell Gorton All the artists, speakers, and DJs Tatiana Hernandez Sholanda Ingram, Nursha Project Madel Hidalgo Christopher Chaput Tyler Blake Kim YK Hong Azreal Morales Harmony Goldberg Michael Owens Felicia Paris Cheyenne Rosado Rudy “Elegost” Rosado Veronica Tirado

FIERCE Supporters FIERCE would like to thank the following foundations for supporting our work: Arcus Foundation New World Foundation Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice New York Foundation Colin Higgins Foundation New York Women’s Foundation Cricket Island Foundation Paul Rapoport Foundation Dolphin Foundation Rockefeller Brothers Fund Hazen Foundation Stonewall Community Foundation Hill-Snowdon Foundation Surdna Foundation Jewish Fund for Justice Union Square Awards (A Project of the Tides Center) Merck Family Fund M & T Bank Charitable Foundation Many thanks to the hundreds of individual donors who sustain our critical work! FIERCE Thanks All of our GAY-LA Sponsors and Supporters GAY-LA SPONSORS Movement Shakers Mobilizers Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice Third Wave Foundation Jim Hawley & Diane Ehrensaft Community Builders Joanna Kent Katz National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Glenn Ligon The Door Felicia Pless Change Makers Community Voices Heard Thelma Golden Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing Ronak Kapadia & A. Naomi Jackson New York City AIDS Housing Network Luce Capco Lincoln & Yasmeen Perez Angie Alphonso Rickke Mananzala John Blasco Desiree Marshall Steve Brier & Julie List Nicki C. Marshall & Manny Vaz Emerson Brisbon Krystal Portalatin Nicole Davis & Colleen Heslin Glo Ross Jesse Ehrensaft-Hawley Karen Thompson HAYNES Daniel R Schaffer

ORGANIZATIONAL & COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS Callen-Lorde Community Health Center / The HOTT Program GOLES: Good Old Lower East Side Miami Workers Center Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project Audre Lorde Project North Star Fund New World Foundation Power U New York Foundation New York Women’s Foundation SONG: Southerners on New Ground Paul Rapoport Foundation Sylvia Rivera Law Project Rockefeller Brothers Fund Urban Justice Center Community Development Project Stonewall Community Foundation Men of All Color Together/NY Surdna Foundation FIST: Fight Imperialism, Stand Together Union Square Awards (A Project of the Tides Center) SUNY Downstate Medical Center: HEAT Program (Health and Education Alternatives for Teens) Elspeth Gilmore

Men of All Colors Together/New York congratulates FIERCE on its 10th anniversary! We’re exceptionally pleased to support a sister organization also dedicated to fighting racism, sexism and homophobia.

It is an honor to celebrate FIERCE’s ten year anniversary with to all of the amazing people who have made FIERCE fierce! – Jesse Ehrensaft-Hawley

Congratulations FIERCE! Thank you for showing us that we have nothing to lose but our chains. – With love, Yasmeen & Luce

Congratulations on 10 amazing years, FIERCE! We’re glad to be working with you in the struggle. – Community Voices Heard

Congratulations FIERCE on 10 years of ass-kicking organizing! Can’t wait to celebrate 10 more. – Nicole Davis

Proud to work for the FIERCE!est people in the world. – Karen Thompson

We support FIERCE’s struggle to defend GLBTQ youth and hope the Gay-la is a huge success. – Steve Brier & Julie List

Comradely greetings from FIST – Fight Imperialism, Stand Together youth group – on FIERCE’s tenth anniversary! – www.fistyouth.org

The Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing congratulates FIERCE on their 10th year anniversary!

Congratulations on ten years of hard work and accomplishments. So excited to see what’s next! Thanks to FIERCE for all your amazing work! We love you! – Felicia, Chloe, Tiffany & Nathan

NYCAHN/VOCAL Congratulates FIERCE on 10 years of building POWER & Leadership for LGBT youth of color!

Congrats FIERCE on your many accomplishments; wish you many more to come! – HEAT Program