The Maricopa County LGBT Consortium facilitated a collaboration of EMPACT-Suicide Prevention Center (EMPACT-SPC); 1n10; the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight, Education Network, Phoenix Chapter (GLSEN Phoenix); and Cultural Sponge which was awarded $195,000 in Federal grant monies to promote community connectedness through strategies, resources and programs to reduce suicide risk among Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, and Questioning Youth (LGBTQ) in Maricopa County.

“This population is disproportionately at risk in so many ways, including suicidal ideation, attempts and completion. It’s critical we address this tragedy, and in partnership with GLSEN Phoenix, Empact-SPC and Cultural Sponge we’ll be doing just that over the next 12 months,” said 1n10 Executive Director Nick Ray.
Beginning in December, the collaborative will develop and implement suicide prevention programs and resources focusing on the LGBTQ population in Maricopa County, ages 18 years and older in the areas of: public education and social marketing, family support and education, youth leadership development, and a statewide leadership conference.

“One of the unique aspects of our effectors will be to serve LGBTQ youth and young adults within the context of their families and communities encouraging the use of these natural supports through educational and supportive services,” said GLSEN Phoenix Board Member Mike Carr echoing one of the prevention themes adopted by the Center of Disease Control, “Promoting individual, family, and community connectedness to prevent suicidal behavior.”
According to 2010 Facts & Figures on Suicide by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, “An American dies by suicide every 15 minutes, and more than 34,500 die by suicide every year.” The risk among the LGBTQ community is especially acute.

“LGBTQ youth and young adults face unique challenges which require specific and targeted suicide prevention efforts; partly due to the culture of bullying, hostility, and violence which takes place against community members,” said EMPACT-SPC Associate Director of Crisis Services Nicki Bartram. “We are all excited to be a part of what we hope will be lifelong work.”

Crisis situations can be directed to the Phoenix Q-Line, a 24-hour crisis hotline and information referral for Phoenix-area LGBTQ youth and their families at 480-736-4925 or 1-800-5CRISIS (27-4747).
The Collaborative:

1n10
1n10 has been providing a safe environment for LGBTQ youth and their allies between the ages of
14-22 to receive support, education, community resources and develop positive self-acceptance
through life enhancing programs for the past 17 years.

EMPACT-SPC
La Frontera Arizona/EMPACT-Suicide Prevention Center, is a community-based 501(C)(3) nonprofit
organization that provides a broad continuum of behavioral health services.

GLSEN Phoenix
Accredited by GLSEN National in October 2002, GLSEN Phoenix is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization with a mission of developing the awareness, policies and leadership necessary to ensure that K-12 schools are safe and effective learning environments for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

Cultural Sponge
Cultural Sponge, www.culturalsponge.com is an established marketing, graphic design and social media company that has become known for working on many LGBTQ based events and nonprofit business work such as Phoenix Pride, Phoenix AIDS Walk, One Voice Community Center, Maricopa County LGBT Consortium, One Community, HRC, San Diego Pride and many others.

Maricopa County LGBT Consortium
The Maricopa County LGBT Consortium is a coalition working to “develop and sustain a healthy LGBT community in Maricopa County.” With over 60 agencies represented, the Consortium works to reduce health disparities both physical and behavioral within our community. To support this work, the Consortium identifies funding streams for our community partners and engages collaborative grant applications to support our mission.

PHOENIX, Arizona, May 3, 2010— Cultural Sponge Helps Phoenix Pride celebrate it’s 30th Anniversary by donating over $10,000 in Services. Thousands of people attended Phoenix Pride weekend on April 17 & 18. Phoenix Pride celebrates and promotes the history, courage, diversity and future prosperity of the metropolitan Phoenix LGBT community. Every year, Phoenix Pride holds its annual Pride Parade and Festival to commemorate the birth of the gay and lesbian rights movement, but this year was special, it was Phoenix Pride’s 30th anniversary. Cultural Sponge donated services in 2009 and continued to prove their commitment to the LGBT community by donating services to Phoenix Pride 2010.

Heather Brown is the owner of Cultural Sponge, a marketing, graphic design and social media company. After a successful 2009 campaign, Phoenix Pride chose Cultural Sponge again as their 2010 official graphic design company. This year Heather developed the 30th anniversary theme: 3 Decades, 1 Community, 4 Pride! Along with developing Phoenix Pride’s 2010 theme, all other art direction and art work was developed by Heather and her company.

Heather Brown quotes, “It has been a pleasure and honor to work with Phoenix Pride during their 30th year anniversary. I would like to personally thank Phoenix Pride for once again choosing Cultural Sponge as the official graphic design company for 2010. It has continued to be a wonderful experience working with such a positive team. Also, it has been an honor to work on a project that means so much to the community.”

Phoenix Pride relies on many volunteers for a successful festival. Brandi Sokolosky is the Executive Director for Phoenix Pride and quotes, “Heather Brown and Cultural Sponge has been an absolute pleasure to work with. Its wonderful to have formed such a strong relationship with Heather and Cultural Sponge, they really understand who we are as an organization and what Phoenix Pride’s message is to the public. Heather spends a great deal of time sitting in brainstorming meetings with the Pride team, she really listens to the customer and gives you exactly what you are looking for. Throw Heather a concept and she can run with it, she has a great imagination. I look forward to working with Cultural Sponge on future projects.”

About Cultural Sponge
Cultural Sponge is an established marketing & graphic design company based in Peoria, Arizona. Cultural Sponge specializes in corporate identity brand building, graphic design, website design, social media, lead development and much more!

About the owner: Heather Brown attended Arcadia University and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts concentrating in Graphic Design. She worked as a National Marketing Director for a well known company before opening her own business.

• Follow other people. Yes, the best way to get followers is to follow other people (unless you’re a celebrity.) On average, out of 10 people you follow, 3-5 will follow you back.
• Use the search box. See that search box on the right? You can type in any keyword or phrase and a list of tweets will come up. Think of what your target audience might be tweeting about. Type in those keywords. Interact and follow those people.
• Look at your competitors profile. See who’s following your competitors and follow them.
• Promote your Twitter page everywhere. Place a widget on your website. Place a post on your facebook page. On all print put: “Follow Us on Twitter!” and your twitter url. Place a a signature line on your emails.
• Tweet multiple times a day with quality content. Tweet often to get attention and tweet about things that your target audience will want to hear.

These are the top 5 ways I have found to get Twitter followers by just using Twitter. Of course there are several online applications and programs out there that may help you as well. If you need help getting targeted followers on Twitter, we are the experts! Contact Cultural Sponge for a consultation.