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At our first Houston event since the pandemic changed nearly everything, Board President Ron Guillard and Vice President Jody Randall revealed that TPIF had been awarded a ViiV Healthcare Amp Grant totaling $525,000. As an Amp Grant Program Lead, TPIF will receive the funds over three years for micro-granting, capacity-building, and network-building programs to grassroots organizations in Texas leading outreach and engagement efforts to people living with or vulnerable to HIV. Remarks also included highlights from the Board's recently adopted five-year strategic plan. Rene Mendiola described how Save Our Sisters United (SOSU) utilized a 2020 Emergency Grant from TPIF & Equality Texas' joint emergency fund which provided direct aid to transgender women of color most left behind during the pandemic. Representatives from The Normal Anomaly Initiative and Trans Legal Aid Clinic Houston were on-hand as Jody Randall previewed two of the three Houston area TPIF 2021 Community Grants awards. About thirty-five donors and community leaders attended the event at the Law Harrington Senior Center.

Community stakeholders and our Board of Directors convened on August 21, 2021 to conclude the strategic planning process that began in January and launch implementation planning. The day began with presentations of the Plan's elements; our Core Ideologies (Mission, Vision, Values, Strategies and Focus Populations and Communities)) and four Long Term Objectives for the next five years. During the facilitated day-long meeting, the plan was adopted by the board in an open, formal business meeting followed by a brief celebratory break with bubbles of choice and concluding with breakout sessions by geographic region, formulating local implementation strategies.

TPIF President Ron Guillard, Vice President Judy Sherman, and Houston Board Member Bryan Hlavinka joined local Board Members Jody Randall and Randall Gentry in Lubbock, meeting with 15 community members for the launch of the West Texas Regional Leadership Council. The kick-off event afforded two TPIF grant recipients the opportunity to share the significant impact that TPIF funds have on their operations. Representatives from the TTU Office of LGBTQIA Education & Engagement and East Lubbock Art House offered remarks and insight into each organizations' work in the community.

On July 7, the community members got to work discussing goals and the first year goal was established: Develop strategies to be more representative in both geography and identity for the entire West Texas region.

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