Whether you are LGBTQ+, an ally or just part of the Anderson community, bring your questions, expand your knowledge and join our discussions for Out@Anderson's annual Awareness Week. This year, we’re focusing on resilience in the context of LGBT populations. The past year has kept many of us physically distant and drastically altered the landscape of our community spaces. How can we enable each other to develop more resilience? How can we be stronger together even when we're apart?
We hope you can take part in our discussions and celebrations and join us for all of the great guest speakers and panels we have in store for the week.
#StrongerTogether #Resilience
Lunchtime Conversation:
Family Planning and Foster Parenting
Tuesday, April 6 - 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Join us for a conversation with Rich Valenza, founder and chief executive officer of RaiseAChild Inc., and Dr. Christine Moody from UCLA TIES for Families as we discuss foster parenting. Raise A Child Inc. is the nationwide leader in the recruitment, retention and support of LGBTQ+ and all prospective parents interested in building loving families for foster children®. In its 10-year history, RaiseAChild has served more than 25,000 prospective and current foster and foster-to-adopt parents across the United States.
*Current students: register here using CampusGroups.
*Non-current students: join using this Zoom link
Got questions? Contact Taylor Smith
Evening Panel:
Impact After Anderson
Tuesday, April 6 - 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Hear from a diverse panel of Anderson alumni as they share stories on making significant impact for LGBT employees at their workplaces. This panel will cover topics such as improving the LGBT employee experience, developing employee resource groups and building communities via partnerships.
*Current students: register here using CampusGroups.
*Non-current students: join using this Zoom link.
Got questions? Contact Randall Jones
Evening Panel: Spotlighting LGBTQ+ Founders
Moderator: Tiffany Barillas
Panelists: Damian Pelliccione and Christopher J. Rodriguez (Revry, Inc), Melanie Cristol (Lorals)
Wednesday, April 7 - 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs often face discrimination at many steps along their founder journeys. According to Forbes, “A 2016 study by StartOut reported that 37% of LGBT startup founders in the United States did not come out to their investors, and LGBT-founded companies raised 11% less capital than a sample of their non-LGBT peers.” Join us for a moderated panel discussion featuring LGBTQ+ founders to learn about their journeys through entrepreneurship and to hear their advice for students restarting their careers.
*Current students: register here using CampusGroups.
*Non-current students: join using this Zoom link.
Got questions? Contact Taylor Smith.
Damian Pelliccione, Revry
Named one of Business Insider’s “Top 16 Power Player Execs in AD Video Streaming Space”, Damian leads the finance, business development and advertising sales / operations departments at Revry. Revry is now the world's largest Queer TV Network, reaching over 280 million households and devices. Revry was also featured on the cover of The Los Angeles Times Business section, named “App of the Day” by Apple app stores globally and recently featured Jennifer Lopez and Joe Biden in their “National Coming Out Day - QueerX Live! award show.
Prior to his role at the company, Damian worked as the Head of Business Development in the US for live-streaming German-based company Make.tv (recently acquired by LTN Networks). Previously, Damian worked for General Motors domestic/international brands Chevrolet and Cadillac, developing and creating new media opportunities to promote new car lineups at live events and auto shows across the US and Europe. Damian has produced over 50 web projects, short films, feature films, and commercials. Damian has acted as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia College Chicago, has lectured at over 20 universities and colleges across the globe including the University of Southern California, Los Angeles Film School, and BAU University Istanbul Turkey amongst others. Damian also worked for YouTube Space Los Angeles and New York teaching creators live streaming and strategy. A proud member of the Producers Guild of America, The Television Academy of Arts and Sciences, Screen Actors Guild and StartOut. Damian also founded a mastermind group with 20 other niche and minority owned and operated streaming companies. Damian is a proud Dual Citizen of the USA and Canada, and just voted in this past presidential election for the first time and is a proud new US Citizen! He has two really amazing dogs (Eddie and Oliver) and resides in Echo Park - Los Angeles.
Christopher J. Rodriguez, Revry
A producer and entertainment attorney with a background in reality television and digital media, Christopher received his bachelor degree in Political Science from UCLA in 2007. The recipient of the 2008 Scholar’s Award to Loyola Law School, Christopher went on to graduate with his Juris Doctorate degree in 2011.
Christopher possesses wide-ranging experience in reality television production and has acted as legal counsel on a myriad of award-winning shows including Shark Tank, Deadliest Catch, Jay Leno’s Garage, The People’s Choice Awards, and Storage Wars. Having represented web television content creators and produced festival-featured digital media productions, Christopher bring his wealth of knowledge in the digital space to Revry as a co-founder and the Chief Business Officer.
Cocktail Class and Happy Hour
Wednesday, April 7 - 7:00 p.m.
Join Our/Los Angeles Vodka and I Wore Lipstick for a cocktail class and discussion about how organizations can partner with the LGBTQ+ community.
*Current students: register here using CampusGroups.
*Non-current students: join using this Zoom link.
Got questions? Contact Randy Jones.