Note: The following is the eighth post in a series of posts from GET//OUT regarding its BLgT USA 50-state food equality tour. Each week, we'll be sharing updates, photos and more as the BLgT team travels across the country helping to raise awareness about and celebrate LGBT equality.
State number 35 today... final sandwich stretch! Midwest to the Wild West, yum and yeehaw! Quick and delicious recap: the last two weeks kicked off in Arkansas and Scott McGhee’s Lost Forty Brewing for the Center for Artistic Revolution in Little Rock. Half of the staff was LGBT and Scott was first responder earlier this year when Arkansas tried to pass a “religious freedom” discrimination bill. Niiiice. In North Dakota, we kicked it with Tina and her team at newly opened The District Warehouse and Kitchen for LGBTQ Programs at North Dakota State University in Fargo.
After swooning over the downtown market, we signed up The Market House in Omaha, Nebraska with proceeds to partner Rainbow Outreach. Our Wichita, Kansas, partnership with Schane Gross’s Fork & Fennel for the Center of Wichita was particularly epic, with Schane sharing stories of times past as a tattoo and piercing artist, then introducing us to new food industry friends. Tulsa, Oklahoma was a dud on the restaurant side of things (holler, Tulsa!). We did spend time with Kickstarter backer Mindy Roe and her family, and learned that sex education is basically nonexistent in Oklahoma. Probs for days. Oh, and Denver on Saturday. SO GOOD. The stories. The sandwiches. We’ll leave the Mile High City for next week.
One of the greatest gems of the last two weeks was Minneapolis, Minnesota. Our special event at Kim Bartmann’s The Third Bird was sponsored by Target and Smirnoff Vodka, with BLgTs benefiting Avenues for Homeless Youth all summer long. The gathering showcased the best of our model and what this fifty state tour is all about: The power of local partnerships.
In planning BLgT USA, there were multiple directions that provided paths to impacting all fifty states. We could have worked with a national restaurant chain, a hyped celebrity chef and a national non-profit. We could have produced only a national campaign, without a tour. Instead, we internationally chose to focus on local partnerships and live events. Local eateries. Local nonprofits. Connecting people in their local communities in all 50 states. With a team of four (well, now three with Katie Barnes taking a job at ESPN -- congrats, KB!), this is pretty much insane for a startup, and we know it. What keeps us going? It’s working. Throughout 35 states, we’ve built 50+ restaurant partnerships, with the BLgT sandwich on their menu supporting 40+ local LGBT organizations. We’ve engaged 12,000+ people online via our Tumblr blog, HuffPo series, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Is it perfect? Nah. But here’s the skinny. Our partnerships are win-wins for everyone involved in making BLgT USA happen.
- Nonprofits // Receive visibility and funding. Send their supporters to the restaurant.
- Restaurants // Most of our events are free or cash bar small dollar fundraisers. Restaurants see increased sales during our events, both with food and beverage. They also get visibility in a community they care about, which brings in business.
- Brands // Receive visibility locally and nationally. Access to a community of supporters and potential customers.
- Supporters // Have an approachable, fun, delicious, and shareable way to do something about a cause they care about.
BLgT LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nonprofit: Avenues for Homeless Youth
Restaurant: The Third Bird
Brands: Target Corp, Smirnoff Vodka, DJ Fancy Restaurant of Flip Phone
Supporters: 50 locals at the event
We always start with the why. It doesn’t make sense to do anything if there isn’t a need. “This is literally how we survive. We don’t take government grants. Any funding that comes from the community goes directly to services for youth in the twin cities.“ – Kelly, Avenues for Homeless Youth. The event provided value and met a nonprofit need. Win.
Target, which is based in Minneapolis, both sponsored and attended our event, which allowed for people and partners within the community to meet and build relationships. Attendees were impressed. Katie, from St. Paul, MN, said “I already love Target. When I met Michael at the event it was like, ‘Wow. This is real. They care.’ It wasn’t just lip service. Also, this sandwich is amazing. This Moscow Mule is amazing. When are you coming back?” The event engaged supporters. Win.
“For us, inclusivity and community are really important parts of our brand and what we are about,” said Michael Abata, Multicultural Marketing at Target. “Not everyone has full equality right now. It’s really important to us that our guests and communities know that they belong and they’re a part of something bigger.” Sponsors were connected to the community. Win.
Beyond sponsoring our Minneapolis event, Target donated Fuji film (for other events) and gift cards for our tour. These are things that make us run daily. BLgT USA is happening because of partners across the country, who are always with us. Our car is sponsored in part by Enterprise Rent-a-Car in Avon, CT, Co-founder Taryn Miller-Stevens' hometown. Miller Foods, home of Oma’s Pride also sponsored the tour, with BLgT pet treats. Orbitz is covering our flights to Alaska and Hawaii. The Embassy Row Hotel (DC), Eden Roc Hotel (Miami) – both Destination Hotels, and The Reward Boss sponsored homes on the road. Impact Hub New York was our work sanctuary before leaving NYC in May. Huffington Post Gay Voices for the airtime that you’re reading right now. Finally, the people who seed funded us on Kickstarter, and currently on Indiegogo are making this summer happen. It takes a village. A hungry, connected, hustling village. And we would not be here without everyone. Thank you.
For delicious photos of our events, check out our Facebook Page. For more Sandwich Stories from the road, get after our Instagram. Also, we <3 email. For questions, sponsorship, and/or media inquiries, email us: go@getout.io
BLgT USA has engaged 12,000 people online and on the ground across 35 states. So far 660 people have contributed $150,000 to make it happen. We’re raising the final $50,000 to reach people in all 50 states. You can help us impact the entire country on the ground this summer, by joining our crowdfunding campaign until August 17th on Indeigogo. Thanks for bringing us home!