Equality Virginia [[link removed]]
John,
Just like that, August has slipped away into a moment in time. But before we fully welcome September, I thought i'd take a few minutes to update you on our strategic planning.
Starting in June, we began a collaborative six-month planning process with Avi and Sarah at the The Spark Mill [[link removed]] to refresh our organizational mission, vision, and values and create a strategic plan that reflects our values, the board’s vision, the staff’s work and the needs of LGBTQ+ Virginians. We pulled together a Strategic Planning Team that includes a few Board members-- Bryan, Ali and Charley-- and a few staff members-- myself, Kyleigh, and Ariana. The key role of the SPT is to help decide who to engage from our community and how best to speak with them, review information gathered, and finally, help shape the Strategic Plan for Board approval.
As we began this process, Sarah and Avi have engaged with stakeholders identified by the SPT to understand community wants, needs, desires, and barriers that may impact our work. We also launched a Community Listening Survey [[link removed]] so stakeholders across all regions of Virginia can weigh in. FYI, there's still time to take the listening survey to ensure your voice is heard and included.
Last week, Equality Virginia staff gathered for a day-long strategic planning staff retreat. The purpose of this retreat was to engage Equality Virginia staff in strategically thinking about what the organization could, should, and wants to do over the next three years.
So, what's next?
Well, in a few weeks the SPT will gather to review a preliminary findings report that includes analysis from the interviews and community survey. In October, Sarah and Avi will meet with our Board of Directors for the Board's strategic planning retreat. From there, our strategic plan will come into shape and we'll create a plan to implement it.
While we're only halfway through this process, two things are clear-- reflection requires bravery, and everyone is clearly committed to building and reimagining an Equality Virginia the community needs and deserves.
I'm looking forward to sharing more with you soon. I hope you'll join us at this year's Commonwealth Dinner [[link removed]] , the largest black-tie event for LGBTQ+ Virginians, to hear more about our strategic planning and the work ahead, but most of all to have a night of fun!
In Community,
Narissa Rahaman (she/her)
Executive Director
Equality Virginia

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Equality Virginia
530 East Main Street
Suite 600
Richmond, VA 23219
United States
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