The Outwords Archive (OUTWORDS)

JOB LISTING: Staff Assistant, Los Angeles 20 hrs/wk, $17.28/hr The Outwords Archive (OUTWORDS) records, preserves, and shares the stories of LGBTQ+ elders across the United States, to build community and catalyze social change. Since 2016, OUTWORDS has recorded over 325 interviews in 42 states with the queer generation who mostly came of age in the 1950s and 1960s, and are now in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. It is critically important for us to document the diverse firsthand accounts of these elders while they are still alive to tell them. JOB DESCRIPTION OUTWORDS seeks a skilled freelance Staff Assistant excited by, and dedicated to, the organization’s mission, vision, and core values. We're looking for a self-motivated, independent worker with outstanding organizational and communication skills. The Staff Assistant works directly with the Executive Director, Operations Director, and Communications Director. More info: https://lnkd.in/g4HNzrns

I really enjoyed having this conversation about community archives and my work as Digital Archive Coordinator at The Outwords Archive (OUTWORDS)! You can watch the recording below. 💚✨

For high school students: We are excited to launch our application for Youspeak Radio at One Institute. Youspeak Radio is an audio project that explores intergenerational conversations with LGBTQ+ trailblazers, led by high school students. Over a four-month period, students will acquire knowledge in storytelling, audio documentary, and oral history, in addition to learning about LGBTQ+ history collections from ONE Archives at the USC Libraries. Following a series of workshops, each students will be paired with and interview an LGBTQ+ adult leader and produce a podcast episode of their conversation on the past, present, and future of queer and trans humanity. Participants will receive an honorarium of $250 for completing the program. Student applicants from Los Angeles County are preferred, though we welcome high school students from across the U.S. to apply. The deadline to apply is Sunday, March 31, at 11:59 PM Pacific. Youspeak Radio 2024 is organized in collaboration with The Outwords Archive (OUTWORDS). Students can learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/g2DQfZtg

We are so excited to be partnering with Darrius on this! Please share this opportunity with all the Atlanta-area young people in your life!

Over the past 5+ years, OUTWORDS has provided top-flight DEI programs featuring LGBTQ+ elders for companies and large organizations including Microsoft, Disney, Capital One, AARP, Everytown For Gun Safety, and others. Check out our full brochure and let us know if your company is interested in bringing us in, and feel free to share with your networks!

Dear OUTWORDS community, The OUTWORDS $100K Living Proof Campaign is nearly over, and we are so close to our goal - $97,037 out of $100K!!! If you haven’t contributed yet but still want to join the fun(d) for queer and trans futures, then click here: https://lnkd.in/gRzw_7_x LIVING PROOF. For every queer and trans youth who needs it. Proof that their future can be bright.   Please help us spread the word.   With gratitude, and heartfelt wishes to you and yours for a healthy and purposeful 2024,   Mason Funk Founder and Executive Director, OUTWORDS

Dear OUTWORDS community, Two weeks ago, we launched the OUTWORDS $100K Living Proof Campaign – an all-out sprint to see if we could raise $50,000 (on top of $50,000 already received) in support of queer and trans youth.    We're now at $94,837 out of $100K! Amazing, right?? We are humbled and so grateful.   Please donate today. Your contribution could put us over the top. Wouldn’t that be exciting? https://lnkd.in/gRzw_7_x At the dawn of a new year, please help provide living proof to queer and trans kids that their lives can be long and glorious. Their lives have meaning. Their futures are bright.   In hope and solidarity,   Mason Funk Founder and Executive Director, OUTWORDS

Dear OUTWORDS community, We hope you are enjoying safe & festive holidays with those you hold dear.   Here at OUTWORDS, we’ve been feeling plenty festive, thanks in large part to your support for our $100K Living Proof Campaign - we've raised $78,837 of our $100,000 goal! Thank you so much for your support! Your contributions will help us record and share many more LGBTQ+ elder stories, providing living proof to queer and trans youth that they, too, can live long, meaningful lives. If you haven’t done so yet, please join our year-end celebration by donating today. Help us reach $100K by December 31: https://lnkd.in/gRzw_7_x With your help, we’ll provide living proof to every kid who needs it. Yours truly,   Mason Funk Founder and Executive Director, OUTWORDS

Dear OUTWORDS community, Three days ago, I shared the exciting news of two $25,000 donations to OUTWORDS. Thank you again to the California Wellness Foundation and the Stupski Foundation for their support for queer and trans youth.   Emboldened by these generous gifts, I announced the OUTWORDS $100,000 Living Proof Campaign. With $50,000 already in the bank, we thought, “What if we try to raise an additional $50K in donations by New Year’s Eve?”   Guess what? As of this morning, we have already added $15,901 to the $50,000 we started with. That puts us at $65,901 towards our total goal of $100,000!   We see this campaign as a party to celebrate the LGBTQ+ elders whom OUTWORDS interviews, and the LIVING PROOF they provide that queer and trans youth of today can also have long, fulfilling lives.   Please join the party today by making a donation of any amount: https://lnkd.in/gxQwkxUC As always, thank you for your continued support.   Gratefully,   Mason Funk Founder and Executive Director, OUTWORDS

Dear friends, We’ve got amazing news! In the past month, OUTWORDS has received two unsolicited $25,000 donations, from the California Wellness Foundation and the Stupski Foundation.   We’re honored and beyond grateful that these two bold, progressive organizations told us, in no uncertain terms, that they believe in OUTWORDS and what we’re doing.   These two $25K gifts set off quite a celebration at OUTWORDS, and today, I want to invite you to the party. It’s called the OUTWORDS $100K Living Proof Campaign, an all-out sprint to see if, with your participation, we can raise an additional $50K – converting $50K into $100K – by December 31.   Why Living Proof? Because this is what OUTWORDS offers to queer and trans youth through our interviews with LGBTQ+ elders: LIVING PROOF that they, too, can live long, happy, meaningful lives.    This is your invitation to join the party by making a donation of any amount to OUTWORDS, which you can do here: https://lnkd.in/gxQwkxUC Please join us! We’ll keep you posted as additional guests arrive. Together, we can raise $50K by New Year’s Eve.   With gratitude for your generosity,   Mason Funk Founder and Executive Director, OUTWORDS