In Our Own Voices, Inc. (IOOV)
Over the past 25 years, In Our Own Voices has proudly served over 600,000 individuals both locally and nationally. In its mission to strengthen and empower LGBTQ+ BIPOC communities, you’ll find IOOV on the frontlines of advocacy campaigns, providing training and capacity-building assistance to companies and organizations, and delivering direct services to community members and allies. I’ve held many roles at IOOV over the past few years, including Special Events Coordinator and Development Associate, and I currently work as the Communications Manager.
SOCIAL MEDIA
With so many great programs and services going on IOOV’s social media channels, and audience members, were struggling to keep up! In addition to this influx of content, their social presence lacked a unified voice which leaving users unclear about the organization’s work and mission. Adopting a more deliberate approach to social media in 2023, we decided to slow. things. down. Here’s how:
Set and maintain best practices and posting frequencies for each channel.
Prioritize video content and content highlighting community members and their stories.
Regularly track and report on KPI’s.
204%
Increase in accounts reached across all social media channels in comparison to Q3 & Q4 of 2022.
RESULTS: 2023 Q1 & Q2
710
New followers gained in six months across IOOV’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
92%
Increase in engagements on IOOV’s Facebook and Instagram accounts in comparison to Q3 & Q4 of 2022.
25TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN
In Our Own Voices is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and in the words of CEO Tandra LaGrone, “We need to go BIG!” To this end, we contracted with PR firm Relentless Awareness to create an anniversary logo, define our key messages, and increase our media coverage. In addition to the rebrand, this campaign consisted of press events and a 25th birthday party that brought in $7,500 in grassroots fundraising. Key messages from this campaign are also echoed throughout all the organization’s events this year. I served as project lead and event coordinator for the launch, and completed copywriting for its invitations, appeals, and landing pages.
LOGO
Design by Relentless Awareness
KEY MESSAGES
EST. 1998
This year, In Our Own Voices celebrates our 25th year of providing programs and services to LGBTQIA+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in New York’s Capital Region and beyond. That’s 25 years of building our own tables, strengthening our own voices, and empowering our communities to live authentically.
We are proud to be one of the oldest LGBTQIA+ organizations serving BIPOC communities in the nation. In our 25 years of operation, we have grown from small, grassroots beginnings into a full-fledged organization serving over 600,000 individuals both locally and nationally.
This is a monumental milestone for our community, and we hope you can join the celebration.
PRESS CONFERENCES
ANNIVERSARY KICKOFF
On March 22, 2023 IOOV began its anniversary celebration with an event outside of its Albany office where plans for a new LGBTQIA+ center were revealed. IOOV received several proclamations from elected officials including U.S. Representative Paul D. Tonko, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Assemblymember Patricia A. Fahy, Assemblymember John T. McDonald, Albany County Legislator Matthew T. Peter, and Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. Sheehan also declared Thursday, March 30, 2023 “In Our Own Voices Day” in the City of Albany.
Photography by Sabrina Flores. Watch the full press conference here.
NEW LGBTQ+ CENTER IN THE SOUTH END
On June 22, 2023, representatives from IOOV, the Albany Housing Authority, the Albany Damien Center, and the Alliance for Positive Health were joined by Albany Mayor Kathy M. Sheehan, Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, and a representative from Paul D. Tonko's office to share remarks on the first ever LGBTQ+ center to open in Albany's South End. This is IOOV’s first satellite office where it will partner with other local organizations to offer anti-violence and emergency aid, counseling, employment services, and more.
Photography by Sabrina Flores. Watch the recap video produced by Relentless here.
EARNED MEDIA
Albany’s “In Our Own Voices” marks 25th anniversary with big plans for future of LGBTQIA services - WAMC Northeast Public Radio
SEEN: In Our Own Voice's 25th Anniversary celebration - Times Union
In Our Own Voices celebrates 25 years of community, 17 of Pride - Times Union
BIPOC Pride event set for Albany’s Washington Park - News10
DIGITAL EVENTS
It’s 2020 and COVID just hit! As IOOV’s Special Events Coordinator at the time, I worked to reformat the organization’s major events, typically held in-person, to fit a digital platform. Though we decided to postpone the national Health Conference to 2021, I worked diligently with the CEO and COO to produce Bid 4 Justice, an online fundraising event in place of the organization’s annual gala, and Digi-Pride, a virtual Pride experience.
BID 4 JUSTICE
On August 20, 2020, IOOV hosted an online auction fundraiser consisting of a live streamed jazz performance by Annette Harris and Azzaam Hameed, remarks from IOOV staff and board members, and an online auction with a fundraising goal of $10,000. I coordinated the event’s logistics, produced a run of show, and set-up and promoted the digital auction platform.
RESULTS: This digital campaign surpassed its goal bringing in a total of $10,800 in grassroots fundraising.
Watch the full event on Facebook here. And take a look at the auction platform here.
DIGI-PRIDE
Digi-Pride: A Virtual Pride Experience was a community partnership co-chaired by IOOV and local drag house Precise Nation. Together we produced a series of virtual Pride events on Facebook Live in which I coordinated the event’s logistics including booking artists and contractors on the IOOV side, promoted the streams on digital platforms, and lead collateral creation and management. The Farewell stream featured above was the most successful of the Pride series featuring musician and poet Taína Asili with stunning video footage produced by Mel eMedia.
RESULTS: The average reach of the livestream series was 3,350 and the average audience engagement rate was 16%.
Watch the Farewell stream on Facebook here.