Futures Initiative
Empowering the Next Generation of LGBTQ+ Leaders
An Evangeline Inc Program
More Than a Program — It's a Movement
Futures Initiative is rooted in mentorship, peer connection, and cultural affirmation. We create safe spaces where BIPOC LGBTQIA+ college students can thrive. Whether you're navigating your first semester or preparing to lead change on campus, Futures Initiative is here to walk beside you.
We offer off-campus programming housed at the Evangeline Inc office on the Matthew-Scippio Impact Center Campus in Fort Valley, Georgia, or designated locations near campuses where we have chapters. Our programs are designed to meet students where they are — emotionally, socially, and academically.
Through leadership development, mental and sexual health resources, and intergenerational mentorship, we help students build resilience, find community, and become changemakers.
The Futures Initiatives Program is Evangeline's long-term commitment to leadership development, mentorship, and community empowerment. It houses two key components: the Unity of Color Alliance Scholarship — an annual investment in students of color pursuing higher education — and the Unity of Color Trans Advisors Committee — a leadership development initiative empowering trans people of color through governance education, advisory practice, and community advocacy.
The Unity of Color Trans Advisors Committee
The Committee is also a core component of the Evangeline Futures Initiatives Program, EV's mentorship and leadership development pipeline. Through structured governance education, hands-on advisory experience, and professional upskilling, members gain the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills needed to become future leaders within Evangeline and the broader community.
🧩 Purpose & Function
The Committee exists to:
Strengthen Representation — ensuring trans people of color are centered in program design, messaging, and community engagement.
Provide Advisory Insight — offering lived-experience perspectives to improve cultural responsiveness and trauma-informed practice.
Support Program Development — reviewing initiatives and recommending improvements aligned with EV's mission and values.
Advance Leadership Development — participating in structured training through the Futures Initiatives Program.
Promote Community Accountability — helping EV maintain trust, transparency, and relevance in the communities it serves.
The Committee does not hold governance, fiduciary, or policy-making authority. All organizational authority remains with the Board and Executive Director.
🌱 Leadership Development & Governance Training
A defining feature of the Committee is its role as a leadership incubator for trans people of color.
Members participate in:
Governance Education
Bylaws, charters, advisory roles, ethical conduct.
Mentorship
Guided support from EV leadership and Futures Initiatives mentors.
Professional Upskilling
Communication, facilitation, policy literacy, program evaluation.
Leadership Practicum
Hands-on experience through committee roles and responsibilities.
This structure creates a pipeline of emerging leaders prepared for future roles such as program coordinators, advisory leads, board trainees, or community ambassadors.
🧠 Committee Roles
Internal roles support leadership growth without granting organizational authority:
Chair
Facilitates meetings and organizes advisory work.
Vice Chair
Supports coordination and leadership development.
Secretary
Manages documentation and communication.
Community Liaison
Bridges committee insight with EV programs.
These roles function as training positions within the Futures Initiatives Program.
🔍 Scope of Work
The Committee focuses on:
Reviewing EV programs for cultural responsiveness
Providing community insight and lived-experience guidance
Supporting trauma-informed messaging
Participating in leadership development modules
Offering advisory feedback to the Executive Director
Strengthening representation of trans people of color across EV initiatives
All recommendations are non-binding and shared with the Executive Director, who may elevate them to the Board.
🛡️ Compliance & Boundaries
Aligned with EV's By-Laws, the Committee:
Does not create policy
Does not supervise staff
Does not manage budgets
Does not vote on Board matters
Does not represent EV publicly without authorization
Must follow EV's Conflict of Interest Policy
This ensures the Committee remains advisory while still serving as a powerful leadership and representation engine.
🌐 Community Impact
The Committee strengthens EV's mission by:
Expanding trans leadership representation
Improving cultural and trauma-informed program design
Building trust with communities of color
Developing future leaders through structured mentorship
Ensuring EV's work reflects lived experience and community realities
It is both a voice of community wisdom and a pipeline of emerging trans leaders of color.
Program Highlights
Connect with fellow BIPOC LGBTQIA+ students who understand your journey. Our peer mentorship program pairs you with experienced mentors who provide guidance, support, and friendship as you navigate college life and beyond.
Access culturally competent mental health support and comprehensive sexual health education. We provide resources, workshops, and connections to affirming healthcare providers who understand the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ students.
Build the skills and confidence to become a leader on campus and in your community. Through workshops, training sessions, and hands-on experience, we help you develop your leadership potential and create positive change.
Get involved in meaningful projects that make a difference. From advocacy initiatives to community service, we create opportunities for you to connect with others, give back, and build a stronger, more inclusive community.
Unity of Color Trans Advisors Committee
A leadership and development initiative for trans people of color, providing hands-on committee experience, governance education, and the opportunity to shape Evangeline's programs through informed advisory recommendations.
Who We Serve
Futures Initiative is specifically designed for Black LGBTQ+ college students at HBCUs who are seeking a supportive community, resources for success, and opportunities to develop as leaders.
Our Mission
Futures Initiative began as a bold vision to uplift Black LGBTQ+ students at Fort Valley State University. Through the leadership of Evangeline Inc, we are expanding across Historically Black Colleges and Universities nationwide, creating affirming, student-led chapters that reflect the heart and heritage of each campus.
Through the Trans Advisors Committee, trans people of color gain real leadership practice, policy literacy, and organizational knowledge — building a pipeline of empowered community leaders who can advocate for their communities and shape the programs that serve them.
