b'STAFF STORY equity:pride @ meda a meda core valueIn June 2023, MEDA officially celebrated Pride month, organized and led by MEDAs new LGBTQIA+ committee. Activities included a staff-hosted educational session on genderMEDA creates programs and diversity led by Mission District artist and activist Maya Gonzales and a company-wide Pride picnic. changes policies to expand Sofia Flores, MEDAs Development Manager ofopportunities for Latinos and Grants & Strategic Analytics and a foundingother historically underserved member of the LGBTQIA+ committee, shares:communities, to ensure As a Latino-led and Latino-serving organization, many of MEDAs staff and clients have grown upjustice is never limited by within traditional Latino households whererace/ethnicity, class, gender conversations about gender and sexuality are veryidentity, age, sexual taboo. I felt it was important that our organization be explicit about its support of the LGBTQIA+orientation, religion, community and actively fill knowledge gapsimmigration status, country amongst its staff. For me, Pride Month is about queer joy, visibility, and activism. This initiativeof origin and disability status.was an effort to create an office culture that upholds these values year-round and provides a safe space for its queer staff.17'