Since becoming members of InterPride in 2022, Community Fest Jamaica has slowly and steadily taken steps to secure a foothold in this global network of like-minds who are committed to carving out spaces for entertainment and survival - it seemed a natural progression, that our journey as pride curators would lead us pursue a deeper relationship with this international consortium. This year, we were presented with a unique opportunity to strengthen our connection with the network, through our attendance at the World Pride Conference in Medellín, Colombia, made possible through InterPride's Scholarship Fund. With this investment, we were able to take up space, as the only pride present from the English-Speaking Caribbean, representing not only our country, but also sharing perspectives from the region.

In our world, conferences take on the life of giving access to opportunities for networking, learning, and sharing best practices; these spaces also give rise to the establishment of reputations, the building brand identities, and the facilitation of associations and other modes of partnership-building. This ingress into the operations of prides from around the world was no different, it introduced us to the numerous event-planning considerations, delivered key insights into fundraising, and provided space for sharing while allowing us to increase our breadth of understanding about the politics of the InterPride.
The local planners did not skimp on the exercises in cultural immersion - the enriching daily sessions were interspersed with nightly entertainment fixes, making the conference a masterclass in balance - seamlessly blending meaningful work with vibrant entertainment. Whether it was being whisked off to witness the City Hall being illuminated in a prism of welcoming rainbow colors or being feted to a club night of salsa music and moves, conference attendees were given their fair share of opportunities to fall in love with Colombia and its people through the dynamic showcase of the country's culture and hospitality.
Since our return from Medellín, we have taken significant strides to implement many of the learnings we brought home, chief among which relate to our commitment to progressively increasing the accessibility profile of our events, launching an official website, and developing key marketing collateral for our future stagings. We also brought home the conviction to host our first Pride march next June, and are excited to foreground this new part to our celebration against the rich tapestry of events also slated to take place. It is also noteworthy achievement for us to have been recipient of a small grant from San Diego Pride, an opportunity we intersected with due to our attendance the conference.
This experience was a poignant reminder of the power of community and shared purpose and has fueled our commitment to create a more inclusive and dynamic festival. It was also one of connection, learning, and cultural celebration - one that has significantly shaped the trajectory of Community Fest and saw us returning with not only the lessons learned but also a deep appreciation for the beauty and warmth of Colombia and its people. Inspired by this leg of the journey, we are more energized to plan and execute next year’s Pride celebrations in Jamaica with the support of our community members.
Here's to more intentional movement-building.
Comments