Power to the People seeks to help change the paradigm in the currently white-dominated LGBT culture (and mainstream cultural communities) by connecting LGBT artists of color, as well as their networks of family and friends to one another, and the larger LGBT community through the production and promotion of artist and artistic events.
P2P was created to provide visibility and connectedness to people of color within a predominantly white LGBT celebration. Power to the People began in FY 2001 as a community building activity of Minnesota Men of Color (MMOC). A united effort of over 30 organizations and 25 artists to:
(1) Ensure LGBT people of color (POC) had a way to connect to each other, provide culturally relevant entertainment, to demonstrate available resources in the community, and
(2) begin to break down the barriers of homophobia in cultural agencies, during Twin Cities Pride.
P2P reached over 3,000 people during its first 2-day event, over 80% of those being People of Color.
