Empowering Spirits Foundation, Inc.

Description: The Empowering Spirits Foundation, Inc. (ESF), a national 501(c)(3) non-profit, is a non-partisan civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality through community service activities. Since its inception ESF has been taking the struggle for LGBT equality into the next era by fostering non-confrontational dialogue with individuals and institutions that may have not previously supported LGBT populations. Instead of attempting to change laws ESF strives to change the hearts and minds of those who are generally ignored by existing LGBT organizations.

ESF’s programs are designed to encourage dialogue between the LGBT community and its non-LGBT neighbors while promoting open, non-disenfranchising communication so that others may come to see similarities rather than differences, in all human beings. Research has shown that increased exposure to LGBT individuals results in significantly warmer attitudes towards the population as a whole. When people see that LGBT individuals are not very different from themselves, the old, unfounded, and inaccurate stereotypes are shattered. By bringing together the two groups of people, ESF helps to create the interactions that dispel the stereotypes.

ESF programs include neighborhood revitalization, housing builds, canned food drives, and environmental cleanup; all worthwhile causes which create not only an additional positive impact on the greater community, but allow for both sides to work together in a positive environment. The programs take place in underserved areas or those conservative in nature as these are the very people we are attempting to influence.

Target demographics: Non-LGBT individuals in areas typically opposed to equal rights.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 18,000

Geographic areas served: National

Board Members and Affiliation: A. Latham Staples - Chairman
La Jolla, CA
Empowering Spirits Foundation, Inc.

Brent Kostelecky - Vice Chairman
La Jolla, CA
HDR, Inc.

Lidia R. Gomez - Treasurer
Chula Vista, CA
Greenwood Memorial

Travis Cleveland - Secretary
Dallas, TX
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Birmingham, AL
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