Page 40 - BEQ Magazine Vol2 Iss4 V2

lishing —has published 11 books people influence their target market As a public servant, Shannon has
covering a wide range of important and increase revenue by using social made significant contributions to a
topics from diversity and inclusion media marketing, television promo- more inclusive Columbus by level-
in the workplace, living a life of tion and strategic partnerships as ing barriers to transportation, cre-
abundance and happiness, urban new ways to provide for themselves ating new opportunities for small
trauma and the impact of racism financially without relying on tradi- businesses and working to eliminate
and overcoming domestic violence, tional sources of income. opportunity gaps for young men of
just to name a few. Jenn is helping color.
to cultivate more diverse voices SHANNON HARDIN
and ally voices to the community (He, Him) is 30 RICH HARRINGTON

Monica Grant and connecting Ally businesses to GOVERNMENT—City Government (He, Him) is 24
Photo Credit: Shervah Marcus the LGBTQ business community Community Advocate NON-PROFIT—Activist - LGBTQ
through her work. Equality
When you visit Shannon Har-
MONICA GRANT din’s self-named website, you un- Rich Harrington deliberately
(She, Her) is 31 derstand his approach to services. started his career by working as an
SMALL BUSINESS—Determined “We don’t serve to win elections; activist because he values the ex-
Artist, Activist and Producer we win elections to serve.” Shannon perience of helping others engage
hails from Columbus, OH, the cap- and make change within their local
Monica Grant is an advocate ital and largest city of the U.S. state communities. Whether collecting
for entrepreneurship and allowing of Ohio. It is the 14th-largest city in petitions for an environmental cam-
it to be a viable alternative for the the United States, with a population paign, organizing and empowering
unemployed, underemployed or of 860,090 as of 2016 estimates. As citizens to canvass their own neigh-
Shannon Hardin those needing to free themselves a current member of Columbus borhoods for political candidates or
of oppressive careers. Faced with City Council, Shannon has pri- conversing with religious leaders to
the negativity in public discourse oritized improving neighborhood impact their thinking on sexuality,
and declining economic condi- safety, investing in infrastructure he has decided to dedicate his life
tions, Monica set a new path for and transportation, increasing eco- to making a difference. As program
herself and her community by nomic opportunity for all, and re- director for Faith In America (now
creating a blog and a business talk ducing racial disparities. He studied merged with Tyler Clementi Foun-
show. Armed with her experience political science and international dation), this summer Rich traveled
as a social justice organizer and her relations at Morehouse College in to Phoenix, Ariz. to educate the
skills as a TV producer, her media Atlanta, GA, before returning to Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)
platforms provide an opportuni- Columbus to work in former mayor members at their annual meeting
ty for people in the community to Michael Coleman’s office. Shan- about the harm caused by outdated
explore new ways to provide for non served as the External Affairs religious teachings and their posi-
Rich Harrington
themselves economically through Manager, LGBTQ liaison, and was tion on LGBTQ issues. Rich un-
business ownership. Fueled by the on the Religious Advisory Commis- derstands the connection between
community’s need to give voice to sion. He was a strong voice of advo- achieving full LGBTQ Equality and
the entrepreneur at heart as well cacy for the city of Columbus, rais- the elimination of religious-based
as business owners and their issues, ing their Human Rights Campaign animus toward the LGBTQ com-
Monica’s Young Boss Economic Municipal Equality Index rating munity. Rich says as LGBT Lead-
Club and Master Plan talk show from 82% to 100% in 2016. [LINK ers, we “must dream big and fight
have become avenues for diverse TO BEQ ARTICLE ON THE hard.” Rich reminds us that thir-
communities and young people TOPIC]. In addition to creating a ty years ago, marriage equality
to gain practical skills and advice. more queer-inclusive city, Shannon seemed impossible to achieve, but
Monica’s message speaks to the Mil- developed programs around vio- through decades of persistence and
lennial who is business, community lence intervention, African-Amer- hard work his generation is reaping
and politically aware. Monica helps ican wellness and anti-recidivism. the benefits of the hard-won fight.

40 | December 2017 BEQ PRIDE