Connexus Coming Out Party
By: Brenda Coley - Posted on: 7/6/2007

Connexus, an African American LGBT program hosted by Diverse and Resilient, had its coming out party at PrideFest this year. Eighteen African American LGBT volunteers including Co-chairs Janice Warren and Jamin Mahon approached over 1,000 people to complete surveys regarding tobacco use in the LGBT community. Included in their approaches was a special effort to connect with African American LGBT people and ask their opinions on future programming addressing the interests of the African American LGBT community in Milwaukee. They collected 150 names and contact information of African Americans and their allies for notification of future programming.

This activity at Pridefest followed an 18-month planning process conducted by a dedicated group of African American LGBT people in partnership with Diverse and Resilient. Their charge – the result of an African American LGBT Leadership Summit held in June of 2006 – was to recommend a healthy, sustainable infrastructure for the African American LGBT Community in Milwaukee. Some of this planning process was supported by a minority health grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services in recognition that infrastructure deficits result in ongoing health disparities.

This planning process included soliciting the African American LGBT community through focus groups, surveys and numerous meetings analyzing the information collected. As a result the group re-named itself Connexus and formed an 18-month programmatic partnership and collaboration with Diverse and Resilient. The group named Warren and Mahon its first co-chairs in April 2007. Connexus volunteers also worked with Maureen Kane of MMK Designs to develop a visual image of the program to display on invitations, announcements, a banner, and business cards.

The Connexus banner was proudly displayed at their Pridefest tent, outlining the goals and objectives of the program. Many pictures were taken, and many Pride-filled moments were captured in front of this banner at the festival.

At PrideFest the group’s goals were met: enhancing our visibility and increasing the connections within the African American LGBT community and with allies. African American LGBT people and their allies were seen smiling, embracing, and reigniting old friendships at the booth. A generous gift from Joseph Pabst, via the Cream City Foundation, provided support for this inaugural event.