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New Collaborative to Support LGBTQ People of Color

LGBT Detroit has become the facilitator of the Detroit Bi, Trans, Lesbian, Gay and Queer Anti-Violence Collaborative, formally known as the Michigan Network of Bi, Trans, Lesbian, Gay and Queer Survivors of Abuse (MI Network). The appointed facilitator is Jacqulyn Hippe, community advocate and counselor of LGBT Detroit's Healing and Support Services program.
"This Collaborative is an evolution of the MI Network to establish an intersectional and trauma-informed approach to advocacy for bi, trans, lesbian, gay, and queer people of color who are survivors of abuse," said Hippe.
The Collaborative brings together service providers from various community organizations, like Equality Michigan, WC SAFE, Affirmations, HAVEN, LaVIDA, Turning Point and First Step to uplift unheard voices and "invisible" identities, specifically LGBTQ people of color.
This work uses an intersectional lens to identify current gaps in services for survivors of violence within an urban context taking into account historical trauma and epigenetics. Additionally, it is an educational forum to identify the needs of diverse communities in the Metro-Detroit area by providing culturally specific/sensitive workshops and trainings for members of roundtable.
It is a space to collaborate on LGBTQ-specific assessment for services and a location to provide resource referrals. The main goal of the Collaborative is to promote LGBTQ POC leadership and support, and increase prevention education and training opportunities for community resources that service LGBTQ POC. The Collaborative meets every two months on the fourth Friday, beginning June 29.
The Macomb Community Domestic Violence Council is a founding organizer of the MI Network. The MI Network creates community and organizational change to respond to abuse and promote healthy relationships in LGBTQ communities. Affirmations, HAVEN, Equality Michigan and Turning Point are the founding organizers of the MI Network. As a survivor centered movement promoting healthy relationships, they offer a gender robust approach to responding to and preventing LGBTQ+ partner abuse and sexual violence that is centered on self-determination and anti-oppression values. They work in solidarity with the NW Network and The Network/La Red.
For the last seven years, MI Network has responded to abuse by providing training and technical assistance to domestic and sexual violence organizations on LGBTQ abuse. Additionally, the organization has engaged LGBTQ communities in discussions around community accountability and responses to survivors. The Collaborative prevents abuse by facilitating relationship skills classes for LGBTQ communities, and by connecting people who share these values and goals with each other through the MI Network Roundtable, a group of service providers dedicated to learning more about LGBTQ abuse.
For more information about the Collaborative, please contact Jacqulyn Hippe at 313-397-2127.

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