The city’s newest LGBTQ group is trying to listen to more of the community as it gets off the ground.
Rainbow Collective President Jason Veltri explains they’ve formed Leadership Councils made up of volunteers representing groups like transgender people and Indigenous people.
“Often times, boards make decisions for the collective audience, but they’re actually not engaging with that community or communities to do the work, so we want to build this from the ground up, not from top down,” he says.
Those boards can also review the Collective’s policies and organize their own projects.
“There’s already work that’s been started and suggestions that have come through. We’re also building out the rest of the councils and getting them up off the ground. We’re really excited to see where the Leadership Councils go,” Veltri notes.
He says they are also looking for more people to join those groups to help steer the organization, and will be establishing Black and People of Colour Council as well as Seniors and Youth group.
Rainbow Collective officials add the Leadership Councils are based off similar groups within Fierté Canada Pride.
