The Nottingham Panthers’ Post

This Pride Month, we want to take the opportunity to celebrate the individuality of everyone, whether they're a UKFCU member, UKFCU employee or anybody else. We are built on community, and that's why we're proud to recognize the LGBTQIA+ community! Check out this article to learn more about how LGBTQIA+ Americans can overcome barriers to building credit: https://ow.ly/u9hy50S7gre

Though Pride Month is meant to be a celebratory month, we would be remiss if we didn't hold space for the constant threats to BIPOC queer lives in this country and in our sport. With that said, awareness is not enough–we need action! Here's a list of some actionable items you can take: 📌 Ask questions, and do your own research. 📌 Recognize your privilege and use it for good. 📌 Take your online activism into real-life scenarios. 📌 Speak up for the underrepresented. 📌 Follow the lead of your LGBTQIA+ peers and organizations. We also encourage you to take time to facilitate meaningful conversations about making the running industry and run communities safer and more inclusive for BIPOC queer runners. And, check out this RIDC blog post that highlights historic LGBTQIA+ figures. ➡️ https://loom.ly/pw1fX4I #PrideMonth #Running4Diversity

Last week, I had the opportunity to partner with Profitable Ideas Exchange to facilitate a panel discussion as a part of the DEI Community Roundtable. This was a unique experience in which we centered queer voices and elevated some Bozeman organizations that support 2SLGBTQIA+ communities across the Gallatin Valley and Montana 🌈 This energetic discussion provided space for dialogue between queer-supporting organizations and local private and non-profit companies. Representatives from Bridgercare, The Countship of the ISCSM (Imperial Sovereign Court of the State of Montana), Pride House, MT Trans Closet, and Queer Bozeman shared some of the following calls to action for local companies and organizations: ✅ Donate your time and money. No time or amount is too small. ✅ Be visibly supportive: share or repost activities and events, resources, logos, etc. and take advantage of educational opportunities. ✅ Do the work: be curious; ask questions; read, research, and expose yourself to difference on a regular basis. I am incredibly proud to have provided a platform for these local 2SLGBTQIA+ serving organizations to share about their missions, challenges, and actions of allyship. It brings me joy to know that in this space, we lifted the voices of those with boots on the ground, doing this impactful work. I genuinely believe Bozeman and other MT communities are safer and more aware with organizations like these having meaningful conversations with local business owners and associates 🤝 So, my call to action is to think beyond this month, Pride Month. As we approach the USA presidential election later this year as well as understand the human rights that are being jeopardized, how do you show up? Moving beyond the individual, and as sparked by the reflected panel discussion, in what ways is your organization staying informed, showing support, and doing the work? Curious to hear your thoughts below 🤔 ⬇ #pride #bozemanpride #montanapride #dei #communityengagement #allyship #corporateallyship

Read the latest news from us including... 💫 Meet the organisations funded through our New Connections programme 🤝 Watch our pre-application Q&A on our support for Creative, Confident Communities 🙌 Listen to Collective Discovery's Shift podcast about sharing power with young people 💷 Learn how we're using our investments to support our mission 💗 And as Trans Awareness Week draws to a close, we want to shout out to all the amazing people and organisations working for a fairer, safer and more joyful future for trans people. Big thanks particularly to Galop Gendered Intelligence Just Like Us The Kite Trust Consortium of LGBT+ Voluntary and Community Organisations Mermaids Micro Rainbow Rainbow Migration Scottish Trans (Equality Network) and Spectra We also share from the sector including: Plunkett UK NCVO ACEVO Impact Investing Institute The National Lottery Community Fund Place Matters Art Fund The Three Hijabis Anti Racist Cumbria Black Equity Organisation Become Food, Farming and Countryside Commission Green Alliance Good Ancestor Movement Oceana UK The Diana Award Read the newsletter ➡ https://lnkd.in/esE-k2xh

