Reflection

Well, I've been home for two days and I'm already getting back into the swing of 'normal' life. Can't say I like it compared to how I spent last week. I'm listening to fun. right now and my phone has been going off like crazy all day from the group text all the ABTers have been talking on since the trip started. It makes me miss them a ton, and miss all the experiences we had together.

I spent last night having a glass of wine with a friend and talking about how the trip went. It was hard to really put it into words other than 'awesome'. We talked a lot about what I learned from the organizations I went to and how it can be applied to our jobs (she works at the crisis center with me) and how we can continue that type of work even though ABT is over.

One of the other ABTers applied for a job after returning home with an organization that works with individuals with AIDS and I'm so proud and excited for her! I'm also very inspired by her.

Basically what I'm saying is, I'm more than ready to continue service here in Michigan. My first project is going to be pulling together the LGBTQ resource binder at work. I'm on-call this weekend so if something comes up, I may be able to start on it sooner rather than later - otherwise I'm hoping to start on Monday. I've already done a little research from home - especially networking with the LGBT Resource Center at my University as well as checking out a list of internship sites from the Social Work program.

Additionally, I'm still blown away by the commitment and passion demonstrated by each of our service partners. It stirred something in me that is manifesting very emotionally. It also is a stark realization of how much better things could be if everyone just took a second to care. You don't have to spend five days of your life on a tour bus volunteering to make a difference. I can already list five local organizations that could use some volunteer help/donations to keep programming running right now.

If you're in the Michigan region, check these out! The Network, RED Project GR, Holland Is Ready, GVSU LGBT Resource Center, and fun.'s Detroit service partner the Ruth Ellis Center!

It really doesn't take much to get out there and do something. Let others know you are an ally and be a source of information for future allies. Speak up when someone uses derogatory language and amplify the voices of those who are silenced. Contact your local LGBT resource center and find out what they need most. Host a supply drive at your school or work. Put a TAC or HRC sticker on your notebook, car, water bottle, or phone case. Use it as a conversation starter. Most importantly, be a role model for others and show them that anyone can be an ally.

Hoping to continue to update this blog as I work on some of my goals from ABT. Thank you all for supporting me and thank you to the 11 incredible friends I have made - you all mean more than you know.

Atlanta

Today was a really wonderful day that is quite difficult for me to put into words, but for the sake of this blog, I'm going to try.

We began the morning in Atlanta at Georgia State University where we met up with Terrence, the representative for Youth Pride. YP is an organization that provides several types of services to LGBTQ individuals aged 13-24 in the Atlanta area. And when I say several, I mean it. Here are just a few that I can think of now:

Counseling

24/7 Helpline

Health clinic

HIV testing

Groups

Recreation

Movie night

And the best part is that all of those services are free for the youth accessing them. Terrence told us today that in the last year, Youth Pride has directly prevented 22 suicides. There are 22 individuals living well in Atlanta due to the incredible efforts of YP staff. Allow me to mention again the feeling I've been getting when meeting individuals from these organizations. I am completely blown away by their passion, talent, and dedication to what they do. 

We spent the morning with Youth Pride handing out cards and spreading awareness for YP and the services offered. Several of the students were very receptive to our message and it felt great to point them in the direction of great resources. 

After service, we returned to the bus and had a conversation that became really important and really drove home the point of what we were all doing on ABT. The work we've done this week wasn't necessarily directly with clients or individuals utilizing the services at these non-profits and sometimes that can make you feel like you aren't making a difference. But that is definitely not true! Everything we did this week, from painting, to cleaning a community center, to tabling made a HUGE difference for these organizations. Non-profits rely on volunteers to do the work that they may not have the funding or the time for. So take the time to drop off some donations, paint a wall, or clean an office. Help fill the gap that so many non-profits struggle to fill! 

We had some down time this afternoon before heading to the concert venue for our last Equality Village. Those of you following the hashtag may have seen the new ink that some of the ABTers got this afternoon...how cool is that? We've bonded intensely over this trip. I will likely never have another experience like this one.

And Equality Village rocked tonight. Being our second show, we were old pros at running all the moving parts involved in what you see when you visit. We had fun doing it and I think every one of us experienced something special.

Tonight I was selling raffle tickets when I was approached by a woman who wanted to buy 6 of them (!). She told me that her son had come out to her a few years ago and that she was completely accepting of him and only wished that he had told her sooner so he wouldn't have had to struggle alone. She said she wanted so badly to live in a world where anyone can come out and immediately be accepted for who they are and that's why she was so excited about The Ally Coalition. The conversation was incredibly moving. I hardly knew how to reply. Allies: Be loud and proud. Let others know that you support and accept them regardless. And keep your eyes on the prize: a world where LGBTQ individuals can live without fear.

Like always, the ABTers had a wonderful time at the fun. concert. Afterwards, we all met up and went backstage for some ice cream and a chat with the guys (Thanks Ben & Jerry's!). We talked at length about how our service projects went, how Equality Village went, and how to best serve non-profits. Nate, Andrew, and Jack are so so passionate about the cause and miss being able to check in with the Equality Village. They also mentioned wanting to work again with the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit, MI as they are hoping to expand their available space to serve more youth at once. (Visit their website if you'd like to help! www.ruthelliscenter.org) I can't say enough about how wonderful the guys are and how honored I am to have been chosen for this trip.

 Tonight was when it really hit us that we're going home tomorrow. We chatted with Mike and Paul, thanked them for their help with everything, and reflected a little on the experience. There were some tearful eyes on the bus this evening. I'm completely serious when I say it feels like we've known each other forever. We've become a family. 

So tomorrow we head home. Can't say I'm happy about it. I'm going to miss my friends, the bus, the service, and of course, fun. But I suppose everything must come to an end sometime.

