Addressing the ongoing challenges that exist in working within the diverse panorama of Texas communities, this programming strand connects groups, organizations and individuals working in communities often in isolation.

Connect with allgo on our new social website. If you like facebook, then you’ll love this. Network with fellow queer people, groups & organizations of color, set up your own profile, join us in discussion, and share your stories with us. Go here and sign up; it’s fast and easy: http://allgoinc.ning.com/

The Network has the following goals:

Networking and Relationship Building:
The Network serves to nurture and sustain relationships and alliances among diverse organizers and organizations across Texas. Such efforts will serve to address the isolation often expressed among groups and individuals working in their respective communities.

Support Local and Regional Organizing Efforts:
The infrastructure developed by the Network provides the opportunity for community members across Texas to support work conducted in a particular community by promoting events and efforts and sharing resources and/or referrals to available resources. In addition, participants will engage in cross-training across the state as part of collective capacity building efforts.

Infrastructure Building for Rapid Mobilization:
With an increasingly hostile anti-LGBT environment, it has become critical for members of our communities and their allies across Texas to have access to information and ways in which they can be engaged in addressing a given issue. By connecting with organizations and organizers in local communities, allgo is in an ideal position to disseminate information and calls to action regarding the plethora of issues affecting our communities.

Information is disseminated via the Network’s email distribution lists and the Resource Site. In addition, conference calls are organized when appropriate to strategize the best methods for response to a particular pressing issue.

Support Teams (in development):
Comprised of activists seasoned in an array of areas, such as non-profit management, grassroots organizing, resource development and programming, these teams will work as a resource to local and statewide organizing efforts through sharing ideas, experiences, and strategies. Through combined experience and access to resources, these Support Teams will provide much needed support to Network members as they develop, implement and evaluate their local programming efforts. If you would like to participate as a support team member providing your expertise to assist other activists or if you have a request for technical assistance or information contact us.

Existing and upcoming activities in this area include:

allgo Newsletter: Published annually, the allgo Newsletter is one of the tools used to assist the network in staying informed and connected.  A new feature of the newsletter is to highlight a Texas activist/organizer and an organization.

Annual Statewide Summit: An annual event, the Summit provides more than 50 queer people of color and ally activists an opportunity to network, inspire, support each other, share resources and strategies, focus on self-care, and plan the specific collective actions of the coming year to bring us closer to social and economic justice. The 2009 Texas Statewide Queer People of Color Summit will be held July 9-11, 2010.

Regional Gatherings: Funding is currently being sought to support the convening of network members in regional gatherings to network, explore issues of concern in their communities, develop strategies to address these issues, and to share resources available to them.

Resource Directory: allgo will work to develop a Statewide Resource Directory for LGBT People of Color, which will include LGBT people of color organizations, non-people of color LGBT organizations and organizing efforts around issues affecting the lives of LGBT people of color. Funding is being sought for this initiative.

Statewide LGBT People of Color Resource Site and Calendar: This online resource, which will capture information about resources relevant to LGBT people of color, information about Network organizations, and a calendar capturing the events and programming of Network organizations. Funding is being sought for this initiative.