IFBP to Convene Regional Black and Brown Summit

By Viktor Kerney

Los Angeles - The International Federation of Black Prides, Inc. (IFBP) announces the second Regional Black and Brown Summit on Saturday April 4, 2009 at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center’s The Village at Ed Gould Plaza. The Black/Brown Coalition was conceptualized by Carolina Ramos, Latino Services Coordinator, San Diego LGBT Community Center and Earl Fowlkes, IFBP President/CEO after a joint presentation on reaching out to LGBT Communities of Color for the Democratic National Committee Western Region training in Las Vegas, NV in March 2007. The National Black and Brown Summit was held in Philadelphia in April 25, 2008 and during Philadelphia Black Gay Pride. The first regional Black and Brown Summit was held in Dallas in October 3, 2008 during Dallas Black Pride.


The IFBP is a coalition of twenty-nine Black Pride organizations formed to promote a multinational network of LGBT/Same Gender Loving Pride and community-based organizations dedicated to building solidarity, health and wellness, promoting unity, and ensuring the development of education, economic empowerment, and individual and collective work, responsibility, and self-determination. Over 350,000 people attended Black Prides in the United States in 2008.

 

Regional
Black & Brown
Summit
Saturday
April 4, 2009
 
Los Angeles
“The purpose of the National & Regional Black and Brown Summits are to identify areas for potential collaboration between African American and Latino LGBT communities, leaders, organizations, and grass roots movements,” said Earl Fowlkes. In short, the IFBP is hoping the summit will help to inspire African American and Latino LGBT communities’ action, motivate young leadership, accentuate and embolden our collective political power and voice in this very important election year and beyond. “We are really excited about the possibilities of this historical summit in Southern California based on feedback from both communities over the past few months” said Ramos.

Other members of the Black & Brown Coalition include Michael Hinson, IFBP Board Chair; Marjorie Hill, Gay Men Health Crisis, Executive Director; and Jose M. Roman, Executive Director Sponsored Projects Finance at Columbia University.

Registration is $10 which includes materials, breakfast and lunch. The registration form can be downloaded on the IFBP web site: www.ifbprides.org. The Summit will be preceded by a reception on Friday evening April 3, 2009 at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center’s The Village at Ed Gould Plaza. from 7 to 9 PM. The Regional Black and Brown Summits are funded by generous support of the Arcus Foundation. The LA Regional Black and Brown Summit is co sponsored by the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, and Black Pride Los Angeles.