Tomorrow, We Ride

Good evening readers, friends, family, etc (Not sure what would go in the etc category....lurkers?)

Hope your weekend has started off well! Mine is sure to be something incredible.

That's right, tomorrow (in 7 hours!) I'll be on a plane headed for New Orleans, LA! There have been a few changes to the schedule, but if all goes as planned, I should be there by late morning. (BY late morning, YOU GOT THAT KAREN?) Ah yes. Tropical Storm Karen apparently can't just tell when it's raining (with her '5th sense'), she's the one doing it.

But the bags are packed. I'm exhausted. And I'm more than ready to get some sleep so I'll be ready for the start of a pretty great adventure tomorrow.

I'm hoping that I'll be able to learn some new things about LGBTQ issues, make some new connections with organizations, and be able to bring all of that back here to Michigan.

Be sure to keep up with my Instagram and Twitter (both @Liz_Burgess). I'll be updating those periodically, as well as this blog. Also check out our ABT partners: The Ally Coalition, Calling All Crows, and PFLAG (Links to the right!)

With love and sleepy eyes,

Liz

Counting Down!

Welcome back everyone. And welcome all newcomers to the page!

We're getting ever closer to ABT and, that being said, I'd like to get a few things out of the way.

First: We're entering into the FINAL push to reach my $800 fundraising goal. I've still got a fair amount to go and I have until THIS MONDAY, September 30 to reach it. If you're able to help, please visit my Fundraising Page and donate!

Second: For friends and family from the lakeshore area in Michigan, I'd like to take a minute to highlight TWO organizations that you can get involved in to make a difference in our community.

The first is Holland Is Ready. Their general mission is: "To work for the safety, rights, and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families in the greater Holland area." More recently, they've been tasked with fighting for LGBT individuals to be included in the Anti-discrimination ordinance and policies. The Holland City Council rejected this measure in June 2011. HIR is always looking for financial support as well as volunteers. Visit their website to learn more about how to get involved and follow them on Facebook/Twitter.

The second organization, which I've mentioned once previously, is PFLAG. The wonderful individuals there have a Holland/Lakeshore Chapter that meets once a month. Additionally, if you're not from the lakeshore area, visit PFLAG's website to find a chapter near you!

Finally, Straight For Equality has a super cool page set up just for the ABT! There you can learn more about the organizations we're working with, as well as the other volunteers I'll be traveling with. I'll also be highlighting each organization as I blog from the road.

With those details out of the way, let's move on to a real update!

This one will be a little shorter, but there are some important things to update you all on. My flight to New Orleans leaves one week from today! Can you believe it's almost here? I've begun final preparations on a few things, including verifying my vacation dates at work and getting ahead on homework. The homework part hasn't been nearly as exciting as everything else - I'm turning in two different assignments a week early due to my absences. But doing so is completely worth it!

One of the individuals I'll be volunteering with has set up an ABT specific Instagram account: @abtwithfun You'll be able to follow our adventures there as well as on my Instagram: @Liz_Burgess

Also, as you'll read from the Straight for Equality page, the official hashtag for the trip is #AllyCoalitionABT. You'll be able to search that hashtag on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to find updates from all of the volunteers, as well as the organizations we're working with. Feel free to share those posts with everyone on your social networks!

We also have our final conference call this week to hammer out the last of the details for the trip. I'll be passing some of those on to you in my final update before the trip.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to leave it in the comments, or contact me via social media.

Thanks for reading!

Touring for Equality's 1st Post!

Hey everyone!

If you've been directed here, I'm guessing it's safe to assume you're interested in learning about me, my Alternative Break Tour trip, and the fight for equality. If not, well, that's what you'll be getting.

First, let me start by giving you a little background on the trip for those of you that are unfamiliar.

Calling All Crows was founded about five years ago as a way to combine music and activism. The unique thing about this incredible organization is that they do not focus on one single issue. Rather, they complete service projects that involve many different types of issues like education, environmental policy, women's empowerment, and (my ABT focus) LGBTQ rights/marriage equality.

The Ally Coalition was founded just over a year ago by the band fun. and Rachel Antonoff. It raises awareness for LGBTQ equality by working with various individuals in the music, entertainment, and fashion world.

For their 10th Alternative Break Tour, CAC has partnered with fun., The Ally Coalition, and PFLAG to send 10 fans on tour with the band for five days where we will connect with local LGBTQ organizations, complete service projects, and participate in concert outreach. We'll be doing projects in New Orleans, LA, Houston, TX, and Atlanta, GA. Additionally, we'll be volunteering in TAC's Equality Village at each concert, and then get to enjoy the concert as fans.

I am very honored to have been chosen for this opportunity and I am very excited to get started. The trip begins two weeks from today in New Orleans, LA. If you're interested in helping to make this trip a possibility, I encourage you to visit my StayClassy page and donate to CAC. Every dollar donated will go towards our work on tour. My goal is to reach $800 by September 30, of which I've already made it a fair amount of the way thanks to some very generous friends and family.

Now that the essentials are out of the way, let's move on. I shall be updating this blog on a semi-regular basis before, during, and after the trip. I encourage you to check it out and/or sign up for email updates so you don't miss a thing! Also, I will be updating with more details on the trip as it gets closer, but if you have any questions about the trip, LGBTQ issues, or the involved organizations, leave them in the comments section and I'll get back to you!

Lastly, THANK YOU for joining me on this incredible ride. It is sure to be a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget.

Actual last thing: I besides the linkies in this post, I have linked to the various related websites on the sidebar. Feel free to check those out to find out how YOU can get involved in your own town! Additionally, there are links to my Twitter and Instagram where you can follow my trip in real time!

Til next time,

Liz