Cultivating Community: The Power of Gathering Spaces & The Impact of Belonging
with Kyle Warnock 
Cultivating Community: The Power of Gathering Spaces & The Impact of Belonging
with Kyle Warnock
with Kyle Warnock
Since the 1950s, the United States has seen a steady decrease in gathering spaces that effectively foster meaningful, long-lasting support networks and community belonging. As the country becomes more divided and individualistic, we see an uptick in isolation and a decline in public health and well-being. In this talk, explore the three components of community building Queerly ME employs to foster strong support networks and strengthen community belonging for LGBTQIA+ adults in Maine. Drive into what is needed for a gathering place to thrive and lead towards meaningful, long-lasting community connections. This workshop will have a strong focus on the LGBTQIA+ community in Maine, and the many sociopolitical obstacles challenging the creation and growth of gathering spaces and how we may overcome those challenges through collective action.
Cost: Sliding scale, nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. If you are able to donate, please do! 100% of your donation will help Queerly ME expand their programs in all 16 counties, fund the time and energy of their organizers, grow their LGBTQIA+ resource directory, and further build a sustainable statewide community network for LGBTQIA+ people for many years to come.
About Queerly ME
In July 2025, Queerly ME embarked on its first major fundraising campaign, In Bloom: A Queerly ME Campaign For Connection. With the support of community members, foundations and major funders, and aligned organizations and businesses, For more information, please visit queerlyme.org/in-bloom.
About the facilitator:
Kyle Warnock (any pronouns) has dedicated his career to fostering community belonging and accessibility across Maine. He is an American Sign Language Interpreter, the Executive Director and Founder of Queerly ME, and a documentary photographer. Across his many fields of work, Kyle is guided by his passion of resource sharing, interpersonal connection, and storytelling. He holds a BA in Linguistics with a concentration on American Sign Language Interpretation from the University of Southern Maine. Kyle is based in Brunswick with his partner Nathan MacDonald and their tuxedo cat Leo, but frequently travels statewide as he helms Queerly ME's mission to foster strong support networks and strengthen community belonging for LGBTQIA+ adults in Maine. By the end of 2025, Queerly ME will be the first nonprofit in Maine to provide LGBTQIA+ outdoor programming in all 16 counties of the state.
*Please register in advance, as space is limited
*All events at ECC are 18+
Reservations
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