Collections by Michelle Brown Talks About Creating Change Conference 2019

The National Conference for LGBT Equality: Creating Change is the premier annual event of the National LGBTQ Task Force.

Creating Change was started in 1988, one year after the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay rights. The message of the 1987 March was clear: go home and get to work. It was because of this message that the Task Force soon found itself deluged with requests for resources, advice, and assistance. In order to deal with all these requests, they started a national organizing and training conference that organizers and activists could gather and teach each other – and build a stronger movement. The name of that conference was Creating Change.

Today, Creating Change has grown to over 3,500 attendees from all over the country, and from all walks of life. And it’s getting bigger every year. The five-day program will be held at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center January 23rd to 29th. A host committee working with dedicated task Force staff work tirelessly to put together the schedule. 

These activities have been led in part by host committee co-chair Bridie Mae Johnson and the Task Force’s Director of Creating Change Andy Garcia.

Andy joined the Task Force in May 2018 taking over the conference from  Sue Hyde who had served the Task Force since 1986, overseeing a range of initiatives in addition to the Creating Change Conference.  Bridie Mae Johnson is a licensed social worker who grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. With Native American, Caucasian and African American lineage, Johnson brings a unique perspective to all. She draws upon her roots to build spaces where diversity and inclusion can flourish.