NWA Center plans Equality Ball

The Northwest Arkansas Center for Equality will hold its eighth annual Northwest Arkansas Equality Ball on Friday, November 14, at Fayetteville Town Center. The gala and silent auction features returning Emcee Chris Goddard, and Fayetteville, AR Mayor Lioneld Jordan as a speaker. According to new NWA Center President Chaz Allen, Jordan “has been a huge supporter of the LGBTQ community in Fayetteville.

In addition, country star and activist Chely Wright will be performing. Allen says, “This is our first time bringing in entertainment at this level, so we’re all looking forward to her performance. It’s going to be a very fun and exciting night!”

Tickets are $60 each, and a table of eight can be purchased for $480, which includes a few perks (drink tickets and priority seating). Tickets are available at www.nwaequality.org.

The gala event is the NWA Center for Equality’s major fundraising event of the year. In addition to individual and group ticket sales, both Walmart and Sam’s Club are presenting sponsors of the Equality Ball. Walmart has been a supporter of the Center since its beginning, and since 2011 has donated over $30,000 to the Center. Allen says, “We certainly could not have accomplished all that we have without Walmart’s generous support.”

Proceeds from the event go to support the Center’s programming. Allen says, “We have a lot to be proud of this year. One of the biggest successes in my eyes is our Pride Festival, which we had on June 14 in Wilson Park in Fayetteville. It was a wonderful community event, with over 300 people in attendance.” In addition, the Center has gone through a rigorous strategic planning period over the last several months, and hosted a statewide LGBTQ summit in March at the University of Arkansas, which had very strong participation and engagement, with nine different presenters and over 100 attendees from all over the state and region. NWA Center had an active role in the origination and development of the anti-discrimination ordinance adopted by the Fayetteville City Council in August. Since it has been challenged and will go to a vote on December 9, the Center is continuing its education and get out the vote efforts.

For the coming year, based on results of the strategic planning process, the Center has added positions to the board, including one specific to overseeing transgender services. Allen says, “The transgender community is extremely active and growing, and we are responding to that growth and to their particular needs.” Other programs include NWA HOPE, their HIV/AIDS testing, education and outreach program with a new outreach to the homeless community in the area; an expansion of the Outivities program; June Pride; the Equality Ball; and another LGBTQ summit, which Allen hopes will become an annual education event.

Chaz Allen is the new president of the NWA Center for Equality. He is a project manager at Walton Arts Center, where he has managed projects including a $23 million expansion and renovation of the facility. Allen currently lives in nearby Bentonville with his boyfriend and fellow NWA Center for Equality board member Jordan Garcia.

by Rob Howard, Associate Editor

The Gayly – November 5, 2014 @ 10:10am