Our 2020 started with excitement, hopefulness and learning together as a team at Creating Change in “Dallas, Tx”. We returned ready to tackle the year starting with increasing support for LGBTQ+ youth and families, and expanding in-person services with our official launch event – Healthy Minds, Healthy Hearts on 3/15/20.  Of course, we know that 2020 had different plans. I am so proud of the work our team accomplished this year.

We leaned in at a time when our LGBTQ+ and HIV communities needed us most. We launched a brand-new food and resource access program to make sure our community members had a safe and affirming way to get what they needed. We worked with the Family Literacy Program to bring LGBTQ+ representation to virtual programming.  Partnered with Sewing Angels to make sure frontline child welfare staff had masks. Joined conversations with national partners to provide programming and to share our expertise. We’re proud of how we’ve been able to push health equity for our LGBTQ+ and HIV communities during this time, and were able to secure a few wins alongside our statewide partners.

We will continue to work each and every day to create spaces and opportunities for LGBTQ+ and HIV community members to be their authentic, courageous selves, assuring healthy minds and healthy hearts. 

From all of us at HLWF, we wish you health and joy in the New Year.

Sarah Rosso