The Aequalitas Project
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| Founder(s) | Gregory Varnum |
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| Type | 501c3 pending |
| Location | Ann Arbor, Michigan & Washington, District of Columbia |
| Key people | Gregory Varnum (Lead) Jeffrey Montgomery (Strategic Counsel) John Allen (Legal Counsel) |
| Area served | International |
| Focus | Progressive programs |
| Method | Nonprofit incubator |
| Website | Official website |
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The Aequalitas Project is a nonprofit organization serving as an incubator for new progressive programs. The Aequalitas Project focuses on ideas which are in the early stages of development.
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[edit] Strategy
The Aequalitas Project's "incubator" approach is based on business incubators and utilizes resources provided by the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA). This approach allows for the ideas to develop before committing to a long-term structure. Generally the development process allows for ideas to:
- Develop a model
- Establish donor relationships
- Achieve some initial successes
As a result of this development process, some ideas will be integrated into an existing organization - either as a new program or enhancement to a similar program. Other ideas will develop into their own organization and have a solid start. Regardless of the outcome, the development process is designed to ensure that innovative ideas have a sustainable future.
[edit] History
In early 2011 - after ten years working as an advocate and nonprofit executive on local, state and national levels - founder Gregory Varnum developed the concept for The Aequalitas Project "In response to a growing frustration with seeing great ideas snuffed out after false starts. Some failed because of funding conflicts within organizations where the idea was a logical fit. Others could not overcome the initial hurdles to get an organization off the ground to house their idea."
[edit] Principles
The Aequalitas Project makes has stated a commitment adhering to and respect these principles:[1]
- We owe it to those that follow us to leave the world a better place than we found it
- Young people have a fundamental right to have their voices heard
- Education is key to advancing equality
- We owe young people a greater role than they currently have in government
- Efficiency and effectiveness can be measured at several levels
- Technology can sometimes, but not always, be used to increase the exposure, efficiency and effectiveness of a program
- Advances achieved through compromise and incremental change are steps towards victory - not defeat
- Diversity means more than tokenism
- Being supportive of green and union practices is an affordable responsibility
- Appropriate transparency is a responsibility of all nonprofits
- Sometimes good things really do take time
- Nonprofit programs that charge participants a fee must also provide a means for overcoming any financial barriers those fees may place on otherwise eligible participants
- Corporations have a social responsibility to their community
- Recognition of fundamental human rights including, but certainly not limited to:
- Equal access to government for all residents
- Queer equality
- Sexual freedom
- Equal access to life sustaining healthcare and education
[edit] Programs
- Project Castra
- Queer Camp Alliance
- the 120 Center
- WikiQueer
