Once again, Orrick staff and Wheeling volunteers are stepping into the community to show LBGTQIA+ allyship and to come together around community improvement. With the support of several local groups, Orrick is hosting its 6th annual “Pride in Wheeling Day” on Friday, June 10th from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Pride in Wheeling was established more than six years ago by a group of Orrick associates and staff to encourage LBGTQIA+ allyship within the community. For the past six years, the Committee has organized a community improvement event, partnering with the City of Wheeling, Ohio Valley Pride, Steptoe & Johnson, Wheeling Arts & Cultural Commission, the YWCA and NAMI to bring folks together around a conversation about diversity and inclusion.
This year, the event includes painting a Butterfly Mural Project, designed by local artist, Mindi Yarbrough Langford, and working with other artists to design Heritage Trail mile markers. Volunteers will also plant flowers and trees around these areas and clean up along Heritage Trail and other areas in Wheeling.
Pride in Wheeling is not only an effort to enhance community engagement but also a forum for celebrating and promoting conversations around LBGTQIA+ topics. In prior years, volunteers have planted flowers, painted playgrounds, painted community murals and contributed more than 150 service hours in one day on community service projects.
The 2021 final mural at the Nelson Jordan Center.
Nick Roxby, Co-Chair of the Orrick Pride in Wheeling Committee, notes, “We are excited to be hosting this year’s event and continuing support for our local LBGTQIA+ community. With the recent increase in proposed legislation impacting educational policies and restricting the rights of LBGTQIA+ youths and adults, we believe that now is an important time to build allyship and foster understanding in the community. And we are happy to host an event that brings people together.”
Since the event’s inception, Mayor Elliot has proclaimed the date of the event as “Pride in Wheeling Day” citywide. The committee is grateful for the City’s continued support.
“We remain grateful for the ways in which the City of Wheeling, all of our volunteers, artists and partner organizations continue to show up as allies and to support Pride in Wheeling,” says Nick.
Everyone is encouraged and welcome to participate as a volunteer. If you would like to participate or if you would like more information, please reach out to Nick Roxby at nroxby@orrick.com, Amy Riordan at ariordan@orrick.com or Sarah Clark at sclark@orrick.com.