Learn about organizations which have contributed to and support the mission of Capitol Hill Village and our LGBT programs!
The DC Center for the LGBT Community
The DC Center for the LGBT Community educates, empowers, celebrates, and connects the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.
To learn more about the DC Center go to www.thedccenter.org, contact justin@thedccenter.org, or call (202) 682-2245. Follow the DC Center @thedccenter on Instagram, @thedccenter on Facebook, and @thedccenter on Twitter.
The Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs
Mosaic Theater Company
Mosaic Theater Company of DC produces bold, culturally diverse theater that illuminates critical issues, elevates fresh voices, and sparks connection among communities throughout our region and beyond.
To learn more about Mosaic Theater go to https://mosaictheater.org/ or contact chriswren@mosaictheater.org. Follow Mosaic Theater @mosaictheaterdc on Instagram and @mosaictheater on Facebook.
Rainbow Families DC
Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL)
SMYAL supports and empowers LGBTQ youth in the Washington, DC, metropolitan region. Through youth leadership, SMYAL creates opportunities for LGBTQ youth to build self-confidence, develop critical life skills, and engage their peers and community through service and advocacy. Committed to social change, SMYAL builds, sustains, and advocates for programs, policies, and services that LGBTQ youth need as they grow into adulthood.
To learn more about SMYAL go to https://smyal.org/ or contact 202-546-5940. Follow SMYAL @smyal_dmv on Instagram or @smyal_dmv on Facebook.
The Villages at Mary's House
DC Department of Aging and Community Living
and monitor programs in health, education, and social services which promote longevity, independence,
dignity, and choice for the city’s older adults (ages 60 years or older), people living with disabilities (ages 18-59 years), and caregivers.
Symposiuym Kickoff: September 22nd from 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Anthony Oakes
Hailing from North Carolina, Anthony D. Oakes is a District of Columbia resident who is taking comedy and storytelling on the east coast by storm. A natural comedian, Anthony has hit the ground running. His clean, yet edgy, southern, intellectual, witty humor will have you reeling with laughter.
Taking the funny to the masses, he was a participant in the 2021 DC Comedy Festival, 2021 Sixth City Cleveland Comedy Festival, and the 2021 Memphis Urban Laughs Festival. He has graced the stages of: The John F. Kennedy Center, The DC Improv, The Broadway, The Westside, and The Greenwich Village Comedy Clubs in New York City, Flappers, and The Ice House Comedy Club in LA. Anthony is a 2021 recipient of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's prestigious Mayoral Arts Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts.
You can catch him locally at: The DC Improv, DC Drafthouse, The Bier Baron Comedy Loft, Busboys and Poets, and, The Wonderland Ballroom.
To learn more about Anthony go to https://www.anthonyoakescomedian.com/. Follow Anthony @anthony_oakes_comedian on Instagram and @Anthony Oakes Comedian on Facebook and Twitter.
Jim David
A headliner around the world, Jim David began performing stand-up in 1986. Jim is a three time winner of the MAC Award and the Backstage BISTRO Award for Outstanding NY Comedian. He has appeared on and off Broadway, in films and commercials, and many comedy festivals including HBO US Comedy Arts, TBS Las Vegas and Montreal Just for Laughs.
He can be heard on his comedy CDs, EAT HERE AND GET GAS, LIVE FROM JIMVILLE, NOTORIOUS F.A.G and HARD TO SWALLOW, all available on iTunes along with his Comedy Central special. He also performed on Comedy Central’s USO COMEDY TOUR, OUT ON THE EDGE, FRIARS CLUB ROAST OF ROB REINER, COMIC CABANA, NEW JOKE CITY, NBC COMEDY SHOWCASE, A&E's CAROLINE'S and EVENING AT THE IMPROV, MTV, VH1, SHOWTIME and USA LIVE.
His one-man comedy SOUTH PATHETIC was produced to raves at the New York International Fringe Festival, the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival and many regional theaters. He was a Tennessee Williams Fellow in writing and performance at the University of the South. He produced and hosted COMEDY CARES, the stand-up comedy benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Learn more about Jim at http://comicjimdavid.com/ or follow him on Instagram @comicjimdavid.
Grassroots Comedy
Grassroots Comedy (formerly Grassroots Comedy DC) sits at the crossroads of comedy and advocacy. Simply put, we make humans laugh while improving humanity. Our goal is to use comedy to support local nonprofits in their mission to make DC (and the world) a better place for all. Since its creation in 2015, Grassroots Comedy has partnered with over 60 non-profit organizations to produce over 75 comedy show fundraisers for causes aimed at improving the world through laughter. We've created comedy videos, added a podcast, and continue to grow and build a community around using comedy as the ultimate force for change, peace, and happiness.
Learn more at about Grassroots Comedy at http://www.grassrootscomedy.com/ or follow them on Facebook or Instagram @grassrootscomedydc.
Symposium: September 23rd from 12:00pm to 4:30pm
Andy Pollock, He/Him
Andy earned his undergraduate degree from Penn State and has a MBA from the University of Maine. Andy is honored to have served as the Co-chair of the SouthCoast Marriage Equality Commission from 2003-2007, and currently serves as the President of the Board for the SouthCoast LGBTQ Network. Andy is also the Executive Director for Coastal Neighbors Network, which is a village in Dartmouth and Westport, Massachusetts.
