As part of their increasing efforts to build community among LGBTQ+ people in Rensselaer County, four non-profits, Collar City Pride, Pride Center of the Capital Region, In our Own Voices Inc, and Q-MoB, are collaborating to host the 1st Annual Rensselaer LGBTQ+ Community Gratitude Potluck at the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region in Troy, NY, 3:00-6:00 pm, 21 First Street, Troy, NY 12180.

This family-friendly event will feature:

• Family Style tables where guests will be encouraged to sit with both people they know & people they don’t know to build new connections & share things they are grateful for
• Supplemental sides, beverages, & entrees donated by Hannaford
• Accessible entrance to the building for people with mobility challenges. Masks are provided and encouraged at the event when folks are not eating or drinking.
• A community forum facilitated by In Our Own Voices, Inc in the last hour focused on how the LGBTQ+ community can better welcome and support transgender, gender non-conforming, & non-binary individuals.

“For many LGBTQ+ people, the holidays can sometimes be a challenging time because they may be estranged geographically or otherwise from their birth families while also not having as diverse a chosen family as they might want after the isolation of the COVID era and the divisiveness of this increasingly polarized time,” said Bart Church, Q-MoB’s Executive Director and one of the organizers of the Community Potluck. “Four non-profit organizations are therefore bringing the community together to share food, beverages, and stories about things we are grateful for, and to build connections and link people with the many ongoing activities and services that exist for the Rensselaer LGBTQ Community.”

“Collar City Pride is celebrating its first year operating in Rensselaer County, and we are so grateful to be able to give back to our community, as they have supported us wholeheartedly this past year,” said Meagon Nolasco, Collar City Pride Founder & Board President. “ LGBTQ+ individuals don’t always have safe and comfortable spaces just to socialize and exist authentically. It is our goal to continue creating these spaces in Rensselaer county so that queer folks know they are not alone. We hope that this gratitude potluck can become an annual tradition of gathering in community, while also highlighting the significance of November for our transgender siblings.”

WHAT TO BRING:

• A dish and/or non-alcoholic beverage to share with about 6 other people. Please make a small sign for your dish that discloses if it contains any of these common allergens/restrictions: dairy, gluten, eggs, meat/chicken/fish, nuts/peanuts, MSG, preservatives, food colors, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, soy, vegan, vegetarian, paleo, etc. Please note that if bringing a dish &/or beverage is a barrier to your attending, you need not, as there will be sides, entrees, and beverages donated by Hannaford.
• (optional) $10-$20 Tax-Deductible Donation Paid Online, in cash, or check made out to "Collar City Pride" to support the four non-profit organizations that are collaborating to produce this community potluck and other activities for the Rensselaer LGBTQ community
• A willingness to share things you are grateful for at a table with several other people from the community as a way of getting to know new & old friends. If sharing is a barrier for you, you need not.
• Friends in the Rensselaer LGBTQ Community, but please ask them to register online so we have an idea of how many tables we need & how much donated food we should have on hand

ALCOHOL & SAFETY POLICY:

• Masks are provided and encouraged at the event when folks are not eating or drinking.
• Because this is a family-friendly event, please do not bring alcohol or other substances inappropriate for children.
• To protect the group, people with any upper respiratory symptoms (cough, sneezing, runny nose) should not attend, and those with compromised immune systems or other risk factors should consult their doctor about whether attending this event will be safe for them and how best they can minimize their risk.

DIRECTIONS & PARKING: There is parking accessible from 1st Street, but if it is full, please park on the street.

CARPOOLING/RIDE-SHARE: Carpooling is a great way to get to know other people, save money on gas, and help to reduce your carbon footprint and save the planet. If you need a ride or are open to carpooling with people who live near you, please indicate that when you are registering, & our ride coordinator will try to match you with people nearby who are interested in carpooling or offering rides.

MORE INFO: If you have questions or would like to volunteer with setup, cleanup, or promotion of this event, please email mnolasco@collarcitypride.org or queermenoftheberkshires@gmail.com