We wanted to provide an update on the LGBTQ Iowa Archives & Library (LIAL) operations.
In the last six months, we have:
- Celebrated the 2-year anniversary of LIAL in January 2023
- Joined the James Gang which offers support from other Iowa City-based nonprofits and gives us 501(c)(3) status
- Received $5,000 as part of the PFund PRISM grant awards, with fiscal sponsorship from Public Space One
- Begun hosting the Transistors support group which meets biweekly on Wednesdays at the Close House in Iowa City
- Saw the evolution of Queer Writers into Queer Elders—”an interest group geared towards collecting, preserving, and telling stories about our queer people” which also aims to “address the challenges that older queer people (in Iowa) have related to social isolation, aging, and end-of-life issues”
- Hosted a month-long celebration of LGBTQ History Month with a variety of events in October 2022
- Hosted a community fundraiser in December 2022 that raised $2000, with many thanks to Associate Director Ann Kreitman for organizing
- Held weekly Archives Nights in the basement of 120 S Dubuque St, during which—with the dedicated help of our volunteers—we were able to organize and rehouse much of our archival materials into Hollinger boxes for easier access and safer storage
- Provided archival materials for the Out & About: Queer Life in Iowa City exhibit—curated by Madde Hoberg and Aiden Bettine, with curatorial support from Exhibit Coordinator Sara J. Pinkham—which will be on display in the University of Iowa’s Main Library Gallery through the end of June 2023
- Hosted a wide range of community gatherings (both regular/weekly and one-off events)
- Finished out the “Pride Circuit” of 2022
- Continued community outreach by meeting with students, faith organizations, and other queer Iowa City-based organizations
We’ve been busy and are currently restructuring our leadership team and the way we operate. Keep your eyes peeled for future about dates about how we are going to be moving forward.
