How You Can Help With a School Stop on the 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride

A typical Soulforce Equality Ride visit lasts two days and includes an on-campus and an off-campus portion. While on campus we engage in structured dialogue with the academic community through classroom presentations, panel discussions, campus-wide forums, and film screenings as well as informal interactions. Off campus, communities have welcomed us to share in worship, potlucks, fundraisers, and organization meetings. For suggestions on how to get involved locally, read below:

If you live close to a Soulforce Equality Ride stop:

1. Register on the school page to receive updates. The schools are listed on the East Route and the West Route.
2. Please be advised that not all schools allow community members to take part in all of the Equality Ride-related events on campus. We ask that you respect the schools’ wishes. Check the school page for the calendar of events.
3. You can host a get-together or a meal with Equality Riders & community members.
4. Open your LGBT support group to students from the college.
5. Invite Equality Riders to a prayer service or Bible study with your group.
6. Volunteer to help a designated Equality Rider to run errands for our group.
7. Volunteer to receive mail for Equality Riders.
8. Volunteer to be an ally for closeted or struggling youth in your community. We intend to provide those in need with contact information for local support. After the bus leaves, you would be a part of the affirming network which Soulforce will continue to grow.
9. Host a fundraiser or encourage donations for the Soulforce Equality Ride.
10. We value your time, effort and resources. To streamline our collaboration, please register at your school’s page and share your ideas with the Equality Ride organizers for that stop.

If you are a student, faculty or staff on an Soulforce Equality Ride campus:

1. Reach out to us if you need support as an LGBT person or a straight ally. Contact a co-director. We uphold strict confidentiality.
2. Invite one or more Equality Riders to your class for a subject-specific discussion or presentation. If you are faculty, contact school organizer. If you are a student, encourage your professors to take advantage of this opportunity. There is room for this conversation in every classroom.
3. Invite one or more Equality Riders to participate in your extracurricular activities. We are athletes, artists, future politicians, scientists and generally people of many interests.
4. Invite one or more Equality Riders to your Bible study group or worship service. We come from diverse faith backgrounds.
5. Organize a get-together or a meal with your friends, department or a team and a few Equality Riders.
6. We value your time, effort and resources. To streamline our collaboration, please register at your school’s page and share your ideas with the Equality Ride organizers for that stop. The schools are listed on the East Route and the West Route. We really want to get to know you.

If you are an alumni of a school on the Soulforce Equality Ride route

1. Tell about your experience at your alma mater.
2. Communicate your support for this much-needed dialogue by writing a letter or sending an email to the following:
• President’s Office
• Favorite professor or department chair
• Campus newspaper
• Local media
• Alumni Association
• Board of Trustees
3. Consider returning to campus with us to share your story in first person.
4. Volunteer to become an ally for current and future LGBT students. We intend to provide those in need with contact information of supporters. After the bus leaves, you would be a part of the affirming network which Soulforce will continue to grow.
5. Host a fundraiser or encourage donations for the Soulforce Equality Ride visit to your alma mater.
6. We value your time, effort and resources. To streamline our collaboration, please register at your school’s page and share your ideas with the Equality Ride organizers for that stop. The schools are listed on the East Route and the West Route.