The Gay & Lesbian Fund supports programs that empower people to participate more effectively in their communities and their state. We believe that the active participation of many will result in a stronger, more inclusive democracy. Civic education, coalition building, leadership development, community activism, and public policy advocacy are a few examples of Civic Participation activities initiated by our grantees.
The success stories of our Civic Participation grantees are numerous.
- 9to5 National Association for Working Women helped LaTerrell Bradford get involved in public policy initiatives to gain equal pay legislation for women.
- The Latina Initiative inspired Rhonda Solis to build community awareness and create a sense of empowerment among Latinas in Greeley.
- The Anti-Defamation League’s ”No Place for Hate®” campaign helped a middle school student educate himself about the harmful impacts of his bullying and bigotry against another student.
Explore the many ways in which our grantees are working to advance equality by reading their stories in our “Improving Lives” section.
PeaceJam
PeaceJam aims to inspire a new generation of peacemakers. Its annual conference provides a venue for Nobel Peace Laureates, such as The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, to guide hundreds of youth through grass-roots projects that teach implementation and organizational skills.