Colage

Filing Period

Jan 1, 2011 to Dec 31, 2011

Signed

Nov 15, 2012

Return Version

2011v1.2

Gross Receipts

$460,900

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

COMMUNITY CONNECTING PEERS: COLAGE is building a connected community of peers united by the unique experience of having an LGBTQ parent. Growing up knowing that LGBTQ families aren't treated like everyone else's can be challenging or isolating. COLAGE lets participants know they are not alone. Whether through local chapters, online communities, or family events, having shared experiences with a community of peers helps combat the isolation and invisibility of LGBTQ families. COLAGE's chapters, online community forums, and leadership trainings are all critical strategies for breaking isolation and engaging thousands of youth and young adult COLAGErs where they live, learn, work, play, and pray. Together, the chapters reach more than 2,000 youth a year with direct programming. COLAGE's leadership programs continue to foster the activism of a new generation of youth and young adults who may or may not be LGBTQ themselves, but whose lives are deeply intertwined with the LGBTQ community. Giving youth and young adults the tools and training needed to engage local campaigns, participate in local and statewide coalitions, and build organizational partnerships as leaders in their community, COLAGE empowers children of LGBTQ parents to bring the unique and important COLAGEr perspective to the issues that matter most to our constituency.In January 2011, a Field and Chapter Coordinator, based in Atlanta, GA, was hired and provided three individualized trainings for each chapter leader. For the first training, best practices for organizing and maintaining a successful chapter were outlined, followed by a discussion for how to adapt them and/or implement them for each chapter's unique needs. Workplans for each chapter were developed. The second training covered the new COLAGE curriculum. The COLAGE curriculum was written and developed by the Field and Chapter Coordinator. The third training was a chapter by chapter fundraising and outreach planning session. Each chapter discussed their recruitment and fundraising goals and created a plan to achieve them. As a result of these first-of-a-kind trainings, the chapters entered the 2011-2012 school year with plans, curriculum, and goals for the first time. Chapter leaders reported feeling more clarity around their roles, and feeling more prepared and supported to be successful.To further build a national network of COLAGErs, in winter 2011, we launched our newly redesigned and restructured website, which integrates Web 2.0 functionality and upgraded online community forums. We further developed our web site as an organizing tool, with a focus on interactivity and social networking tools popular with youth and young adults.

Activity 3

EMPOWERING LEADERS: COLAGE supports children of LGBTQ families as they grown and provides them with tools and support to speak out. Through leadership training and speaking opportunities, COLAGE helps youth build the sills to strengthen their families while strengthening themselves as individuals.Building Regional Capacity: COLAGE's Northeastern U.S. chapters organized a regional chapter gathering in New York, NY on January 15-17, 2011 with COLAGE support. COLAGE National and the New York City Chapter hosted 47 teens and young adults. The retreat included team-building, sharing of COLAGEr experiences and strengths, training on how social media can build community and leverage COLAGEr voices, workshops on community building, oral history, mapping leadership potential, and strengthening the regional COLAGE network. The individuals in attendance were primarily from New York State, with others coming from Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Washington DC, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. 43% of attendees were COLAGErs of color. The topics covered during the retreat included social and racial issues, economic justice, and activism.Leadership Summit: COLAGE provided leadership training at a program titled Voices Raised Leadership Summit for young people of color held in Oakland, CA in May 2011. COLAGE's 2008-2012 strategic plan committed the organization to deeper integration of racial and economic justice commitments through its work. Given the particular challenges posed by invisibility and marginalization, COLAGE develops focused outreach and education programs to address the needs of diverse groups of constituents, such as those with transgender parents and those who were adopted or born through donor insemination. COLAGE launched its Voices Raised program in 2011 to seek, celebrate, and reflect the unique voices and experiences of COLAGErs of color with one or more LGBTQ parents or guardians of color. The program provided specialized leadership training for COLAGErs of color. Noted queer theorist, activist, and writing practitioner, Rebecca Walker, facilitated the event.Let's Get This Straight: COLAGE collaborated with Tina Fakhrid-Deen on the writing, publication, and dissemination of Let's Get This Straight: The Ultimate Handbook for Youth with LGBTQ Parents. COLAGE worked with the book publisher to host five public reading events with Tina in Washington, DC, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Oakland, CA.

Filer

EIN

94-3316616