1. Leadership Development & Capacity Building Within the Black MSM Community Charles Smart Founding Executive Director Monroe, Inc. Ricardo Wynn Director of Programs Monroe, Inc.

2. Our mission is “to improve the quality of life for, culturally diverse, LGBT individuals and their respective families”.

3. MPower is a safe space, drop-in space for young Black gay, bisexual other same gender loving (SGL) men and transgender individuals between the ages of 18-29. The program is based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supported, evidence based intervention Mpowerment Project. This program aims to fill a service gap by offering continued supportive services to participants who otherwise age out of local youth programming and or don't/can't identify with the culture of local LGBT programs. MPower drop-in space is located on Milwaukee's Eastside at 1240 East Brady Street, Milwaukee, WI. In the Brady Street Neighborhood. The location is LGBT affirming and accepting, diverse, community. The MPower Space operates Thursday from 4pm-9pm, Friday from 4pm-1pm and Saturday from 1pm-9pm.

4. Friends Brunch Friends Brunch, a monthly event, engages Black gay, bisexual and other SGL men who are community stakeholders, leaders and young professionals who aren’t or are unable to become MPower members. It allows this community of individuals to invest and be involved with the MPower program despite their other responsibilities (careers, families, etc.).

5. Racism & Homophobia

6. External, objective stressful events and conditions Expectation of stressful events and the vigilance this expectation requires Internalization of negative societal attitudes Stress for LGBT People Minority Stress Social support and coping

7. The Holistic – Strengths Based Approach Intersections - of LGBT+ people of color identities Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

8. HOMOPHOBIA Housing Instability HIV Stigma Code of silence/ Lack of Sex Education Internalized Homophobia Risky Sexual Situations Non- disclosure of HIV status Lack of concern about HIV Maladaptive Coping

9. Questions

10. Thank You