Reimagining Our Safety

Recent news of attacks against LGBTQ people reignited conversations about how to be safe at Pride and beyond. AVP wants to ensure that our community leads those conversations and efforts to keep us safe. Join AVP’s Executive Director, Beverly Tillery, and Communications Director, Orie Givens, in a lunchtime discussion on how we can work together to reimagine what safety looks like for LGBTQ people. During the hour-long conversation, we’ll discuss AVP’s vision for community-led safety, what resources are needed, why it’s important to build right now, and how everyone in the community can play a part. The discussion will last around 45 minutes, with 15 minutes for questions and wrap-up.

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ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

Beverly Tillery is the Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, an organization that empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy. She is an experienced thought leader, advocate and national organizer with three decades of experience working in social justice movements. Beverly lives in Harlem, NY with her partner and their 16 year old daughter. Most recently, she was a Deputy Director of Education and Public Affairs in charge of Community Education, Advocacy and Inclusion at Lambda Legal, an organization dedicated to achieving full recognition of the rights of LGBTQ people and people living with HIV. There, she led national educational and advocacy campaigns and community-based research projects aimed at changing policies as well as hearts and minds. Prior to Lambda Legal, she worked as an organizer, popular educator, strategist and staff leader at Amnesty International, Service Employees International Union and ACORN. She is currently member of the New York City Commission for Gender Equity and co-chairs their Safety Committee. She also serves on Governor Hochul’s Domestic Terrorism Task Force.

Orie Givens is the Director of Communications for the New York City Anti-Violence Project, an organization that empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy. He is a multimedia production and communications strategy leader, with 15 years of experience working with news, corporate and nonprofit teams in media and technology across the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America. He most recently managed digital content partnerships in the Midwest for Spectrum News, where he previously worked as a reporter and fill-in anchor specializing in government, DEI, social issues, small businesses and LGBTQ affairs. Previously, he wrote and produced video for The Advocate as a correspondent focused on the intersection of race and LGBTQ identity. Orie also serves on the board of directors for Radio Free Brooklyn, a not-for-profit independent radio station in Brooklyn, New York. He currently lives in Brooklyn with his partner and 9-year-old terrier mix.