Equality Texas (EQTX)
Board Member January 2023

An attack on one Texan is an attack on all Texans.

Equality Texas and Equality Texas Foundation (EQTX) exist to ensure that LGBTQIA+ Texans have the same opportunities and rights to lead prosperous and joyful lives without fear. Our path to equality for all LGBTQIA+ Texans requires a focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice within our state, our organization, and our community.

EQTX will continue our advocacy to achieve the rights LGBTQIA+ Texans deserve. As we do this, we commit to being an organization where our board, staff, and volunteers reflect and celebrate the depth and breadth of Texan experiences. We further commit to building an inclusive and equitable work environment that fosters the trust and safety necessary for everyone to share their perspectives, experiences, and identities. We further commit to engaging our partners in respectful and intentional ways that promote EDIJ.

We know we are not alone, and we welcome, make space for, and are better because of the multifaceted identities of every LGBTQIA+ Texan and ally.

The Equality Alliance
Board Member March 2022 - October 2022

The mission of The Equality Alliance is to give support, financial aid and further the voice for organizations that are on the front lines every day fighting for equality and basic human rights for the LGBTQ community.  Under The Equality Alliance umbrella, charities will not only receive funding but also exposure to new donors who may not be familiar with their work or mission. 

The Equality Alliance is honored to work side by side with the following local charities with one common goal: Equality 

Texas Health Action Community Advisory Board (THA CAB)
Board Member February 2022 - February 2023

Texas Health Action (THA) is a community informed 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to culturally affirming, quality health services in a safe and supportive environment with an expertise in serving LGBTQIA+ people and people impacted by HIV. Since 2015, Texas Health Action has provided health services without stigma or judgment and has empowered the community through outreach and education. Texas Health Action operates Kind Clinic, which provides sexual health services through locations across Central Texas; TeleKind, which provides sexual health services via virtual visits and at-home testing; and Waterloo Counseling Center, which provides behavioral health services in Austin. Texas Health Action is led by CEO Christopher Hamilton.

The purpose of THA’s CAB is to foster equity-based quality improvement efforts, maintain patient involvement, and achieve authentic community engagement.

Random Acts (RA)
Board Member June 2021

Random Acts was founded in 2010 by actor Misha Collins after an earthquake hit Haiti, causing massive damage. Collins, who had been involved in charitable projects since college, decided to harness the energy and resources of the followers he had gained during his acting career in order to raise funds for the UNICEF disaster relief program. Within days, over $30,000 was raised. Using this momentum, Random Acts was created to inspire kindness in Haiti and beyond. 

As a first big project, the organization focused on the construction of an orphanage in Jacmel, Haiti. Construction for the Jacmel’s Children’s Center was completed in 2013. Today it houses up to 80 children and provides them not just with a place to live but also to play, learn, and grow. 

In 2015, after the organization’s success in Haiti, Random Acts embarked on another big project —- building a free high school in San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua. The aim is to provide education for people who would not otherwise be able to attend school, such as students over 18 or women with children. To this end, the free high school also includes a daycare center. 

In the meantime, Random Acts has grown into a global organization run by more than 150+ volunteer staff, with millions of supporters from all walks of life. Annual events such as Class Act have become established and a large number of partnerships with other charitable organizations have been formed —- such as with the Legacy of War foundation or the IMAlive crisis support network. Furthermore, programs such as the Childhood Hunger Campaign and Random Acts Support Program allow a focussing of efforts on a particular issue. True to its name, Random Acts also provides the opportunity for anyone to perform a random act of kindness by funding small-scale, community-level projects. 

Lone Star Victims Advocacy Project (LSVAP)
Ad Hoc Board Member June 2020 - October 2020

Lone Star Victims Advocacy Project provides advocacy, education, and free legal services for immigrant victims of abuse. By improving the resources available to abused immigrants, we can empower victims to leave abusers and reduce the amount of domestic violence in rural Texas communities.

Bri was introduced to LSVAP by her friend Kelsey and signed on to help with fundraising for six months.

New Leaders Council Austin (NLC - Austin)
Board Member July 2019 to July 2021

New Leaders Council (NLC) is the hub for progressive Millennial thought leadership. Soon to be the largest voting bloc in American history (~83 million voters) and possessing significant economic power, Millennials will be the generation to truly change our institutions in American society.

Anchored by its six-month training program, the NLC Institute, NLC equips our leaders with the skills to run for office, manage campaigns, create start-ups and networks of thought leaders. NLC leaders take their activism back into their communities and workplaces to impact progressive change.

Unlike most leadership development organizations, NLC isn’t a one-weekend boot camp, but rather six-month intensive learning environment and a lifetime alumni commitment. NLC creates lasting infrastructure in communities, states and nationally to support our fellows and alumni as they become agents of change. NLC provides our community members with opportunities to engage with – and challenge – current policymakers, to create blueprints to tackle current and future policy issues, and to support one another along their individual path to a more progressive political and cultural landscape.

NLC has 50 chapters across the country in red and blue states with nearly 8,000 alumni. NLC is a true reflection of the Millennial generation with 63 percent of our NLC community self-identifying as people of color and 61 percent women. NLC is one of the few organizations focused on building a new governing coalition.

I had the honor of serving with the NLC - Austin Chapter.

Austin Black Pride (ABP)
Board Member July 2018 to May 2019

Austin Black Pride, a 501 (c) 3 organization, was recreated in 2016 with queer people of color in mind. The founders of Austin Black Pride (ABP) saw that Austin was lacking in spaces and programming that catered to the unique needs of its Black LGBTQ community. ABP was not created to further divide, bash, or belittle non-Black LGBTQ communities; but to instead preserve the culture and history, while also celebrating the evolution of Black LGBTQ folk. 

She was first introduced to Austin Black Pride in June 2018 when Out Youth was asked to volunteer at one of their events. When I attended the event as a volunteer and heard that they were looking for board members she jumped at the chance. As a queer, black woman living in Texas, she knows how important it is for queer people of color to have safe spaces where they can be themselves.

Keep Austin Fed (KAF)
Board member October 2017 to February 2019

Keep Austin Fed is a heavily volunteer based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that gathers wholesome surplus food from commercial kitchens and distributes it to area charities that serve people in need.

She was first introduced to Keep Austin Fed (KAF) back in 2016 when I was working at Foundation Communities. When she left for a job at United Way for Greater Austin, a coworker of her’s asked if she would be interested in joining the KAF board, which she was. She joined the board in 2017 and loved the work that the board did in order to help improve the organization.