Organizational Update:
Kiku Johnson

Dear Rainbow Community,

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I'm writing to share with you extraordinary news that I have accepted a position to lead an organization in Portland, OR. Outside In is a federally qualified health center, breaking the cycles of chronic homelessness, poverty, and poor health among Portland’s LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, immigrants, and the underserved.

 

My last day serving with Rainbow is Friday, November 18. We are building a transition plan in collaboration with our Board President, Robyn Kuslits, and our powerful Leadership Team of six talented directors. We are landing interim and permanent leadership steps that Rainbow will adopt moving forward and share out soon.

 

I have great faith as to the purpose of Rainbow's mission, vision, and values being carried forth with centering our most marginalized identities while serving the entirety of the LGBTQIA+ community, past and present. Rainbow has redefined and strengthened its identity, presence, service delivery, and partnership these last nearly three years. I feel I was poised to be able to serve with Rainbow in a very specific time of change and recovery. I have been committed and passionate about lifting our staff, culture, and our work throughout my tenure here, and I have complete belief Rainbow will continue to thrive and serve our communities as the next leadership representation is sought and landed.

 

My time with Rainbow has been filled with passion and connection for our LGBTQIA+ communities and the many champions of our county! I reflect and my heart is filled with beautiful remembrances of all of our work and accomplishments together in the past several years including:

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• dynamic virtual and in-person Pride events

• expansion of our social and support groups offerings to reflect community interests and needs

• pivoting our food pantry to a regular food delivery service made possible by our amazing volunteers

• engaging SOGIE training across the county, the greater Bay Area, Nationally, and even Internationally!

• bringing forth the county’s first queer youth day camp - Camp FIERCE!

• co-hosting the county’s first Pride Prom in partnership with PFLAG Clayton-Concord

• raising Inclusive Progress Pride Flags throughout Contra Costa County

• supporting Clayton’s Inaugural Pride Parade as their 501c3 fiscal sponsor

• reaching many telehealth therapy clients in an exceptional time of need

• bringing forth visibility with World AIDS Day, Transgender Days of Visibility and Remembrance, and Cinco de Mayo

• providing anonymous and free HIV testing and education, and continually adapting these services to meet the needs of our community members, in partnership with Club1220 and Contra Costa Health Services

• supporting our older adults to build community and counter the harmful impacts of isolation, erasure and invisibility faced by many of our LGBTQIA+ elders

• providing emergency housing and other resources for our transitional-age youth who are experiencing houselessness

• hosting fun and engaging events to raise essential funds while spreading the message about our work in a community members backyard (Dragfabulous!) and at Del Cielo Brewing Co in Martinez

• moving into a beautiful, safe, and affirming new space centrally located in Concord, as of one month ago, at 2380 Salvio Street, Suite 301.

 

AND PERSISTING AS THE… Lions and Tigers and Bears AND UNICORNS we are in all our beautiful colors and representations! 

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Your continued support of Rainbow matters.

My Gratitude is Abounding,