Mountain Provisions Cooperative announced the launch of the Friends of Lauri Council and its inaugural Community Impact grant program, a new initiative created in honor of Lauri Carleton, a founding member of the cooperative and longtime advocate for equality, unity and belonging on the mountain.
Applications for the first round of Community Impact grants opened in late August and close on Sunday, Sept. 27.
The Friends of Lauri Council is working to build a more inclusive, connected and joyful mountain community where LGBTQ+ people feel safe, represented, supported and at home. Led by LGBTQ+ community members and allies with deep roots in the Rim communities, the council will create opportunities for connection, expand access to resources, support community care and invest directly in LGBTQ+ residents who are helping shape the future of the mountain.
The council is led by Lu Uzal, Viktorin Newhall, Karolyn Schmoses, Nikola Schmoses and Clair-Lovelle Dohman, bringing firsthand knowledge of the experiences, needs and challenges facing LGBTQ+ residents and youth in the mountain communities.
The Community Impact grants are the council’s first major initiative. More than $4,000 will be awarded for multiple projects led by LGBTQ+ mountain residents. Grants will support projects that strengthen, beautify, educate and connect the Rim of the World communities.
The fund is designed not simply to commemorate Lauri’s legacy, but to carry it forward by putting resources directly into the hands of people creating a more welcoming, vibrant and connected mountain community.
Grant eligibility and application details are available at www.mountainprovisions.coop/lgbtq.
Lauri Carleton was a founding member of Mountain Provisions Cooperative and an advocate for equality, unity and justice. She was a mother, wife, friend and community member who publicly demonstrated her commitment to LGBTQ+ belonging by flying a Pride flag outside MagPi, her Cedar Glen storefront.
In August 2023, Lauri was murdered at her store over the Pride flag she displayed. Her death shook the mountain community and became a painful reminder of the importance of creating spaces where everyone can live openly, safely and with a sense of belonging.
The Friends of Lauri Council carries her legacy forward by turning remembrance into action – supporting LGBTQ+ residents, creating opportunities for connection and investing in projects that make the mountain a more caring and inclusive place.
“For LGBTQ+ people on the mountain, having a council devoted to understanding and meeting their unique needs and funding the projects they work to bring to life is more than just representation. It’s a reshaping of the community they live in and a clear statement: You belong here,” said Lu Uzal, a founding member of the Friends of Lauri Council.
The council will bring the community together through two events this fall:
- Saturday, Sept. 12, Mountain Quest: A road rally scavenger hunt and fundraiser supporting the Community Impact grant program. Registration and event details: https://luma.com/i441a4we.
- Saturday, Oct. 10, Lauri Carleton Day of Belonging: The first annual community celebration honoring Lauri’s legacy and celebrating LGBTQ+ belonging on the mountain. Location to be announced. Grant recipients will be announced publicly during the event.
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