Memphis, TN — The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,Transgender and Questioning Community has a new organization for professionals from Northeast Arkansas, Western Tennessee and Northern Mississippi.
The Mid-South Lambda Professionals Alliance will serve as a networking and development organization for a range of professionals from the seasoned professionals to students who are on a professional track.
“We have needed an organization like this for sometime in the Mid-South,” said W. Andrew Stricklin, founder and president. “There has been a great deal of interest in getting a professionals’ group started for sometime. It was the next logical step in the development of the Mid-South GLBTQ community, because we already have a great number of other organizations that focus on our political activism, our community pride, and serve as the heart of our community.”
The organization originally envisioned providing just “meet and greets” to provide a social venue for those who want an alternative to the bar scene for networking with others from their given profession. However, there has been great interest expressed in leadership and professional development, basic job-seeking workshops, job referrals, community development and a variety of other services that the organization will develop and implement over the coming years.
MLPA is currently working on slow process of developing the framework of the organization with the development of by-laws, standing operational committees, and identifying the needs of the professionals in their community and what programs and events will benefit the majority of this group.
The monthly general business meetings are held on the third Saturday of each month at the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center , 892 South Cooper Avenue , Memphis , Tenn. The meetings begin at 2:30 p.m. and are open to all who wish to be part of MLPA.
Those who would like to become members of the organization or want to keep informed about its activities can join their Communication Group at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/MidSouthLPA.