Equality California Institute

Equality california institute is dedicated to building power within the lgbtq+ community by training individuals to seek leadership roles within civic life. Through the comcast fellowship, we place lgbtq+ and allied college students in summer internships with california state legislative offices. Through the lgbtq+ leadership academy, we train lgbtq+ leaders to run for office and to seek appointments to boards and commissions. Our california lgbtq+ leadership summit gathers openly lgbtq+ elected and appointed officials from across the state for networking and to discuss priority issues for our community. Nosotros vihviendo program builds the capacity of emerging leaders working on hiv stigma reduction and intervention in latine communities.

Equality california institute's nevada-based dba silver state equalityinstitute conducted community outreach and increased civic engagement on critical issues impacting the lgbtq+ community. This included critical ongoing response efforts to covid-19, rapid response to address the spread of mpox, and ongoing work to reduce the stigma around hiv. Additionally,silver state equality's nevada student advisory council convenedstudents from across the state to discuss needed protections and best practices for supporting lgbtq+ students and their allies. Moreover, silver state equality institute worked on its legislative priorities for 2024. By managing the nevada equality coalition that supports pro-equality bills moving through the legislature through public education and advocacy. Silver state equality institute also continued to run an lgbtq+ youth in out of home placements workgroup consisting of organizations primarily located in nevada (with a few national partners) to continue to address the needs of youth in foster care, juvenile justice settings, and youth experiencing homelessness.

Equality california institute equips lgbtq+ and allied stakeholders with the tools and resources necessary to conduct advocacy at the state and local level. In partnership with the california department of social services, our stop the hate project gathers leaders in the lgbtq+ community to develop ideas for addressing the rise in hate crimes and harassment of lgbtq+ people, and other marginalized communities. Our out against big tobacco program in the central valley ensure that local communities are aware of predatory advertising by big tobacco in lgbtq+ communities and have the tools to advocate for policies to curb that influence in their local communities. Fair share for equality convenes lgbtq+ leaders across the state each year to discuss budget priorities and develop a strategy for state and local budget advocacy in support of lgbtq+ resources. The biennial safe and supportive schools report card provides unified school districts across the state with the opportunity to transparently share their policies and practices for creating a safe school climate. Once the results of the report card are published, equality california institute staff trains student, parent, and educator stakeholders how to use the report card as an advocacy tool for promoting safe school climates for lgbtq+ students and staff. Equality california institute also conducts ongoing civic engagement and voter registration efforts, with the aim of ensuring high voter turnout and exceptional levels of civic engagement from lgbtq+ californians.