🌈 As we gear up for Aurora Pride 2024, we're thrilled to announce that nominations for the prestigious role of Grand Marshal are officially OPEN! 🎉
Do you know someone who embodies the spirit of Pride? Someone whose passion for equality, advocacy, and empowerment shines brightly in everything they do? 🌟 Now is the perfect moment to shine the spotlight on them and honor their contributions to our vibrant community! 🌈
Whether it's a fierce activist, a dedicated volunteer, an inspiring artist, or a beloved ally, we want to hear about those remarkable individuals who inspire us to stand tall and proud! 💖
To nominate someone for the esteemed role of 2024 Aurora Pride Grand Marshal, simply follow the link below with their name and a brief explanation of why you believe they deserve this incredible honor.
Let's make sure our Grand Marshal reflects the diversity, strength, and beauty of Aurora's LGBTQ+ community! 🌈
Make your nomination before May 1st, by CLICKING HERE.
[AD] Excellence is Inclusive with Rush Copley
[AD] Unstoppable Schedule-ability with Edward-Elmhurst Health
Nancy Mullen of Youth Outlook Named 2019 Aurora Pride Parade Grand Marshal
The Aurora Pride Parade is proud to announce our Grand Marshal for 2019!
Nancy Mullen is the executive director of Youth Outlook, the first not-for-profit organization serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and non-binary youth and working to increase visibility and understanding of LGBT youth issues in DuPage, Kane, Whiteside, LaSalle, DeKalb and suburban Cook Counties in Illinois. Nancy just celebrated her 20th anniversary with Youth Outlook, coming to the agency when it was only 6 months old. During her tenure, Youth Outlook has grown from a volunteer run social group with a single drop-in center to a recognized social services agency with drop-in centers in six counties including Transcend, a program specific to the interests and needs of trans youth in Naperville and Palatine, a youth leadership project, a healthy relationships program, parent support groups, a peer-led HIV prevention project and a thriving community education/professional development program.
A transplant to the Midwest, Nancy holds a Master of Social Work degree from Syracuse University, where she focused on clinical counseling with youth and families. She has worked in various aspects of human services, from direct counseling to program management to agency administration. Away from Youth Outlook and the world of social work, Nancy is 10 credits away from a culinary degree to become a pastry chef and is seeking a publisher for her first book, Urban Tidepool.
We couldn't think of a better person to represent the 2019 Aurora Pride Parade. We are happy to have you, Nancy!
2019 Aurora Pride Festival looking for sponsors
AURORA — The Aurora Pride Festival is looking for sponsors as planning gears up for its 2019 set of events, scheduled for June 7 through June 9.
With sights set higher than ever, the Aurora Pride Festival boasts numerous events throughout the weekend including a Rainbow Run 5K, Pride Marketplace, opening and closing celebrations, and of course, the Aurora Pride Parade. “It’s ambitious! We know. You powered the 2018 event and we need your help to power the 2019 event as well,” says Chuck Adams, Executive Director of Indivisible Aurora, in a letter to past and future sponsors. “There will be art, speakers, poetry, music, vendors, running, and… oh yes… a larger parade!”
Sponsorships for the 2019 Aurora Pride Parade range from $150 to $5,000+ with sponsor perks such as featured logos on select marketing materials, advertisements across social media, banners along the Pride Parade route, and even named sponsorship of one of the six major events during this family-friendly weekend.
For more information on the sponsorship levels and how to become a sponsor the 2019 Aurora Pride Festival, visit https://www.aurorapride.org/become-a-sponsor/.
All sponsorship payments are due by May 1, 2019.
If you are not looking to sponsor the 2019 Aurora Pride Festival but are interested in donating, a GoFundMe page will be available to accept payments later this week with more information being shared across Aurora Pride’s website, Facebook page, Facebook group and Twitter account.
Sponsor the Aurora 2019 Pride Festival!
We are looking for sponsors for the 2019 Aurora Pride Festival!
As you've heard, the 2019 Pride Festival is going to be bigger and better than ever with events such as a Rainbow Run 5K, Pride Marketplace, Opening and Closing events, and of course, the Indivisible Aurora Pride Parade!
For more information and a downloadable form, see below, or visit https://www.aurorapride.org/become-a-sponsor/!
Not looking to sponsor but you're interested in donating to this amazing cause? A GoFundMe page will be available to accept donations later this week. Stay tuned!
Thank you so much to all of our prior and future sponsors of Aurora Pride! We couldn't do this without you!
Indivisible Aurora receives Community Equality Award from HRC Chicago
CHICAGO — On Saturday, October 27th, Human Rights Campaign Chicago held their annual gala and auction at the Chicago Marriott in Downtown Chicago. Despite the masquerade theme of the night, there was no hiding the joy of the guests, volunteers, and staff that attended the event.
According to the HRC Chicago website, this annual gala and auction celebrates the great strides made for LGBTQ equality across the nation, including honoring local leadership excellence.
This year, Indivisible Aurora, a community advocacy group based out of Aurora, Illinois, was recognized for their outstanding effort in bringing the first-ever Pride Parade to the Chicago suburbs with the “Community Equality Award.” Gwyn Ciesla, Co-Chair of Aurora’s Inaugural Pride Parade and Director of LGBTQ and Alliance with Indivisible Aurora, accepted the award.