🏛️ Futures Initiative Chapters
Expanding the Movement Across HBCUs
Each chapter is uniquely tailored to honor the school's identity — from mascots to cultural legacies — while staying rooted in our core values: resilience, leadership, well-being, and community.
Local Leadership
Each chapter is led by students, alumni, and staff who reflect the lived experiences of their campus community.
Cultural Personalization
We integrate school pride — mascots, traditions, and values — into programming and branding.
Shared Curriculum
All chapters receive access to Futures Initiative's leadership modules, mentorship structures, and health resources.
Community Engagement
Chapters design their own capstone events to reflect local needs and creativity.
Fort Valley State University
Our founding chapter, rooted in the legacy of the Wildcat, empowers students through mentorship, peer support, and leadership development. Located at the Matthew-Scippio Impact Center, this chapter sets the standard for affirming, student-centered programming.
Albany State University
Rooted in the strength of the Golden Ram, this chapter will prioritize rural LGBTQ+ student support, mentorship, and wellness programming tailored to the unique needs of Southwest Georgia.
Morehouse College
At this iconic Atlanta institution, the Tigers chapter will center Black queer masculinity, professional development, and intergenerational mentorship with Morehouse alumni.
Clark Atlanta University
The Panthers chapter will focus on creative expression, mental health advocacy, and civic engagement, reflecting CAU's legacy of scholarship and social justice.
Morris Brown College
This chapter will uplift LGBTQ+ students through arts-based healing, peer-led workshops, and leadership training rooted in Morris Brown's historic resilience and revival.
Savannah State University
Rooted in the legacy of the Tiger, this chapter will focus on coastal community engagement, wellness advocacy, and creative leadership development. With Savannah's rich cultural backdrop, this chapter will empower students to lead with pride, purpose, and visibility.
Spelman College
Representing the fierce spirit of the Jaguar, this chapter will center Black LGBTQ+ women's leadership, wellness, and creative expression. Rooted in Spelman's legacy of excellence and sisterhood, the Jaguars chapter will cultivate spaces for affirmation, advocacy, and intergenerational mentorship.
We're seeking passionate HBCU alumni who identify as LGBTQ+ to serve as mentors for our student leaders.
- ✓ LGBTQ+ HBCU graduate
- ✓ Committed to uplifting changemakers
- ✓ Offer insight and lived experience
- ✓ Professional guidance & wellness strategies
- ✓ Monthly meetings with students
Your presence and perspective can make a lasting impact — helping students navigate college, build resilience, and lead with pride.
Evangeline Inc is actively partnering with student advisors from HBCUs to launch new chapters.
If you're a student, staff member, or alumni interested in bringing Futures Initiative to your campus, we'd love to connect.
Together, we're building a future where every Black LGBTQ+ student at a Georgia HBCU feels seen, supported, and unstoppable.
How This Program Builds Success in LGBTQ+ Youth
The Futures Initiatives Program doesn't just prepare students for careers — it builds leaders who can transform their communities from within.
Educational Access
The scholarship component removes financial barriers for LGBTQ+ students of color pursuing higher education — covering academic support, tutoring, and program materials that keep students enrolled and thriving.
Mentorship & Belonging
Through the Trans Advisors Committee and alumni engagement, LGBTQ+ youth find mentors who share their lived experiences — building community, belonging, and the confidence to lead.
Emergency Support
The program's Emergency Student Aid fund provides a safety net for LGBTQ+ youth facing unexpected financial hardship — ensuring that a crisis doesn't end a student's education.
Leadership Pipeline
The Trans Advisors Committee creates a structured pathway from student to leader — giving LGBTQ+ youth hands-on governance experience, policy literacy, and the skills to advocate for their communities in real organizational settings.
Career Readiness
Professional upskilling, governance education, and real committee experience prepare LGBTQ+ youth for careers in nonprofit leadership, public service, advocacy, and community organizing — fields where their lived experience is an asset, not a barrier.
Alumni Network
The Alumni Engagement Fund builds a sustainable network of program graduates who mentor current students, speak at events, and create lasting pathways — so LGBTQ+ youth never age out of community, they grow into leadership within it.
"When LGBTQ+ youth see leaders who look like them, who share their experiences, and who have walked the path before them — they don't just imagine a future. They build one."
— The Futures Initiatives Program
Two Components, One Mission
The Futures Initiatives Program invests in LGBTQ+ youth and emerging leaders through two interconnected components.
Unity of Color Alliance Scholarship
Annual Financial Investment
An annual scholarship investing in the next generation of leaders from communities of color. Past recipients have gone on to study Electronic Engineering, Elementary Education, and Dental Hygiene at Fort Valley State University and Albany State University.
The scholarship is not just a check — it's a continuation of Evangeline's mission to build leaders and expand opportunity for students who have historically been left out of higher education access.
Unity of Color Trans Advisors Committee
Leadership & Development
A leadership and development initiative for trans people of color, providing hands-on committee experience, governance education, and the opportunity to shape Evangeline's programs through informed advisory recommendations.
Committee members gain real leadership practice, policy literacy, and organizational knowledge — building a pipeline of empowered community advocates who can represent their communities in meaningful ways.
Together, these two components create a continuum — from student to scholar, from participant to leader, from recipient to advocate. The Futures Initiatives Program doesn't just invest in individuals. It builds a community of leaders who lift as they climb.
Interested in the Futures Initiatives Program?
Whether you're a student seeking scholarship support, a trans person of color looking for leadership development, or a community partner wanting to invest in the next generation — there's a place for you here.