Warren County Pride Speaks at Be Well Collaborative Luncheon

Warren County Pride, Incorporated (WCPI) was invited to speak at Be Well Collaborative's monthly luncheon held at the YMCA of Warren County, PA.

Jill Sumner, the vice-president of WCPI, traced the history of WCPI across the past four years and discussed the evolution of the event from a 40-person rally in a tiny corner park to an all-day festival with performers, a live DJ, costume contests, and nearly 100 tables that hosts thousands of people. She talked about the year-round event-planning process and the dedication of the WCPI teams.

Sumner spoke on the history of pride month, including the Stonewall riots. She reviewed the basic LGBTQ flags. She also talked about the importance of allies not only in the general community, but also, in the workplace, and provided some examples of ally-ship.

Erin Wallace, YMCA program coordinator, and collaborative facilitator, went on to discuss the high rate of suicide and attempted suicide among the LGBTQ community, especially LGBTQ youth. Wallace talked about support groups such as the Trevor Project, and why these supports are vital to building safe communities.

Be Well Collaborative was created to address mental wellness using a community care model. They focus on mental health through the use of health wellness for all. The collaborative is a group of like-minded agencies, businesses, and individuals that have joined together to create a network of support within the Warren community and is coordinated through the Warren County YMCA.

Their mission statement reads: Be Well Collaborative elevates well-being among all in mind, body, and spirit by fostering communication and collaboration.

Be Well Collaborative's vision statement: Be Well Collaborative is the hub connecting people in a thriving community.