Meet Tess Allen | Executive Director, she/her/hers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tess Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tess, what inspires you?
When it comes to the organization I work for, I think am inspired most by the LGBTQ+ youth in our community. Some inspire me with their wisdom and courage to be out and proud, and others inspire me to make our world a safer place to come out. I also get inspired by my staff. Each one of them is creative, kind, and willing to go the extra mile for the cause. Because there are 4 of us, demands are high, and I always find it impressive that we can make things happen as if we were a staff 3 or 4 times our size. They also have their own wonderful ways of steering the whole of us back on course when we diverge.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Diversity Collective Ventura County started as a group of individuals who, in 2014, wanted to build a Pride celebration. They worked as volunteers to form a non-profit and maintain a place of safety and inclusion. In 2017, DCVC opened our Community Resource Center, a physical LGBTQ+ place to call home. From there, we have created 6 programs for young and old and everyone in between. We recently launched a new iteration of our HIV Education and Prevention program, and named it Diversity SHINES. We offer free STI testing for the public, and hold vaccine clinics (think MPox) in conjunction to our testing days.

The only way we are where we are today is by standing on the shoulders of those early founders and through a team of dedicated and creative staff and board members.

I don’t think building something lasting is ever easy. Simple, but not easy. There have been more than a dozen times where board members have been called on to help out with tasks that staff can’t tackle due to the busy nature of the organization. But our board has vision, and their commitment is obvious through their actions.

I think the things the world should know about us is that this organization is run with heart. The love for our mission is pervasive. We make mistakes, and do our best to clean them up. We count our successes as a win for the whole community, and we are always open to hear from the LGBTQ+ population on their needs.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’d have to start with a walk in Downtown Ventura. The shops, the music, the restaurants… they all create a beautiful experience. One of my favorite shops is Fiddle & Fern where you can find the best plants and learn about them from the employees there. We’d go to the Museum of Ventura County while there. In the evening, Bell Arts Factory for some amazing local artists’ work.

This is a beach town, and you can’t help but love the vibe up and down our coastline. I’d probably take them to surfer’s point during low tide because you can find some pretty amazing creatures there. We’ve seen sea hares and even and octopus in the tide pools!

I would also take them on a cruise to one of the Channel Islands. The cruise leaves from Ventura Harbor, so more food and shops and people watching. The Channel Islands are beautiful, and hiking up to a cliff to look over the water is breathtaking.

Definitely go to Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks. The gardens are breathtaking and the walk is so calming.

We’d wrap up the week with Drag Queen Bingo at Paddy’s Bar in Downtown Ventura. Always a hoot, the drinks are cold and the bingo caller is HOT! LOL They use Drag Queen Bingo as a fundraiser for local non-profits, so it’s always good to give back.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shout out dedication is Tiffany Harris from Inclusion Matters. She has been a role model and mentor for years. When I took the position of Executive Director, she sent me a list of “rules to live by” that are phenomenal. Here are a few:

Care for your team as human beings first, team members second.
Focus on the task at hand..then the next. One breath at a time.
Trust that the universe is conspiring with you.
Get a gratitude bell and ring it often.
Do not check emails throughout the night or first thing in the morning until you are truly ready to start the day.

There are so many more, but I’m sure you get the idea. Tiffany started a non-profit from the ground up and now it is a world-wide name. She is a force of magic!

Website: www.diversitycollective.org

Instagram: @_diversitycollective

Facebook: diversitycollective