Matthew A. Shrader, Co-Chair
Matthew Shrader is a native son of Olympia. Shrader is currently attending South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) where he will graduate in 2012 with an Associate of Arts with emphasis in political science and economics. While studying at SPSCC, Shrader has served as a two-term Senator on the school’s Student Senate leading the way for LGBTQ student inclusions and protections. Shrader is currently the Project Manager of a student coalition that is seeking to add LGBTQ demographic questions to the Washington State Community & Technical College systems common application. This would lead to significant improvements in campus climates across our state. Shrader also volunteers with other LGBTQ non-profits including serving as the Secretary for the Mpowerment Advisory Committee. In what little spare time Shrader has he loves to bake and entertain friends hosting dinner parties.
Anna Schlecht, Business Manager & Co-Chair
Anna Schlecht has been involved in the local GLBT community since moving here in 1976. Schlecht started Matrix, the first local GLBT magazine in 1978, worked on the first local GLBT rights law (Olympia, 1986) and helped to launch the first Pride march & rally in 1991. Schlecht worked with others to pass 25 local GLBT rights laws as well as three statewide GLBT rights laws. Recipient of numerous awards, Schlecht received the 1995 YMCA Woman of Achievement award, the 1997 City of Olympia Employee of the Year award, the 2001 Thurston Cultural Diversity Human Rights Award and the 2006 Human Rights & Equality Award from US Senator Cantwell. Holding a Masters in Public Administration, Schlecht has 30 years in public service, currently managing the Olympia Housing Program. Schlecht has been involved with Capital City Pride continuously since the very beginning, committed to bringing pride home to the small towns that people call home since 1991.
Justin Taylor, Secretary & Graphic Identity Manager
Justin Taylor has lived in the Pacific Northwest most of his life and began volunteering for Capital City Pride in 2009. Along with working within the GLBTQ community already with Mpoweroly, a community building group for young men, Taylor will be our Graphic Identity Manager and Secretary in 2012.
Erin Louis, Treasurer
Erin Louis has lived in Olympia since 2001 when Louis began studying at The Evergreen State College. After graduating in 2005, Louis began pursuing an accounting career and is now a CPA at Christensen Consulting, LLC. Louis specializes in tax preparation and financial planning for Registered Domestic Partners. In addition to working with Capital City Pride 2012, Louis is the current treasurer on the Stonewall Youth Board of Directors. This will be Louis’ first year serving on the Pride board.
Having spent four years as a professional poker dealer, Louis still loves to play a little Omaha and Texas Hold’ Em poker when she can find the time.
John Whisenant, Administrative Assistant
John Whisenant was raised in Juneau, Alaska, and has lived in the greater Olympia area for about ten years. Whisenant has been a key member of the Capital City Pride committee for three years, assisting with event coordination, festival logistics and overall operations. Whisenant is active in the community and has spent time volunteering for a number of other community organizations.
Whisenant is currently studying social science with a goal of completing graduate school. An avid Apple electronics fan, he also enjoys traveling, entertaining and spending time with friends.
Roger Cummings, Parade Manager
Roger Cummings has served on the Capital City Pride Planning Committee as the Manager of the Pride Parade for the last three years. Cummings was a participant in Olympia’s early pride parades and was responsible for coordinating the “Stand Proud Olympia” sign campaign that first appeared in 1994. To this day, a few of the signs appear spontaneously at Capital City Pride events. Cummings is a proud 35 year resident of Olympia and started his involvement in the Olympia Gay Community in the early 90′s as a speaker and advocate with the Olympia AIDS Task Force. Active in 1993-94 in the Thurston County Chapter of Hands-Off Washington Cummings served a term as the chapter treasurer. A career employee of the Department of Social and Health Services, Cummings served on the sexual minority taskforce charged with formulating the first comprehensive survey of sexual minority issues in the Division of Social and Health Services.
Cummings views his efforts and the efforts of so many others in the greater Olympia area as proof that community, optimism, persistence and pride can truly change things for the better. His hope is that this history will be preserved and furthered by proud generations yet to be.
David Kindle, Outreach
David Kindle has been a member of the Capital City Pride committee for a number of years. Kindle participated in the first Olympia pride march in 1991, and was on the founding board or committee of almost all local LGBT organizations. Kindle is proud to have been a part of PFLAG Olympia and Pride Foundation Black Hills from the beginning. Kindle will be celebrating 30 years with his partner this Memorial Day. Kindle has put together a listing of affirming faith communities and will expand the list before this years pride festival. Kindle serves as the Outreach Coordinator for Capital City Pride, where he promotes CCP in other communities reaching from Seattle down to Portland.
Victoria Polanco, Booth Manager
Victoria Polanco is a native daughter of Olympia and has lived in the greater Olympia area all her life; she is a graduate of Timberline High School’s class of 2010. Polanco is entering her second year of volunteering with Capital City Pride, and this will be her first year on the committee. Last year Polanco volunteered working with booth registration and set-up playing an essential role in the success of the booths that participated in the 20th anniversary Capital City Pride festival. This year Polanco will be the Booth Manager, coordinating all functions of booths. Polanco has also volunteered with Stonewall Youth and the Stonewall Youth Speakers Bureau, as well as the American Legion Auxiliary- Girls State.
Polanco loves to bake, go out to the movies with friends, enjoys Nerf wars, and like most of the committee cannot live without her Apple I-Phone.