BUSINESS OUTREACH LETTER 2022
Dear Denville Business Owners,
As you may know, the month of June has become known as Pride month, where communities, individuals and organizations come out to show support for the LGBTQ+ community. Last year in Denville, we, members of the Denville LGBTQ+ Alliance, began such initiatives in Denville, including yarn art on trees, Pride ribbons decorating the downtown, and hosting a table at Denville Farmer’s Market and Denville After Dark. Several Denville businesses also showed Pride with window displays, special food, and flying the Pride flag.
This year, we are excited to invite you to participate in a few new, FUN, initiatives to support the LGBTQ+ community in Denville!
Theme and Event: Our theme for 2022 will be “All Are Welcome - Pride 2022”. We will be hosting a Pride event on the afternoon of Saturday June 4 at the Edge NJ Center at their new location at 295 East Main Street, Denville. As the HUB of Morris County we hope to be hosting the kickoff Pride event of the season, going forward. (More details to come!)
Window Display Contest: We invite you to create some fun and participate in our First Annual Pride Window Display Contest! Open to all Denville businesses. RULES: Pride-themed window displays must be up by June 4th and remain up through at least June 25. The members of the Alliance will judge and decide on a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize to be announced early July. We will also host a “Community Choice” award asking community members to cast a vote in an online survey. If you plan to participate in the contest, please complete this brief entry form.
Become a Supporter: We invite all merchants and individuals in Denville to become a supporter of All Are Welcome - Pride 2022. To become a Supporter, we have a minimum suggested donation of $25. Supporters will receive an All Are Welcome window display sign, some educational material/handouts, and be invited to a special LGBTQ+ Humility workshop presented by Edge NJ. We will create a directory of Supporters and advertise Supporters on our social media. Proceeds from the donations will go towards advertising, Pride decor, educational material, and costs associated with the Pride event. Any excess will be reinvested in the Denville Community (educational programs and future events). Supporter packages will be delivered by May 31 so that you can post your sign prominently throughout the month (and beyond!). Please fill out this form to become a supporter.
All Are Welcome, All Are Fed: If you are a restaurant, cafe, bakery or one of any array of Denville’s culinary wonders, we invite you to think about and offer special meals “Pride Plate Specials”, drinks or other edible delights. Please let us know if you will be willing to plan to offer any Pride themed specials. We will work to get the word out. Please fill out this form.
Enrichment and Activity: What other creative activities and events could you bring to energize Pride Month? Special Art Classes? Themed exercise classes? Poetry Slams? If you’re doing something, let us know, so we can spread the word. Please fill out this form.
Merch: We did a post-Pride-month survey last year and the nearly 90 respondents nearly unanimously appreciated all the efforts. Many reminded us that while there was a lot of decor, they wanted to buy merch in town instead of online. So we wanted to remind everyone - please consider ordering Pride themed merch now, to be sold during June. We believe there is high demand for Pride themed goods.
Be a Vendor: Contact us if you are interested in vending at the Pride event on June 4 at Edge NJ! Email denvillerainbowpride@gmail.com.
In addition to these activities, we are also decorating trees with PRIDE-themed yarn art throughout the month of June. We have nearly 60 yarn crafters working on various projects. The Township of Denville will be honoring Pride month this year with a proclamation.
We’re looking to spread Pride all across Denville, beyond downtown and beyond June. To follow us on social media or join our mailing list, please check out our links here or scan the QR code below - https://linktr.ee/denvillelgbtqalliance
ALL VOLUNTEERS WELCOME! If you or any of your employees wish to be involved further, we welcome you with open arms. Please let us know!
Looking forward to working with you as our community comes together in support of Pride.
In Unity,
The Denville LGBTQ+ Alliance