Here’s your last chance to help Rainbow Health Initiative and the National LGBTQ Task Force spread the word about the National Voices of Health 2015 Survey!

We are excited to share the final findings of this survey to strengthen your statewide health equity and support LGBTQ community needs.

We encourage everyone to utilize this information to facilitate greater awareness in your state and nationwide!

National Voices of Health Survey (English): http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/nationalvoh15

“Make Queer Health Count by taking the National Voices of Health 2015 survey. Rainbow Health Initiative, in partnership with the National LGBTQ Task Force, is using this survey to create a national snapshot of LGBTQ health access, experiences, and disparities. Share your experience and help us fight for LGBTQ health equity in our communities.”

National Voices of Health Survey (Spanish): https://es.surveymonkey.com/s/VOH2015ES

“Tu salud cuenta!” Participa en el CENSO “National Voices Of Health 2015 Survey” y la Inciativa de Salud Arcoiris (Rainbow Health Iniciative) en con junto con la Mision Movimiento LGBTQ que estan usando este CENSO para investigar y conocer como es el acceso nacional a la salud de la Comunidad LGBTQ las differencias, desigualdades e inconsistencias, comparte tus experiencias y ayudanos a luchar por la salud LGBTQ y la igualdad en nuestras comunidades.”

We do encourage you to take the survey before you send it out so you know what you’re sharing. Please feel free to use this link on social media as well. We will be posting the links on our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages. #QUEERHEALTHCOUNTS

Data sets will be enhanced by the increased number of survey participants; the more folks who participate, the stronger the data sets.

Let’s work together to contribute to a better understanding of LGBTQ health in our communities.

If you have any questions, suggestions or need additional information, please feel free to contact us.

 Spectrum LGBT Center (Spectrum) and Marin AIDS Project (MAP) to Merge Under a Single Umbrella Organization, while Retaining Separate Programs and Services

The Boards of Directors of Spectrum LGBT Center (Spectrum) and Marin AIDS Project (MAP) have announced that the two longstanding Marin County human services agencies will merge under a common non-profit umbrella organization while maintaining their separate programs and services.

“Spectrum will remain Spectrum, and MAP will remain MAP,” said MAP’s Executive Director Jennifer Malone, “but by combining at the organizational level we will streamline administrative costs, enhance the services of both agencies and leverage our programmatic impact in the community”.

Malone further notes that community input is being sought as the new organization proceeds with the merger process.

Malone explains that the merger is the culmination of leadership discussions held during the second half of 2014 that focused on ways the organizations could increase their impact and results through a shared organizational structure.

In the new structure, Spectrum, MAP, and Irwin Street Counseling, MAP’s counseling program that serves the entire LGBTQ community, will maintain separate programs, services, and networks of supporters.

Spectrum’s programs for LGBTQ youth and older adults will continue and MAP will also continue its full array of programs and services as the organizations work in collaboration to support and enhance each other.

In addition to the merger, Spectrum is announcing a leadership change. Paula Pilecki has retired from her 16-year tenure as Spectrum’s Executive Director.

She will continue to offer consultation and support through the transition and a Spectrum program manager will be hired in the near future. Ms. Pilecki will be honored for her years of leadership and achievement at a retirement party in March.

Jennifer Malone, Executive Director of Marin AIDS Project since 2004, will serve as Executive Director of the merged organization. The members of the boards of Spectrum and MAP will come together to form the board of the new organization which has yet to be named.

According to Malone, the merger can be seen as a reunion. Spectrum and MAP were each born from the vision of their shared founder, the Rev. Janie Spahr. In 1982 Rev. Spahr launched the Ministry of Light, the first non-judgmental support services for LGBT people in Marin County which was later renamed Spectrum LGBT Center.

In 1984, in response to the emerging AIDS epidemic in Marin County, she spearheaded the creation of the Marin AIDS Support Network which grew to become the Marin AIDS Project.

At MAP’s 30^th Anniversary Celebration in October, Rev. Spahr spoke, saying while much has changed since the early 1980s, much remains the same and “the work is not done”! Malone says it is with this knowledge that the merged organization dedicates itself to serving the Marin community.