Share the vision and be part of the Rainbow Center work
CONCORD, CA — I am Rainbow.
My story is both unique and shared.
The path has been full of highs and lows, big wins and incredibly painful losses. I have benefited from the privileges granted to me as a white, neurotypical, cisgendered, able-bodied, Ivy League educated person while experiencing disadvantages being at the intersection of historically marginalized identities as a woman, lesbian and growing up poor.
My Ivy degree was paved on scholarship money, partly earned because throughout my high school life I was given the benefit of the doubt many times over – affording me opportunity. Luckily, it eventually led me to Rainbow.
For a third of my life’s journey, the last 12½ years, Rainbow Community Center has been a guiding light – especially on my darkest days. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this amazing organization. I’m writing to you today because June marks the end of my time on the Board of Directors after six years, the last 2.3 holding the title of president.
Working to regain trust
“Leadership is a series of behaviors rather than a role for heroes” – Margaret Wheatley
I took over as president during a tumultuous and traumatic period, where people’s lives were impacted and the staff and community lost trust in the board.
There were failures and missteps, but the team of people at Rainbow made it possible for us to get through. Knowing the road wouldn’t be smooth, we leaned on our team.
We decided to move at the speed of trust and knew we would succeed together.
Sometimes leadership looks like the quiet pause as you listen and work to reflect back. It’s standing in the truth, even if that truth is hard to swallow. It’s opening to listen to as many voices as possible and ask if you’re tuned in to all the frequencies. It’s making hard calls with an open heart. It’s putting people first. It’s valuing those who are on the ground doing the work, taking their feedback into account, giving weight to their voice more than those who might be advising from the outside looking in. It’s leaning into the collective strength of the team. And thankfully at Rainbow, we have an amazing team of staff, directors and community members.
Being seen, heard and held
You are Rainbow.
What we see of a rainbow is the visible spectrum of light, hues from red to green to indigo. It is the result of sunlight hitting individual droplets of water, with the light reflected and refracted to meet our eye. Each person in our organization or served by it is that drop of water. Unique within the collective. All with the goal to serve those in our LGBTQI+ community. A spectrum of beautiful, diverse and worthy people who deserve to be seen, heard and held.
“The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
If you believe in equity, justice, compassion and love – you are Rainbow. Our mission centers LGBTQI+ folks and it encompasses allies, too. Centering means putting someone or something forward, to lift them up and hold them, not to the exclusion of others, but to shine the light so that what has been for so long invisible and marginalized is seen and supported. So, when you look, you are reflected back.
It is an ambitious goal, but knowing what I know because of those who lead, serve and support Rainbow, it is attainable.
We are Rainbow.
If you’re looking for a way to make a difference, to support important and necessary work, think Rainbow. You can support by volunteering, sharing our mission, attending a training or donating at rainbowcc.org/give.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that Rainbow has saved my life many times over the years, so I plan to spend the rest of my life working to give back for that immeasurable gift. Won’t you join me? Who knows, you could save someone, too – maybe even yourself.
Dodi Zotigh is the board president of the Rainbow Community Center in Concord serving the LGBTQ community in Concord. Send questions and comments to Dodi@rainbowcc.org.