LGBT POV

Black History Month is not just about remembering famous Black figures from the past; it is also about creating history now. On Wednesday, In The Meantime Men is spearheading a new effort to bring together Black LGBT individuals and organizations to create the Los Angeles Black LGBT Network – a “wrap around Black LGBT Group/Think Tank” to “network and strategize on ways that we will build a stronger support base to defend and fuel the varied interest of the Black LGBT constituency in Los Angeles,” says Jeffrey King, Executive Director of In The Meantime Men.

The meeting will be held at Jewel’s Catch One, 4067 W. Pico Blvd. in LA (90029) from 7:00p.m.- 9:00p.m.. Organizers request that people arrive on time since the meeting is tightly agendized.

King says:

“The month of February is a HIGH HOLY month for Black and African American people. It is a time when the world is called to focus its attention on the light that shines throughout the world as BLACK people. Black and African American people use this high vibration in time to sit with our roots, our history (American history) and remember where we have been, where we are today and our dreams for the future. Our history is rich and potent. It includes slavery; It endures racism and fights for change and social justice and equality for all people.

Los Angeles is a Mecca that has attracted some of the most creative and brilliant thinkers and activist anywhere. The Black LGBT community has and continues to be intimately intertwined with in the gumbo of Black culture and social activism – however, not always openly advocating for the rights and concerns of LGBT people. Today we continue to support our community while we expand to identify and to prioritize issues that impact Black LGBT people as only we can.

It is my hope that through the Los Angeles Black LGBT Network that all of the Los Angeles Black LGBT community will be able to work together support each other and advocate for change within the Black community, among our elected official, and within and on behalf of the larger LGBT community.”

Kings says the Black LGBT Network will

“provide advocacy and grassroots mobilization around social and policy issues that impact Black LGBT people in LA County; support local grassroots groups that represent Black LGBT people; provide mentorship and support for Black LGBT youth; and recognize, celebrate and highlight the unique gifts and talents of Black LGBT people in an effort to cultivate a health Black Community.”

King also stresses that this is not a program of In The Meantime Men, nor is it supported by any agency or with government funds. It is an all- volunteer effort to develop a Black LGBT Agenda for 2010 with the intention of promoting the best interests of the Black LGBT community.

The meeting will be facilitated by Siri Sat Nam, MA, MFT, Ph.D:

Siri Sat Nam Singh is a licensed therapist who has formerly worked in innumerable social service agencies within South Central Los Angeles where he has serviced diverse populations: substance-dependent individuals, battered women, domestic violence perpetrators, those living with HIV/AIDS, children at risk as well as those diagnosed severely psychotic. As a college professor Siri has taught several courses as Adjunct Faculty in the Psychology Department at National University. Siri has previously worked as Clinical Director, Group Facilitator, Consultant and Trainer in social service agencies. Presently, he is Clinical Supervisor (now completing the CAMFT and AAMFT Approved Supervisors’ Program) at New Directions for Youth in North Hollywood and Contract Therapist in Wrap Around at Starview in Compton, California; in addition, he is conducting a private practice with the following specialty: Difficult to Incurable Diseases and Severe Emotional Problems. Siri recently completed his Doctoral Dissertation entitled “A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN RAISED WITHOUT THEIR BIOLOGICAL FATHERS”.

Meeting Agenda

• Welcome/ The Black LGBT Network Purpose, Introduction of meeting facilitator/ Jeffrey King  5 minutes
• Self Introductions/ Ice Breaker: How do you currently feel about the Los Angeles Black LGBT community. (Everyone will respond to the question). 5minutes
• Identifying 2010 2011 Black LGBT Agenda Items/ Discussion 1hour
• Prioritize Agenda 30 minutes
• Next Steps 20 minutes
• Closing/ How do you feel about this first meeting, (Everyone will respond to the question).10 minutes

For more information, call (323) 733-4868 or visit www.inthemeantimemen.org