In the spring of 2008 the staff of Campus Pride came together to develop the Voice & Action National Leadership Award. This award is for undergraduate student leaders who are creating positive change for LGBT students on college campuses across the country. The staff wanted to create this award because at the time there was no way on the national scale that students were being recognized for the amazing work they do on a daily basis. In just the past three award cycles (including this one) we have seen a huge increase in the awareness of the award as well as the amount of applicants applying each year. This year has raised the bar even higher – we have a total of 40 applicants, which is a 25% increase in the number of applicants from last year. We are also looking at the most diverse applicant pool of the three years this award has been in place.

We need like to publicly thank, Ernst & Young & OUTMedia. These two organizations have offered the financial support to make this award possible. Along with a free registration to attend a regional LGBT College Student Conference, the individual receives the official Voice & Action Award from Campus Pride as well as a free artist/speaker/entertainer to bring to his/her campus from our educational partner OUTmedia.

Before we move onto discussing the 2011 Voice & Action Leadership Award Applicant Pool, I wanted to briefly remind everyone of the past recipients of the award. In 2009 we awarded Justin Hager, UW-Madison; Shawna Scott, University of Georgia; and Celso Perez, Boston College. Than in 2010 we award Stephan Lucas, Pennsylvania State University and George Aumoithe, Jr., Bowdoin College. Please click here to learn about these outstanding leaders.

Now onto the 2011 Voice & Action Leadership Award Applicant Pool

Details are after the jump!

Mitchell Gold has been active in many efforts from furniture to founding Faith in America. His furniture company, Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, is one of the fastest growing companies according to Inc. Magazine. Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams also supports many LGBTQ nonprofits including Campus Pride where he made a fantastic appearance at Campus Pride's Summer Leadership Camp. His most recent effort is the publication of Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social, and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing up Gay in America. The book details many struggles that shine light on how there is still progress to be made for LGBTQ equality.
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Interview Begins.
CP: Thank you so much Mitchell for fielding these questions and for all you have done for Campus Pride and for the LGBTQ community. So, Mitchell, what do you hope college students will get out of reading Crisis?

MG: That no matter what they are going through, they are not alone. Others have had the same feelings and experiences; many people their age, especially in parts of the country outside the “bubbles” of places like New York and L.A., are still going through it. Crisis can be a gift for them to give their parents to let them know the kind of pain they have been put through. And hopefully start to put it to an end.