Awardees
Please join us in congratulating these exemplary organizations and individuals and as we work in unison to equip our future leaders and ensure the legacy of strong leadership within our community.
THE R. Scott Hitt Internship
in Leadership Development
2010
THE WILLIAMS INSTITUTE
CRAIG KONNOTH
The Williams Institute advances sexual orientation law and public policy through rigorous, independent research and scholarship, and disseminates it to judges, legislators, policymakers, media and the public. A national think tank at UCLA Law, the Williams Institute produces high quality research with real-world relevance.
Experts at the Williams Institute have authored dozens of public policy studies and law review articles, filed amicus briefs in key court cases, provided expert testimony at legislative hearings, been widely cited in the national media, and trained thousands of lawyers, judges and members of the public. By providing new ideas and reliable information, the Williams Institute makes a difference.
http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/home.html
Gay Straight Alliance
Laura Wadden
Gay-Straight Alliance Network is a youth leadership organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources through peer support, leadership development, and training.
GSA Network supports young people in starting, strengthening, and sustaining GSAs and builds the capacity of GSAs to:create safe environments in schools for students to support each other and learn about homophobia and other oppressions,educate the school community about homophobia, gender identity, and sexual orientation issues, and
fight discrimination, harassment, and violence in schools.
2009
International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Campaign (IGLHRC)
Ryan Richard Thoreson
At the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Campaign (IGLHRC) in New York City, Ryan Richard Thoreson worked primarily on African research projects - specifically the IGLHRC's Senegal Report. He also composed opinion editorials for the Metro Weekly and Bay Windows publications. In an effort to reach out to human rights activists and academics, Ryan organized and spoke on panels at CUNY, NYU Law, and the NGO Committee at the UN. As part of his training in fundraising and development, Ryan worked on two IGLHRC gala events in New York and San Francisco.
AIDS Project Los Angeles
Elana Stone
At AIDS Project Los Angeles, Elana Stone had the opportunity to mentor with the agency’s leadership and to develop advanced professional skills in advocacy and non-profit management. Elana rotated through multiple departments at APLA, such as Communications, Client Case Management, State-wide Advocacy with visits to elected officials in both the state and federal offices and Fundraising and Development where she focused on AIDS Walk Los Angeles and other events. Elana worked with APLA’s treatment educators, the Los Angeles Women and HIV Task Force, participated in the Regional AIDS Housing Summit, attended an Institute of Medicine Committee hearing on HIV Disability Criteria for Social Security, and worked to organize Capitol Hill visits for a contingent at the AIDSWatch advocacy event in Washington, D.C. Elana reflected on her experience, “I’ve always had a passion for social justice and have jumped at new leadership opportunities – but to be selected as a Hitt Intern felt like a vote of confidence in my desire to explore the possibilities and complexities of LGBT leadership before needing to finalize a direction for graduate studies. Receiving the permission as well as the directive to cultivate relationships with incredible mentors is both humbling and inspiring.”
2008
NO/AIDS Task Force / New Orleans
Erik Knudsen
At NO/AIDS Task Force in Louisiana, R. Scott Hitt Intern Eric Knudsen gained valuable hands-on experience at the South Gulf’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS service organization. He began his internship recruiting gay and bi men for the social HIV prevention program Re:Vision. He then became certified to test the public for HIV and traveled around the city with a mobile testing unit. Working alongside NO/AIDS social worker Mark Drake, Eric helped draft a grant request from the Louisiana Public Health Institute seeking funds for an awareness campaign to reduce smoking in the HIV and LGBT population. While carrying out the program, Eric attended monthly political action and coalition building trainings around the state and worked with other agencies in the region.
At the close of this internship, NO/AIDS offered Eric permanent employment. Reflecting on his experience with the organization, Eric is quick to say “I can’t believe how fortunate I was to have this experience, and my life is incredibly fuller because of it.”
The R. Scott Hitt Foundation
A.N.G.L.E. Summer Internships
2010
IN the Mean time men's Group Inc.
Steven emmanuel martinez
“In The Meantime Men’s Group, Inc. is purposed to enrich, empower, and extend the lives of intergenerational black men, respectful of sexual orientation, through social, educational, health and wellness programs and services.”
Over the past 10 years In The Meantime has been on the forefront of creating an environment that supports, empowers and educates black, gay, same gender-loving and bi-sexual men in Los Angeles County.
