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#UnitedLynnPride
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Mission
Mission
The mission of United Lynn Pride is to unite, engage, and empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community in the city of Lynn, MA through community events, education, outreach, and other various forms of support.
Leadership
Leadership
Board of Directors
Cristian Recinos
They/He/She
President/Executive Director
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Kelci Desruisseaux
She/Her
Board Member
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Jim Moser
He/Him
Board Member
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Alison Miller
She/Her
Board Member
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History
History
United Lynn Pride Inc. was officially established in the Fall of 2022. However, the celebration of Pride and LGBTQ+ Culture & Community has existed in Lynn, MA for generations.
Our organization endeavors to build upon the celebrations and advocacy of those who operated informally before us and laid the foundation for us to continue the work as a formalized organization.
Our Values
Our Values
Community & Wellness - We believe in the power of community. Through our work we aim to build, and strengthen, connection amongst the LGBTQ+ residents in the City of Lynn, and the Lynn Community as a whole. In strengthening our community we build collective wellness, improving our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. When the members of a community are able to unite together, is when their excellence shines the brightest
Diversity – We believe that the diversity of people is one of our greatest strengths. We celebrate diversity and endeavor to make people with different identities feel welcome, valued, and that they belong. As a part of celebrating diversity, we also recognize intersectionality and the disparities affecting people of marginalized identities
Respect & Empathy – We believe in the practice of giving and receiving mutual respect as a way of building trust & meaningful relationships. In practicing respect, we accept the difference in others, and foster tolerance and empathy. The importance of empathy cannot be overstated. By practicing empathy, we learn to have compassion for others emotions and a greater understanding of our shared humanity
Empowerment & Resilience – A goal of our organization is to make our community stronger. As members of a marginalized community it is more common that we will face adversity. However, we believe that our adversity can make us stronger, not just tear us down. As the LGBTQ+ community continues to face discrimination, it is important we remain resilient, learning how to cope and adapt to challenges
Social Justice – We are committed to working towards a more equitable society. It is an unfortunate reality that unequal access to opportunity remains a problem in these times. In our work we do our best to promote the tenets of equity and inclusion. We believe in solidarity with other marginalized communities, as all oppression is linked & nobody is equal until all people are equal
Joy & Celebration – We value LGBTQ+ joy, and believe that happiness is important to the act of social liberation. In celebrating our community, we honor our achievements and sustain the hope that is essential to our mission for a better world
Education & Growth – In our work we build spaces to learn and reflect. Education is crucial to an individual’s growth. We believe it is important to foster the spirit of lifelong learning and continuous growth. This process can include mistakes, different styles of learning, and recognizing that everyone may be in different stages of their learning journey
Advocacy & Awareness – We believe in having a continuous understanding of the issues affecting our community & raising awareness about our community needs. In our work as an organization we advocate and support any positive changes to resolve these issues
Service & Collaboration – We believe in the power of service, volunteering time, energy, and effort for a cause greater than the individual and that it is a shared responsibility to assist one’s community. In this belief, we welcome collaboration in achieving our organizational goals. We understand that through unity and determination we are able to have a more transformative impact by working with others
Passion & Ferocity – Our best work is achieved when done with a strong sense of purpose and passion. Passion is the guiding flame which fuels our actions and keeps us feeling fulfilled and connected to the work. In the pursuit of creating change and overcoming difficult challenges, it is crucial that we remain fierce in working towards our goals
Our Logo
Our Logo
United Lynn Pride’s logo was created by artist Katherine (Kat) Herbst-Rubio during a 2022 Pride Planning Committee meeting. Below are some notes from Kat.
The logo is hand-drawn with help from my partner! It is meant to reflect the diverse, welcoming and supportive community_ that had come together, as well as the love I have felt from the LGBTQ+ community__________________________________-_
The word UNITED is curved along the top to give the notion_ of a rainbow's arch with the colors of the letters, symbolizing_ the meanings of the traditional Pride flag colors: Red for_____ Life,____ Orange for Healing, Yellow for Sunlight, Green for__ Nature, Blue for Harmony, & Purple for Spirit.______________
Depicted below is an embrace between hands of two different tones, proudly symbolizing the racial diversity of the Lynn___ community.In the center is a heart with the colors__________ now_included in the Progress Pride Flag. White, Light Blue __ and Light Pink representing the Trans community, & Black and Brown representing Queer Trans People of Color (QTPOC).___
Lastly the words LYNN PRIDE across the center represent the powerful love found in the beloved City of Lynn! 🙂_________
Lynn, MA
Lynn, Massachusetts
United Lynn Pride would like to acknowledge that the City of Lynn is located within land that is part of the ancestral home to the Naumkeag band of the Massachusett tribe, a nomadic indigenous population.
We ask that anyone reading this statement take some time to reflect on this information and the relationship we have to this history and indigenous communities that exist today.
Please visit the resources below to learn more and consider how you can transform your thoughts into action.
Lynn, is one of the oldest areas of Massachusetts. First settled as a town in 1629 and later incorporated as a city in 1850.
Today the City of Lynn is the 8th largest municipality in Massachusetts and the largest city in Essex County, with a population of over 100,000 residents.
Including Essex County, the city is distinctly located amongst three geographic areas, the other two being Greater Boston, and the North Shore.
Known for it's industrial history the City of Lynn has been a focal point for immigrants seeking the American Dream, formerly known as the "Shoe Capital of the World". Today the city continues to be home to a large immigrant population and is recognized as a Gateway City by the state of Massachusetts.
Lynn is a majority-minority city, and it is this racial diversity that is one of the most powerful characteristics that makes Lynn a wonderful place to live.
Other factors that make the city beautiful include the abundance of open natural spaces, rich arts and culture scene, & variety of businesses and organizations providing a number of different services to the community.
To learn more about the City of Lynn, historically and today, please visit some of the links below.
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