Support Blaq Pride Baltimore 2020
Tax deductible
As a result of historic fiscal mismanagement at Strong City, Baltimore Blaq Pride celebration is in jeopardy. Each year for the past 18 years, Baltimore Blaq Pride has celebrated the lives of amazing and also vulnerable LGBTQ+ community across the city. Between the pandemic, racism, and homophobia/transphobia—Black queer people need a space to celebrate, to be honored, to mourn, and to heal together.
Baltimore Blaq Pride is a program of Blaq Equity Baltimore ("BEB"), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization who had been a fiscally managed client of Strong City Baltimore for some time. Due to Strong City's systemic financial mismanagement, BEB may have to postpone Blaq Pride 2020. Currently, Strong City has roughly $10k ($6k accounted for and almost $4k unaccounted for/missing funds) of BEB's dollars. While is discussion with a Strong City staff person about incorrect close out ledger, it became clear that BEB may never receive our funds from Strong City as they already broke their close out timeline with BEB. This completely depletes BEB's funds, which were planned to support this year's programming. For a small, 100% volunteer run organization with an annual budget of under $20,000 each year, this is an incredibly significant loss to us and the Black LGBTQ community across Baltimore. Losing all of our funds due to another organization's mismanagement means this year we do not currently have the funds in hand to pay all of the amazing talent we had lined up to celebrate the lives of Black LGBTQ community and other operational costs associated with the celebration.
We are heartbroken, angry and yet hopeful. We refuse to leave the community without any recognition or celebration of Black LGBTQ Pride. We are calling on our partners and allies, particularly white allies at in leadership positions at corporations, organizations and private donors, to help us make Blaq Pride 2020 a reality this year. Our goal is $15,000, which will support Black and queer artists, musicians, speakers, leaders and organizers who have agreed to participate in this year's celebration.
Please give generously. Please share widely. For corporations, foundations and other organizations, our sponsorship packet can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NezSJEZcTByHENAHEb3G0Tixne7Xwtg0/view?usp=sharing.
Although this is a temporary setback, we hope community will come together, especially during this time of need for Black LGBTQ people everywhere, to help us save pride!
Baltimore Blaq Pride is a program of Blaq Equity Baltimore ("BEB"), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization who had been a fiscally managed client of Strong City Baltimore for some time. Due to Strong City's systemic financial mismanagement, BEB may have to postpone Blaq Pride 2020. Currently, Strong City has roughly $10k ($6k accounted for and almost $4k unaccounted for/missing funds) of BEB's dollars. While is discussion with a Strong City staff person about incorrect close out ledger, it became clear that BEB may never receive our funds from Strong City as they already broke their close out timeline with BEB. This completely depletes BEB's funds, which were planned to support this year's programming. For a small, 100% volunteer run organization with an annual budget of under $20,000 each year, this is an incredibly significant loss to us and the Black LGBTQ community across Baltimore. Losing all of our funds due to another organization's mismanagement means this year we do not currently have the funds in hand to pay all of the amazing talent we had lined up to celebrate the lives of Black LGBTQ community and other operational costs associated with the celebration.
We are heartbroken, angry and yet hopeful. We refuse to leave the community without any recognition or celebration of Black LGBTQ Pride. We are calling on our partners and allies, particularly white allies at in leadership positions at corporations, organizations and private donors, to help us make Blaq Pride 2020 a reality this year. Our goal is $15,000, which will support Black and queer artists, musicians, speakers, leaders and organizers who have agreed to participate in this year's celebration.
Please give generously. Please share widely. For corporations, foundations and other organizations, our sponsorship packet can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NezSJEZcTByHENAHEb3G0Tixne7Xwtg0/view?usp=sharing.
Although this is a temporary setback, we hope community will come together, especially during this time of need for Black LGBTQ people everywhere, to help us save pride!
Organizer
Durryle Brooks
Organizer
Baltimore, MD
Blaq Equity Baltimore
Beneficiary