Wanted to share that my daughter and I are keynote panelists for Ramp Your Voice! Illuminating the Richness of Black Disabled People: Our Joys & Truths, a virtual summit created by Black disability activist Vilissa K. Thompson, LMSW on June 7th. Sign up for free here and read about our panel below! https://lnkd.in/eFEZ-njw "Solely centering Black disabled voices is an intentional, unapologetic action, one that is long overdue to occur and is strongly needed for us to truly be seen and heard without concerning the gazes of others." - Vilissa Thompson, LMSW, Founder, "Ramp Your Voice!" We're Sista Creatives Rising, a grassroots project (not a non-profit!) founded by me, Claire Jones, and my daughter, Amaranthia Sepia. We're an invisibly disabled Black mother-daughter duo whose mission is to help marginalized women & marginalized genders gain accessibility and visibility in the arts to facilitate personal healing. Showcasing several Black-disabled changemakers leading and raising awareness about the barriers we face in our communities, "Ramp Your Voice!" is centered on creating a safe, uplifting space to highlight topics affecting the Black-disabled community. We’ll be alongside activists Natasha Nelson and Morénike Giwa Onaiwu. The panel starts at 3:30 pm est. Our panel topic will be "Black Disabled Family," and my daughter and I will break down our experience of coming to terms with learning about our disabilities around the same time in 2022 - CPTSD, agoraphobia, and panic disorder exacerbated by racial trauma - all while managing my sudden loss of mobility, risk of paralysis and a lymphoma diagnosis only a few weeks later. We'll dive into the healing power of art and writing and how it's been crucial as we navigate this identity together. Alt text in comments shortly! #RYVConference2024 #DisabilityRights #Inclusivity #DEI #DiversityEquityInclusion #BlackActivists #BlackVoices #BlackStories #VirtualEvent

Check out our newest blog post: "During a time when organizations are retracting support from the LGBTQIA+ community, it is our steadfast commitment to our mission that allows the YWCA to maintain unwavering dedication." 🧡 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eBVfgBfE

The act of reclaiming agency is particularly important for Black disabled women who face unique struggles in asserting their voices. In too many conversations, their words are questioned, scrutinized, or minimized, especially when discussing disability. But instead of accepting this, Black disabled women are continuously pushing back against biases, challenging assumptions, and ensuring their voices are heard. This refusal to over-explain or defend is a powerful form of self-empowerment. We must ensure we actively listen and respect their lived experiences without projecting our biases onto them. Reclaiming agency is not only an individual act but a collective responsibility. #BlackDisabledVoices #Inclusion #DisabilityJustice #Empowerment

A meaningful Pride month at your organization: Recognizing the importance of equity and inclusion and matching that recognition with action to improve and address gaps. An opportunity to reflect on how your organization interacts with, engages and empowers the LGBTQIA+ community. A moment to take stock and consider updating your diversity statement. A real and measurable effort towards reaching this often marginalized community through focused programming and targeted campaigns.

😍 The last couple of weeks have been filled with volunteer and nonprofit work, and let me tell you...it's heart filling! 😍 📚 From volunteering with WomenTech Network during their annual Global Tech conference to participating in F5's quarterly Volunteer Sprints, where I was able to help Embrace of Celebration to organize and manage documentation. The opportunities and learnings have been abundant. 💥 What I am most excited to share though, is the nonprofit organization that my wife and I made happen after years of talking about wanting to create something that will allow us to give back to the LGBTQ community by providing opportunities for support, service and funding. Our initiatives are about Doing Something Already! ⚡ Do Something Already works towards transformational initiatives to advance equity, opportunity, and justice for LGBTQ+ people in all communities across the Pacific Northwest. Working toward supporting an environment of Joy, Caring, Positivity, Optimism and Understanding. Our Collective uses the tools of Art and Engagement to support and fund our featured initiatives, as well as additional activities throughout the year. Our initiatives include: ➡ MLK Day of Service - providing volunteer opportunities to better community. ➡ DSA Gives Juneteenth - supporting Black owned small businesses. ➡ Julian Wehde Memorial Scholarship - Providing LGBTQ+ youth access to funds to promote art and theater endeavors. ➡ DSA Gives for the Holidays - From feeding families to providing holiday gifts, the DSA Gives is there to help support the community during the holiday season. 🆘 At this time, we are literally just getting started and need your support. While we have great initiatives on our roadmap, none of those can happen without funding. With luck, we were able to quickly get approved to participate in this May's GiveBIG fundraising campaign and are hoping we can ask you to be one of our founding donors! Thank you for checking us out, welcome all questions! 💰 https://lnkd.in/gNJT-j9k #GIVEBIG #thatgivingfeeling #DoSomethingAlready

Excited to learn more about this important topic! Join me by registering at the link below.