Dear Community,
I am writing this to you from my new desk.
I am deeply grateful for the warm welcome I received this week. It was vibrant, it was colorful, and it was full of love. I’m only two days in, and I can already tell that the confetti never really settles here; the office is rarely quiet. And, alongside the joy and fun, the real work is getting done. That’s Pride!
As I sit here, my first thought is of those who sat here before me. I want to humbly thank and acknowledge every leader who held this seat, whether in a permanent or interim capacity. You held the reins of this mission through every season of growth and challenge. You kept the movement moving so that we could all be here today. I honor that legacy.
I worked hard to earn this seat. I bring with me a 20-year career in education leadership and over two decades of activism and volunteer service to the LGBTQIA+ movement. For the last few months, I have been deeply preparing for this specific role—doing my homework, studying our history, and visioning the future. But I also know there is a profound difference between looking at a house and living in it. So, while I arrived ready to lead, I am also taking the necessary time to allow this change to settle for me, for my family, and for you. It was quite a journey for all of us to get here; I know that even positive change can be stressful. So, I both ask for and offer grace as we settle in here together.
My focus right now is on connection. I am spending my days with the staff, the volunteers, and the partners and community members who carry Pride forward. I am not walking in with a list of demands; I am simply open to hearing what is working, what feels fragile, and what matters most to you.
I value clear communication, steady presence, and follow-through. I always move with a sense of urgency, but we will not move with reckless speed. Through this initial period of onboarding, observation, and connection, I promise to keep you close. I will soon begin sharing what I am learning and where I see us heading as we all carry Pride’s mission and vision with our hearts, minds and hands, to and through Pride week, and every day of the year.
Thank you for the care, energy, and commitment you bring to this work. I am looking forward to getting to know you and writing the pages of this next chapter together.
We got this.
KishaLynn Elliott
Executive Director, San Diego Pride
San Diego Pride raises funds primarily through festival ticket and beverage sales, and through sponsorships, and exhibitor fees. These funds support San Diego Pride’s community philanthropy which has distributed more than $2.5 million in advancement of its mission to foster pride, equality, and respect for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities locally, nationally, and globally.