Gwyn Ciesla, accepting the “Community Equality Award” from Human Rights Campaign Chicago.
Photo credit: Chuck Adams, Executive Director of Indivisible Aurora
“I’m not sure that any of us who were involved with the Inaugural Aurora Pride Parade could have imagined that we would be where we are tonight. I mean that literally, but also as a community. We’ve all grown as individuals, and as an organization,” said Ciesla upon accepting the award. “Our teams and their captains did an astonishing amount of work over four short months.”
The idea of hosting Aurora’s Inaugural Pride Parade came in June 2017 as the nation approached the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre. It was Ciesla’s wife, Elisa, who suggested it was time to bring Pride to Aurora.
“Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois, with a diverse population, a growing economy, and even a reawakening downtown, complete with festivals, theater, music, and a wide variety of places to eat and drink… Why no Pride?” Ciesla continued, “Almost immediately, support began to appear. We were contacted by a wide variety of people, eager to volunteer, to march, and to help spread the word… who’d been waiting for something like this for many years.”
The parade efforts weren’t met without resistance, however. There were members of the community who sought to block the approval of the Pride Parade application, and on the day of the Parade, marchers were met with protesters, but only a few.
“People of all ages, sexual and gender identities, faiths and walks of life came, and we had a BLAST. We sang, we danced, we laughed. There were some tears, too,” said Ciesla.
Pictured left to right: Penelope Garcia (Gala Co-Chair, HRC Chicago and Member, Indivisible Aurora), Elisa Larche-Ciesla (Member, Indivisible Aurora), Gwyn Ciesla (Director of LGBTQ and Alliance, Indivisible Aurora and Co-Chair, Aurora’s Inaugural Pride Parade), Chuck Adams (Executive Director, Indivisible Aurora), Kimberly Adams (Co-Chair, Aurora’s Inaugural Pride Parade and Member, Indivisible Aurora)
Photo credit: Chuck Adams, Executive Director of Indisible Aurora
So what’s next for the LGBTQ+ community of Aurora?
The date of Aurora’s second annual Pride Parade has been set for Sunday, June 9, 2019. In addition, the Aurora Pride Parade has expanded into the Aurora Pride Festival which will include activities all weekend long including a speaker series, marketplace, 5K, and more.
“We’ll continue to demonstrate to the members of the Aurora family that all are welcome, and to the city at large, that we are a part of that family. We’ll continue to make home feel more like home,” said Ciesla. “We all appreciate Chicago’s Pride celebration, and it’s certainly a cultural landmark, but it’s important to see support like this in your hometown… there’s no substitute for celebrating Pride at home, with your friends, with your family — whether by blood or by choice — in your own community.”
For more information on the 2019 Aurora Pride Festival, visit AuroraPride.org.
Aurora Pride Festival Volunteer Fair
Looking to make a difference and want to get involved with the 2019 Aurora Pride Festival?
On Saturday, October 13th, Indivisible Aurora and the Aurora Pride Festival planning committee will be holding a Volunteer Fair!
Come and learn how you can help! We need help with a variety of events and in many different ways!
We can’t have an amazing event without the help of our wonderful and dedicated volunteers!
WHAT: 2019 Aurora Pride Festival Volunteer Fair
WHEN: Saturday, October 13 - 10am to 12pm
WHERE: Old Library, 1 E. Benton (Lower Level), Aurora, IL 60505
Questions? Click here to contact us!
Aurora Pride Festival announces logo contest winner
AURORA — Aurora Pride Festival, the Pride celebration in Illinois’s second largest city, announced today that an entry from Alisa Kober of Arlington Heights as their logo for 2019.
Indivisible Aurora announced the contest in mid-July. Alisa came out ahead of 20 semi-finalists. Among the prizes she wins are a $300 cash prize, t-shirt and a spot in the VIP section at Pride in 2019.
The festival is produced by volunteers and will being going into it’s second year in 2019. The response for the contest was huge.
“I think the biggest thing is that we had a lot of fantastic submissions that truly reflected the love of both the LGBTQ+ community and Aurora,” Brittney Borowicz Keller, festival marketing committee leader, said. “It was amazing to see how many people came out to support us as we head into our second year of having a Pride Parade and the first year of having a whole Pride Festival.”
The pride festival, like others that have started up outside of Chicago, focuses on being child and family friendly.
“We are very excited for all the things we are looking to accomplish this year and this new logo and brand representation is a great example of the inclusion, fun, and family-friendly atmosphere that we are looking to promote in the suburbs,” Keller said. “Alisa Kober’s submission really encapsulated all of these things.”
Congratulations to Alisa Kober, Aurora Pride Festival 2019 Logo Winner!
Congratulations to Alisa Kober of Arlington Heights!
It was Alisa's "Paint the Town" submission that inspired the Aurora Pride Festival 2019 logo!
Thank you so much to Alisa and everyone who submitted outstanding logos for this year. Your support and dedication as we head into our second annual Pride Parade and first ever Pride Festival is truly appreciated!