In terms of personal accomplishments, Andy is the proud owner of a three hundred year old working farm in Dartmouth, a practicing Quaker and went back to school at age 50 to become a CNA (which he did for 7 years while working as a part-time Village Executive Director).
Armonté Butler, He/Him
Armonté Butler is the Associate Director of LGBTQ Health & Rights at Advocates for Youth. He supports youth activists in leading sexual and reproductive health campaigns in their communities, campuses, and at the state and federal levels. Armonté spearheads the Queer and Gender Equity Project, which provides a variety of education, healthcare, and community-based organizations with education, research, professional training, and technical assistance to increase their support for LGBTQ youth of color and youth living HIV. He also manages the All Students Count Coalition and the National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) project. He has published several fact sheets and toolkits such as Creating Safer Spaces for LGBTQ Youth, Medical Mentorship for Young People Living with HIV, and Building Cultural Responsiveness for Youth-Serving Professionals.
Before Advocates, Armonté was the Health and Aging Program Coordinator at the Human Rights Campaign. In addition, he has interned in the Division of Adolescent and School Health at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. During his undergraduate study, he conducted gender and sexual minority research in Argentina and the Dominican Republic. Armonté holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Global Studies and Gender Studies from Sewanee: The University of the South. He is a DC native born and raised in Shaw.
Elana Caparco, She/Her
Elana Caparco is an undergraduate student at American University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in International Relations. She has a primary concentration in Environmental Sustainability and Global Health as well as a secondary concentration in Justice, Ethics, and Human Rights. As an AU student, she has interned with Representative Langevin's Office, Senator Reed's Office, RI State Government, and Capitol Hill Village. She has also worked as an International Economics Pass Tutor at AU, serves as Deputy Director of Digital Media at Leading Women of Tomorrow, and serves as Deputy Director of AU Pride. Elana is also passionate about visiting local DC museums, exercising, painting, and spending time outdoors.
Jennifer Nunes, She/Her
Jennifer Nunes if the Founder & Chairperson for The Foundation for Caribbean American Competitiveness and a business management Specialist in the fields of communications, business management and international marketing in the Caribbean, and the USA. Jennifer studied Mass Communications and Psychology at City College -City University of New York (CUNY), film-making at WNET-Channel 13 film/television program,and –Visual techniques at the University of the West Indies (UWIMona –CARIMAC)and pursued graduate studies in Business/Law and Education at New York University, in New York. She has traversed representative and consulting roles with several regional and international organizations. Chief among these-sixteen years as the Business Coordinator for the Wall Street Journal newspaper [in the Caribbean and Panama], Trainer/lecturer at the Cave Hill School of Business –the University of the West Indies,and HR/Management consultant for CIBC First Caribbean International Bank in the Caribbean region. She also recently served as a scholarships & communications consultant for the Organization of American States –OAS in Washington DC.
She is the author of two books on Amazon. A children’s book that highlights diversity: “The Adventures of Freddy the Frog and Lena the Lizard”and a semi-erotic explosion of poetry and tropical scenery “Moods in Paradise.”She is at work on a blog on“issues of passion.”
Jules Losee, They/Them
Jules Losee is an undergraduate student at American University pursuing a Bachelor's degree in American Studies and Communications Studies. While living in DC, they have worked with the United Planning Organization, HIPS, Decrim Poverty DC, and American University's Humanities Truck. Outside of their studies, Jules likes to hike, cook, and play rugby.
Kevin Mallinson, He/Him
R. Kevin Mallinson was an openly gay firefighter (1981-1985) at a time when the HIV pandemic was leading to panic and extreme homophobia. His memoir “Alarm in the Firehouse: A Memoir of America’s First Openly Gay Professional Firefighter”chronicles his philosophy about fighting discriminatory assaults and highlights some of the strategies he used to battle ignorance. His second career in Nursing provided many opportunities to dismantle stereotypes based upon one’s sexual orientation, gender identity, race,ability, or other personal characteristics. He has fought for equity in healthcare access.As an HIV researcher and clinician, Kevin has provided nearly 4 decades of HIV prevention, care, and treatment services in the US, Brazil, and Sub-Saharan Africa. In his efforts to promote change in policy, he has worked with state legislatures, the US Surgeon General, and Ministers of Health in several African countries.
Kevin enjoys gardening and continues to advocate for human rights and a more just world. He and his husband split their time between Capitol Hill and Lewes, Delaware.
Reya Mellicker, She/Her
I’m a massage therapist and Reiki Master living and practicing on Capitol Hill since 2001. I teach Reiki, meditation, and energy healing techniques. I like to walk, ponder, look at art and take pictures. I believe in the power of communities to support and enrich individual lives. In particular we are enriched by communities that embrace differences.
When the generations come together, new ideas are generated. We are stronger when we gather and share. I’m excited to help launch this gathering with a simple practice of centering and becoming present with ourselves and each other. We will breathe, practice compassion for ourselves and each other, connect with our centers and ground into the earth beneath us.
Wes Morrison, He/Him
Wes is retired from WRC TV local news as an assistant producer. Wes Morrison is a passionate advocate on
issues involving the 50 plus community when it comes to housing, healthcare, and financial security. Especially when those issues involve the LGBTQ community to which he belongs. It is a community all too often overlooked and thus underserved. Especially our transgender community. He works with DC Dept of Aging and Community Living, Age Friendly Cities and AARP. If LGBTQ is not specifically stated in programs, government, and laws we can be left out. Wes is interested in fashion design and acting in theatre.