NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY commemorates the 1987 March on Washington. The annual celebration's purpose is to encourage and support GLBT people's efforts to live openly and authentically. Quorum is proud to present the 14th Annual National Coming Out Day Luncheon. Attendees will be challenged and inspired by an outstanding group of speakers.
Our emcee, Beth Zemsky, is a former co-chair of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the founding director of the University of Minnesota's GLBT Programs office, and she spearheaded the organizational development and fundraising campaign that founded the Shochet Center, one of the first GLBT studies programs in the country, housed at the University of Minnesota. Beth is now working as an organizational and leadership development consultant. She remains active in the local and national GLBT Community.
Joe Wright
Quorum Scholarship
recipient
Joe Wright is the first recipient of the Quorum Scholarship awarded to a deserving student who demonstrates leadership and the promise of entrepreneurial spirit, and who is dedicated to work for equality. "Passions invoke a sense of self-description and uniqueness in a person. They are what shape us, through hard work, great love and acquired skill," says Joe. Joe doesn't just talk the talk. A cello player and orchestra member for over 7 years, hand-selected to participate in a summer business leadership camp (Minnesota Business Venture), and a strong voice for the GLBT population in his high school, Joe doesn't just talk about passions, he lives fully engrossed in his. Joe is currently enrolled in the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. While there, he will study marketing and management.
Kevin Winge
Executive Director
Open Arms of Minnesota
Kevin Winge is the executive director of Open Arms of Minnesota and has over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Kevin served as executive director of Open Arms from 1997 until 2002 when he was named a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow. As part of his fellowship, Kevin obtained a master's degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He then continued his fellowship in South Africa establishing programs for people living with HIV/AIDS there. Upon completion of his fellowship, Kevin returned to his former position at Open Arms. He is the author of Never Give Up: Vignettes from Sub-Saharan Africa in the Age of AIDS. Kevin was named Lavender magazine's 2006 "Person of the Year".
Nancy "Rusty" Barceló
Vice President and
Vice Provost for Equity
and Diversity Univ of MN.
Dr. Nancy "Rusty" Barceló is the Vice President and Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Barceló provides leadership and strategic planning on issues relating to faculty, staff, and student equity and diversity across the University of Minnesota system. Her role also includes administrative and program oversight of units on the Twin Cities campus that provide direct service to faculty, staff, and students, including the Office of Disability Services, the GLBTA Programs Office, the Office for University Women, the Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Office, and the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence. Dr. Barceló has been hailed as both a leader for transformational change around issues of equity and diversity as well as an astute visionary practitioner. She made the long climb from being the only Chicana student at the University of Iowa to her current position at the University of Minnesota. She has altered the landscape of higher education in the process.
