WHO WE ARE

The South Coast LGBTQ+ Network (The Network) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2014 by seven LGBTQ+ agencies and allied organizations with help from The Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts.

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OUR VISION

​The South Coast LGBTQ+ Network is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create and support a thriving LGBTQ+ community on Massachusetts’ South Coast where individuals across the age spectrum can freely, safely, and joyously celebrate their true selves and realize their full potential. Every day, The Network is dedicated to building and maintaining a comprehensive support network for LGBTQ individuals and families across the age spectrum, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable within the LGBTQ+ community: LGBTQ+ youth, transgender and nonbinary individuals, and older adults. The Network offers a wide range of services and events that promote LGBTQ+ awareness and education, health and wellness , social interaction, professional development, and much more.

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​Our Mission

Every day we strive to build and maintain a comprehensive support network for LGBTQ+ individuals and families across the age spectrum by:

• Working with governmental, community-based organizations, and private entities to eliminate homophobia in our communities through education, advocacy, and outreach.
• Creating inter-generational opportunities for LGBTQ+ individuals to learn from one another through social, educational, and community project interaction.
• Assessing, advocating, and supporting programming needs to ensure the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals in our community, such as housing, education, employment, and mental and physical health.
• Ensuring that LGBTQ+ individuals are treated with respect and dignity.
• Providing a central organizational home for the exchange of ideas and collaboration to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ South Coast residents

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FUTURE PROJECTS

In order to better serve the growing South Coast LGBTQ+ community, we are always looking for ways to create bigger and better-equipped spaces where members, allies, and partners can interact. Currently, we are developing an historic building at 60 Eighth Street in downtown New Bedford for a future Community Center. Stay tuned for updates.

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​Board of Directors

2021 LEADERSHIP

Andrew Pollock, President​
Eileen Dugas, Executive Director
Traci Welch, Secretary
​Brian Costa, Treasurer
John Silva, Director
Kerry Zeida, Marketing Director

Mija Almeida, Director
Marlyn Barros, Director
Zach Boyer, Director
Gerry Buckley, Director
Mandy Fraser, Director
John Masson, Director
​Alex West, Director
Randy Weeks, Director
​Dennis Wong, Director
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President Emeritus
Rebecca McCullough

In Memory of:
Joan Stratton (1951-2021)
​​Lenny Amaral (d. 2021)
​Connie Mayer (1943-2021)

executive committee

ANDY POLLOCK

Andy Pollock (he/him) is president of The South Coast LGBTQ+ Network. A civil rights advocate who was among the first to marry when Massachusetts legalized gay marriage, Andy brings many years of experience as a service provider for the Coastal Neighbors Network and as the owner of a 300-year-old farm in Dartmouth and developer of Farm Share Programs to cultivate new relationships within the South Coast LGBTQ+ community.

Network Treasurer Brian Costa (he/him) is a family nurse practitioner at the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center. He has expertise in offering gender-affirming hormone therapy and other medical treatments and referrals for the transgender and nonbinary communities in the South Coast. A New Bedford native, Brian received his Masters of Science (FNP) degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, and has since received additional training from Fenway Health.

brian costa

BRIAN COSTA

EILEEN DUGAS

Eileen Dugas (she/her) is executive director for The South Coast LGBTQ+ Network, where she oversees operations, writes grants and proposals, provides educational training to local-area agencies and businesses, and serves as community liaison and volunteer coordinator. Eileen also co-hosts and produces "The LGBTQ Voice," a weekly Facebook Live broadcast. Eileen is a licensed social worker specializing in child and family services. She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a master's degree in Human and Social Services.

KERRY ZEIDA

Kerry Zeida (he/him) is the executive marketing director for the Network. He is a veteran marketing executive and social entrepreneur who, for more than 30 years, has been building some of the world’s biggest and most influential brands in technology, media, sports, leisure, and social good. Mr. Zeida is a native of Massachusetts. He received his B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and his M.A. from Middlebury College in Paris, France. He has also completed executive marketing and leadership training at Duke University and social media certification through Northwestern University.

TRACI WELCH

Traci Welch (she/her) is secretary and Event Committee chairperson for The South Coast LGBTQ+ Network. She also currently co-hosts and produces the Network's weekly "The LGBTQ Voice" broadcast. For decades Traci has been a staunch supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and has provided leadership and support to Cape Cod Pride, A.I.D.S., Inc., South Coast Equality, South Coast Pride, and the New Bedford Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth.

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rebecca mccullough, president emeritus

Rebecca McCullough is a founding member and former president of The South Coast LGBTQ+ Network. She has an extensive background in community service, fundraising, and public relations, including a six-year term as Waltham city councilor, as well as leadership positions for the Town of Mattapoisett, the YMCA Southcoast, and the Women's Center in New Bedford.​ Now retired, Rebecca counsels The Network on its future plans with an emphasis on seeing through to completion the restoration of the building in downtown New Bedford that she secured for The Network as the future South Coast LGBTQ+ Center.

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