Detroit LGBTQ Leaders to Expand Leadership Program Nationally

Leadership program to empower African American LGBTQ youth and allies expands nationally through Better Together work.

DETROIT - John S. & James L. Knight Foundation BMe Leader award recipients, Dr. Truman Hudson Jr., and Curtis Lipscomb, who also serves as the executive director of LGBT Detroit, have announced efforts to expand to LGBT Detroit’s Leadership Academy, also known as “The Academy”, into a national leadership development model. 

The aim is to empower African American LGBTQ youth and allies, ages 18 – 30, with the social and political capital to influence change in their communities. LGBT Detroit, through the support of The HOPE Fund and Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, secured the services Dr. Truman Hudson, Jr.’s firm DEXDesign Community Development Club (DEX) to develop, pilot, and evaluate a research based, asset centered and sustainable social justice leadership development model.

“We are excited to be partnering with DEX to develop a national platform for young leaders,” said Curtis Lipscomb, executive director, LGBT Detroit. “As a signature program of the Safe Brave Space, The Academy serves as a model for developing young adult LGBTQ African American and ally leaders around the country. Through its continued partnership with Eastern Michigan University's Equality Research Center, LGBT Detroit, will also offer training on effective movement and community building via The Academy.”

The Academy received initial support from John S. & James L. Knight Foundation, Unity Michigan, and a host of individual donors in 2012. Since its forming, The Academy has graduated 52 young adults who are leading, sharing, and inspiring others to address key concerns that impact health, education, economic and social justice concerns in Southeast Michigan, Northern California, New York City, Houston, TX, and Las Vegas, NV.

“Considering the success of the The Academy’s alumni, the depth of LGBT’s Detroit’s network, and the need in the market, we are well positioned to scale the model,” according to Dr. Truman Hudson, Jr. “Young people across the country will be able to learn essential skills and build a toolkit to affect positive change for the LGBTQ community and for the nation as a whole.”

Early this month, LGBT Detroit, through match funding from BMe Community’s Better Together Challenge opened its new facility Safe Brave Space on Greenfield Avenue in Northwest Detroit, that will house The Academy. As a national competition, the Better Together Challenge afforded Detroit BMe Leader Award winners Curtis Lipscomb, David Nelson, Jr., and Nathan Strickland, the opportunity to collaborate on projects that positively influenced change in their communities. Prior to the challenge, many of the BMe Leaders, like Lipscomb, Nelson, and Strickland, had worked together. Thus, the Better Together Challenge was a chance for that good work to be nationally elevated and supported.

A leader whose social justice and advocacy work is rooted in the 1980’s gay rights movement, Curtis Lipscomb knows first-hand the value of having quality training and guidance in social and political activism. Based on the support that Lipscomb received from countless mentors, he was moved to ensure that other young leaders, through The Academy were afforded the chance to hone their passion for human and civil rights.

Lipscomb is the executive director and founder of LGBT Detroit. He is also manager and co-founder of Hotter Than July, the world’s second oldest LGBT pride celebration. Under Mr. Lipscomb’s leadership, LGBT Detroit is a coalition member of Michigan Coalition for HIV Health and Safety, Michigan Forward In Enhancing Research and Community Equity (MFIRECE), Comprehensive High-Impact HIV Prevention for CBOs, and The Michigan Department of Community Health Tobacco Reduction.

About LGBT Detroit: LGBT Detroit is a Detroit based nonprofit corporation whose mission is to increase the awareness of and support to Detroit’s dynamic LGBT culture through education and advocacy with integrity and pride.