Out In The Mountains : News - Community Alliance Initiative Phase 2 Denied Funding

by Lynn McNicol

       Burlington — Is there a new, bigger queer community home in our collective future? That's the question lots of folks are asking these days — especially those involved in working to get grant money to help Burlington's "big four" lgbt nonprofits get together to share resources and people. The answer might be no, since the major source of funding for it, the Unity Project, has declined to consider the organizations' second grant proposal.
       Staff, volunteers, and participants with SafeSpace, Outright Vermont, Mountain Pride Media, and R.U.1.2? Queer Community Center are wondering what happened to their Unity Project grant proposal for phase two of the Community Alliance Initiative, as the collaboration is called. Representatives of the partner nonprofits are unwilling to speak on the record before a planned September meeting when they hope to get more information.
       More than a year ago, explained Outright co-director Lluvia Mulvaney-Stanak, the four groups met to discuss how they could work together, and wrote a Unity Project grant to fund a feasibility study on how best to proceed. While the groups were encouraged by Unity Project representatives toward their goal, the feasibility study grant was funded at a fraction of its requested total: $12,000 out of a requested $40,000.
         It's the way to go for the groups to work more closely together, said longtime lesbian activist Peggy Luhrs, an Americorps Vista worker at R.U.1.2?. "I think nonprofits have to start thinking about other ways of supporting themselves," she said, rather than depending on government support. Luhrs was not involved in the first Unity Project grant meetings among the four nonprofits.
The Unity Project is a collaboration between the Vermont Community Fund and the Samara Foundation designed to "introduce" lgbt community concerns and needs to major Vermont donors and philanthropists from outside the lgbt community. The Unity Project is expected to disburse the remainder of its $200,000 fund and disband this year, which with the denial of the phase 2 grant may doom the Community Alliance Initiative.
       In Phase 1, the Community Alliance Initiative hired the New Hampshire-based BHC Consulting Group for the study. BHC partner Mario Capozzoli interviewed volunteers and staff of all four organizations for a report. The report essentially acknowledged the status quo: that the groups felt they could share resources — such as a building, office equipment, and some personnel — and perhaps pool board members, while maintaining their own unique identities. It also suggested the formation of transition teams, among other steps toward co-location and closer collaboration.
         The Unity Project grant committee denied the second-year letter of intent proposal for a grant intended to help move things toward joining the groups at one location, a denial so far without explanation.
Mary Conley of the VCF was unavailable for comment at press time.
        "It's hard to make any comment without any more information," said Mulvaney-Stanak. SafeSpace Executive Director Kara DeLeonardis and R.U.1.2? Executive Director Christopher Kaufman both said they hoped there would be more to talk about after the meeting this month, and declined further comment.
        Jackie Weinstock of the SafeSpace board of directors summed it up: "Bottom line is we didn't get the grant, and we are all disappointed about that — and somewhat confused by the outcome. But we are all committed to moving forward on the project, as far as I know, though it will be a hard road to take without this funding."

Lynn McNicol is a freelance writer living in Burlington.