Updated 3/10/20: The Mobilize conference has been cancelled “due to caution and preventative measures surrounding the Coronavirus.” The conference may be rescheduled.

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The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands is planning its inaugural Mobilize conference, offering a day-long training and discussion opportunity aimed at helping local nonprofits expand services to better support Omaha’s LGBTQIA2S+ community.

The conference will take place on March 26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Omaha Design Center.

In addition to the more commonly known LGBT acronym – standing for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender– the conference adds ‘Q’ for queer or questioning, ‘I’ for intersex, ‘A’ for asexual or ally, ‘2S’ for two-spirit and a ‘+’ sign to signal additional groups not covered by the umbrella term.

The term “two-spirit” is used by some indigenous communities to describe a third-gender role or gender-variant identity.

Omaha’s LGBTQIA+ Equality Fund – a collaboration of the Sherwood Foundation, Mutual of Omaha, Conagra Brands Foundation and Peter Kiewit Foundation and administered by the Omaha Community Foundation – said that area nonprofits requested more education on gender and sexual issues.

Area nonprofits are “looking for ways to engage our community and create inclusive places,” said fund chair Tom Elser.

Sessions at the conference include presentations on workplace discrimination, youth voice in nonprofits and accessibility issues. Both Louder Than a Bomb, a youth-led slam poetry team, and the Rose Theatre’s student-run troupe Pride Players will perform for attendees.

Precious Brady-Davis, a native Nebraskan living in Chicago, will give a keynote address about her extensive experience in nonprofit administration, leadership development and public relations.

As a queer woman, Davis understands and has focused a significant amount of work around the barriers to access that the LGBTQIA2S+ community face.

Conference tickets are $50. Scholarships and group discounts are available.

Find more information, including a full agenda, at nonprofitam.org/page/Mobilize.