
    <div class="challenge-data-title">
        What are you doing to lead others and to help the community, and what have been the results of your actions?
    </div>
    <p>Curtis Lipscomb is a graduate of Cass Technical High School in Detroit and Parsons The New School for Design in New York (1983, 1987).  He’s a trained clothing designer with inspiration from leading clothing manufacturers’ Perry Ellis, Willi Smith and Patrick Kelly.  During his successful career he witnessed the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its impact on members of the gay community.  He witnessed his friends and heroes die one by one.  After the death of his best friend Lipscomb dedicated himself to the improvement of the quality of life for people at risk of disease, discrimination, and stigma.

A long time resident of Detroit, Lipscomb has long remained active in community relations.  Lipscomb has been involved with numerous non-profit organizations for over eighteen years; with a particular involvement with organizations tailored in advocacy for the lesbian, gay, bi-attractional and transgender (LGBT) community.  Most recently, Lipscomb has successfully led the board of directors of KICK – The Agency for LGBT African Americans in board development training over a two-year period, with funds awarded in the amount of $43,304 from The Arcus Gay &amp; Lesbian Fund and The Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan.  KICK - The Agency for LGBT African-Americans was awarded $180,000 by the Arcus Foundation in December 2010 to fund The Center In Detroit.</p>
    
		<div class="challenge-data-title">Choose the project category or categories:</div>
		<ul style="padding-left: 0;">
			
				<li>community building (helping to create or promote a sense of belonging and caring)</li>
			
				<li>news and information (increasing residents’ timely access to news and information)</li>
			
		</ul>
    
    
		<div class="challenge-data-title">Brief summary of the community issue or opportunity the project will address:</div>
		<p>People of color have experienced marginalization and disenfranchisement. Even, with the passage and the reauthorization of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, blacks are still subjected to social, political and economic injustices.  There are champions who have successfully challenged the courts and states to uphold the tenets of the US Constitution and laws that govern the citizenry. The voices of blacks that identify as LGBT there have been but a few leaders who were empowered to take the legislators to task. Issues such as gay bashing, bullying, employment discrimination, gender identity and expression, discrimination and inequities are but a few of the challenges that blacks that identify as LGBT have to address daily.  In an effort to address the leadership vacuum KICK has developed Learn, Educate, Advocate and Drive (LEAD). The purpose for LEAD is to actively engage and develop the next generation of leaders in Michigan’s LGBT civil rights movement.</p>
    
    
		<div class="challenge-data-title">State how the project will work – the activities and timeline:</div>
		<p>LEAD is a three-year project with the proposed years 2012-2014.  It is a six-week term with one weekly session, occurring twice a year in the spring and fall. 

LEAD will identify a total of 22 participants/students, ages 18-30.  Students will learn the basics of:
·         LGBT and Michigan social justice 101;
·         Community and movement building; and
·         Local and state civic leadership and operations</p>
    
    
        <div class="challenge-data-title">State the results you wish to achieve:</div>
        <p>Upon completion of each term, students will engage in practical work around social justice as interns with KICK - The Agency for LGBT African Americans. Additionally, students will acquire:
·      Social maturity;
·      An internship at a local LGBT, progressive and/or social justice organization;
·      Knowledge of the state of the civil rights movement;
·      Sense of belonging and civic responsibility and engagement;
·      Recognition of their role in and awareness of the movement and the greater LGBT community</p>
    
    
        <div class="challenge-data-title">Choose the project category or categories:</div>
        <p>up to $50,000</p>
    
    
        <div class="challenge-data-title">Who is leading the project? State the name of the person or the project team:</div>
        <p>Curtis Lipscomb is the program director and will lead the project.  Philasean Benjamin is the program coordinator and will assist.  </p>
    
    
        <div class="challenge-data-title">How will the project engage others in this issue or opportunity affecting the community?</div>
        <p>Upon completions of each term, students will deliver a service-training project to be presented to the public at the end of each term.</p>