From the Board Chair/December 2024
Dear Nevada County Pride Community,
As 2024 draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to reflect on an extraordinary year of growth, connection, and celebration. Together, we have demonstrated the power of community to foster inclusivity, amplify voices, and inspire meaningful change in our community.
This year, Nevada County Pride expanded its presence through diverse and impactful events, each bringing unique opportunities to unite and uplift our community. In June, our biggest event of the year, with 350 attendees, was our Pride Family Picnic, featuring over 20 community organization tables sharing important resources. June also brought us the first ever June Pride Month Proclamation from Grass Valley, joining Nevada City who has done this for many years.
Later in the summer, our presence at the Nevada County Fair exemplified how visibility fosters understanding. For five days in August, our booth served as a hub of resources, information, and camaraderie for the LGBTQ+ community, allies, and curious fairgoers. This effort, supported by dedicated volunteers, brought our mission of inclusivity into the heart of our county’s cherished traditions.
November marked a poignant and reflective moment with the Transgender Day of Remembrance, honoring those who have faced violence and discrimination for living authentically. Our theme, “Strength Through Unity: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers,” reminded us of the transformative power of solidarity. The event emphasized that by coming together, we can overcome prejudice, advocate for change, and build a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and loved.
Beyond these signature events, we continued to build community through our monthly potlucks, support groups, Onyx at the Nevada Theatre movie event, and “Breaking Down Barriers” podcast with a panel of local youth, fostering connections in informal and welcoming settings. These gatherings provided opportunities for deepening relationships and celebrating our shared commitment to inclusivity.
These achievements were only possible because of you—our dedicated volunteers, generous donors, and passionate participants. Your contributions of time, energy, and resources made every event a success and reaffirmed the strength of our collective commitment to building an inclusive Nevada County.
Looking ahead to 2025, we are inspired to dream bigger and reach further. Our Board just completed our strategic planning with these five priorities: Increase Visibility, Cultivate Community Relationships, Financial Stability, Intergenerational Engagement, and Build Organization Capacity. Plans are already underway for new initiatives, expanded programming, and deeper partnerships that will continue to support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Together, we will build on the foundation we’ve created, ensuring that Nevada County remains a place where everyone can thrive.
Our all-volunteer Board of Directors leads this effort, and I am grateful for their dedication and engagement, with special thanks to Victor Estrada-Hildebrand who is “retiring” from the Board.
Lastly, we are still looking to fill 2025 Board openings and welcome your questions, and interest. You can contact me at rick@nevadacountypride.org or any board member. Our board meetings are open to the public and normally occur monthly on the third Friday at 10:30 AM. We meet in the community room at the Madelyn Helling Library at the NC Rood Government Center. Please check our website calendar to confirm date, time and place.
Hopefully you will be able to join us at our final event of 2024, our (Almost) New Years Eve Potluck on December 28th, 2024.
Thank you for being an integral part of this incredible journey. Wishing you a joyous and inclusive holiday season and a bright start to the New Year!