Through an integrated holistic approach to wellness, In The Meantime (ITMT) focuses on the mental/emotional, physical, spiritual, and economic well being of a community that is oftentimes isolated and excluded from mainstream society.
ITMT facilitates three home-grown HIV/AIDS empowerment prevention programs, two (weekly) social discussion support groups, peer and group counseling, a black men’s wellness conference, a three day men’s empowerment retreat, the SOLA Meth Crystal Meth Taskforce, and the South Los Angeles Black Gay Men’s Taskforce, computer training, a quarterly community publication (Message In The Meantime), an online weekly newsletter, and a host of community and cultural events that focus on community building that include a King Day Celebration and a Kwanzaa Celebration.
ITMT’S most recent program addition is a community drop-in center that provides a relaxed social environment for youth programming, and HIV/AIDS testing and counseling activities.
EQUALITY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE / Southern California
eLIZABETH bEIER
Since it was founded in 1998, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals to a state with some of the most comprehensive civil rights protections in the nation.
EQCA works to achieve equality and secure legal protections for LGBT people. To improve the lives of LGBT Californians, EQCA sponsors legislation and coordinates efforts to ensure its passage, lobbies legislators and other policy makers, builds coalitions, develops community strength and empowers individuals and other organizations to engage in the political process.
In the past decade, EQCA has successfully passed more than 60 pieces of civil rights legislation for the LGBT community – more than any other statewide LGBT organization in the nation.
Working in partnership with California’s LGBT Legislative Caucus, EQCA is committed to building a better future for all Californians by protecting youth, strengthening families and empowering communities. Each year at the Capitol, EQCA monitors thousands of bills and leads the state’s efforts to defeat legislation that could have a negative impact on LGBT Californians and their families.
EQCA, on behalf of its members, is an organizational plaintiff in the historic lawsuit asking the California Supreme Court to strike down state law that bars same-gender couples from marriage. In court, EQCA has also successfully defended California’s domestic partnership laws and related state policies that have been implemented in response to EQCA-sponsored legislation
2009
San Diego LGBT Pride
Allan F. Acevedo
Allan Acevedo’s dream is to enter into a joint-degree program where he can attain a J.D. and MBA in non-profit business management—eventually leading a social justice non-profit organization to “make the world a better place. Allan applied for an A.N.G.L.E. Summer Internship with San Diego Pride, where he helped execute the annual festival and parade. Allan worked with local municipalities and police to coordinate a torch relay around the city and county of San Diego. Allen also trained volunteers and lead a youth component at the festival. In his words, “If we want the civil rights battles of our generation to have the impact of a movement, then we must develop not only the issues and messages of our causes, but the knowledge base and expertise of our leaders. It is this understanding of the demand for competent leaders that attracted me to the Scott Hitt Foundation.”
Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance - San Bernardino
Paula Arnett
ANGLE Summer Intern Paula Arnett gained valuable experience at Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance, mentoring youth to organize and fundraise for an event for LGBTQ youth in San Bernardino. The summit required networking and organizing workshops with local artists and entertainment and served as a model for future RYPA outreach events.
Gay Straight Alliance / Southern California
Luis Roman
Gay-Straight Alliance Network is a youth leadership organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources through peer support, leadership development, and training.
GSA Network supports young people in starting, strengthening, and sustaining GSAs and builds the capacity of GSAs to:
create safe environments in schools for students to support each other and learn about homophobia and other oppressions,
educate the school community about homophobia, gender identity, and sexual orientation issues, and
fight discrimination, harassment, and violence in schools
2008
ONE Institute - The Gay & Lesbian Archives
Johanna Michael
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archive houses the world's largest research library on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender heritage and concerns. During her A.N.G.L.E. Summer Internship, Johanna Michael curated an exhibit about L.A. Pride/Christopher Street West. Johanna solicited funds to produce the exhibit, and processed the items to display by selecting and preparing images, finding physical items such as ads, T-shirts and flags, and writing copy for each item. Johanna continued to volunteer with ONE after her internship was completed.
Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance - San Bernardino
Amanda Weil
At the Rainbow Youth Pride Alliance, A.N.G.L.E. Summer Intern Amanda Weil organized a summit for Gay Straight Alliance representatives to network, and learn valuable skills to create change at their schools. Amanda worked with local organizations to put on the event, wrote grants for funding, and mentored youth. After the summer, Amanda continued to volunteer with RYPA.