Co-designed by Contigo’s leadership alongside Black LGBTQ+ Leaders, Contigo launched the All Black Lives Fund in response to historic racial justice uprisings and motivated by the escalating and often invisibilized cases of murder and violence against our Black Transgender family at the hands of police brutality, white supremacy, and transphobia. In early 2021, the All Black Lives Fund awarded its first round of grants to support the general operations of three groups led by and for Central Florida’s Black LGBTQ+ communities.
BROS IN CONVO INITIATIVE (TBICI)
The Bros in Convo Initiative (TBICI) is a Black, Queer-led community-based organization, fiscally sponsored by Miracle of Love, providing Black gay, bisexual, queer, and same-gender-loving communities ages 18-35 in Central Florida with capacity building, community resources, emotion and mind wellness, health education, life skills building, linkage to HIV/STI prevention and treatment services, and peer support. Bros in Convo engages and mobilizes Central Florida’s Black gay, bi, queer (GBQ) community through initiatives that educate, empower, and support Black GBQ existing and emerging leaders. Grant funds from the All Black Lives Fund will provide vital general operating support to continue growing Bros in Convo’s leadership and impact.
DIVAS IN DIALOGUE
Divas in Dialogue, a nonprofit organization, is a sisterhood of Trans women empowering, building, and strengthening each other. Grant funds from the All Black Lives Fund will provide general operating support to help this group continue to grow its infrastructure and programs to meet the needs of Central Florida’s Black trans women communities.
GENDER ADVANCEMENT PROJECT
The Gender Advancement Project (GAP) is a Trans-led grassroots movement dedicated to the progression and inclusion of Transgender/Gender Nonbinary individuals in all facets of society. Led by Trans women of color, GAP advocates for full protections of Transgender and Gender Nonbinary individuals in Central Florida, raises awareness of Transgender communities, and helps Transgender people link to crucial resources related to HIV/AIDS, transition-related care, and peer support. Grant funds from the All Black Lives Fund will provide general operating support to help GAP continue to grow the impact of its work.
THE BLACK HEALTH COMMISSION, INC.
Founded in 2020, The Black Health Commision, Inc‘s mission is reframing the narrative on health disparities by promoting Black Joy through digital education, volunteerism, + community
engagement. Grant funds from the All Black Lives Fund provided resources to hire Community Outreach Coordinator and host monthly Village Talks.
PEER SUPPORT SPACE
Peer Support Space was founded as a peer-led organization that exists outside of the current system, where we use our lived experience to support and hold space for one another as we navigate our unique journeys with life struggles, mental illness, and/or substance misuse challenges, neurodivergence, disability, grief, trauma, or other obstacles to mental wellness. We use and help others use the power of lived experience to support, educate, and guide one another while providing additional, free options for mental wellness. Grant funds from the All Black Lives Fund Black LGBTQ+ help resourced Peer Supporters leading GenderQueer, Your Black Matters (all Black communities), Black LGBTQ+ Space, and Planting Hope (a space to explore gardening as a wellness tool), among other initiatives.