LGBT Life Center’s Melting Pot

It’s Spirit Week at LGBT Life Center and so far, our staff have brought their A-game! Tuesday was “Heritage Day” so in between the rainbows, balloons, sports apparel and Life Center swag, we had a really awesome opportunity to share our origins, backgrounds, family traditions, favorite foods and anything else that defines us. Heritage Day was particularly special because as an organization, we don’t always get to spend time together. The nature of our field is made up of so many different moving parts–our Case Managers are visiting clients, our Transportation Team is on the road driving people to appointments and other services, and our Prevention Team is very often in the field testing and doing outreach during the day. Nonetheless, we are one big family and Heritage Day not only taught us more about each other, but really made it visible just how diverse our organization is from the core!

From Scotland to the Dominican Republic, Nigeria to Brooklyn, we are one diverse bunch.

**Christina H.** – “I come from a long line of strong individuals who paved a way so that I could one day work here at the LGBT Life Center in Hampton Roads. My family was brought here on a slave ship from Nigeria and we ended up on a plantation in Cranfield, MS. My paternal grandparents were mulatto children born on the plantation and my other great grandparents were African- American and French. Although our past has a lot of hurt associated with it , it is my history and heritage. I am Nigerian, European American, and Natchez Indian. After leaving the plantation my family purchased 40 acres in Natchez, MS where they fought against racism, injustice, and inequalities. My family believed in education and no matter what the obstacle was you pushed and prayed. My grandfather was a bookkeeper in Pensacola, FL at a time where African- Americans weren’t believed to be able to read or write. My grandmother was the first Milliner (hat maker) in Pensacola, FL. I believe that all of my families past experiences helped mold me to who I am today. I was brought up in a family where you forgave people and you trusted that God would help sustain you.”

**Clay P.** – “This is the photo of my big Italian family. In the middle is the Matriarch, La Regina Di Nostra Familia, my great-grandmother, Cesira Fini, and next to her, the Patriarch, Giovanni Fini. They came across the great ocean, in 1910 from San Giavanni Rotondo, Italy. My grandma, Josephina, and all my aunts and uncles, cousins, and my mother are featured in this photo as well. We settled in Massachusetts, after leaving the slums of New York, and my great-grandfather started a shoe repair business. They were heavily involved in politics, which led many of my cousins to more illicit forms of organizing- The Mob….I always looked up to those cousins who my Grandma told me were “lost” at family reunions. They were the coolest, although some of them ended up in jail. As most Italians, we are Roman Catholic. It was very normal to have over 20 people show up after Mass on a Sunday, and every women in the kitchen, fighting in Italian over how to properly make this or that dish. The whole house smells of love and garlic. One of the best memories I have of my great-grandparents, was a speech they gave at a family reunion in 1998: “ Love One another, it doesn’t cost anything.””

**Noemi M.** – “I’m Originally from the Dominican Republic (south) closed and one step away from Haiti. Raised among and with my brothers and sisters from Haiti. My paternal grandmother raised so many Haitians kids as her own #proudgranddaughter! My late parents procreated 7 kids. Six girls (with myself) and one boy. Later on my dad had 3 kids outside of the marriage. One girl and two boys. So my family grew in abundance. So, we are in total 7 girls and 3 boys. My late mother was a teacher for over 40+ years, and my late dad was in the Dominican military services. Upon my mother passing the Dominican Republic department of education decided to name a school after my mother to honor her powerful impact in the community. #prouddaughter.
From parent marriages out of 7 kids 6 went to the university/college and graduated with accountants, computer signs and lawyer degrees. My heritage is from all around this planet earth, caused I truly believe human races/species are connected with each other.”

**Stacie W.B.**– “I don’t know enough about my heritage as I should know. That being said, I could rock some bangs as a kid with my homemade clothes. The 60’s and 70’s photos are spot on for fashion and flair!”

**Jarrell H.** – “My grandmother’s baby sister, Beatrice has never fully identified as transgender, but lives her life as a very handsome stud named “Bee.” She has always been one of my biggest supporters and has always told me to be unapologetically ME!! And still does! I love you Aunt Bee!!!”

**Irma H.** – “My great grand fathers came to America through Ellis Island. On the top left are my Dad’s parents. His mother’s father (Joseph Antonio Falsone) came from Sicily around 1913 and his dad (Pietro D’Amato) and his grandfather (Nicholas) came from Italy around the same time. Pietro was a tailor. My mom’s parents lived in Biloxi, MIss (top right). James, my grandfather, was a baker. Irma, my grandmother, volunteered for the Red Cross in a hospital.
My dad Nicholas, lower left holding me, was a Captain in the Navy and a doctor, and my mom (also named Irma) volunteered with Navy Relief. Both “retired” from the Navy after 20 years.
And lastly, my mom, lower right, was the original UVA fan! Always wearing UVA clothing and supporting her team (pictured in a hotel in Charlottesville getting ready for a big game!). I get my UVa spirit and fashion sense from her! I am proud of my Italian heritage and of being the daughter of Nicholas Anthony and Irma Jo D’Amato.”

**Doris M.** – “My mother is from Puerto Rico and my father is from the Bronx in NYC. On my mother’s side we have Spanish, Irish and Taino Indian (native Indians of Puerto Rico) roots. On my father’s side we have English, American-Indian, African-American and Russian ties. In my little slide show I have shared my 23 & me DNA results – and I have a bit of the whole world in me!”

**Ricky S.** – “Fun Fact: My sister, Pat, was the first African American to graduate from an integrated school (Norview HIgh) in Virginia, 1960. She was one of the Norfolk 17.
I was born in 1959.”

**John H.** – “Here are some of my favorite pictures featuring the Humphries/Alvin family! The Humphries (Dad’s side) are from Houston Texas and most still live there, while the Alvins (Mom’s side) are from Norfolk VA and most are still here as well. My grandparents on my mother’s side had 9 kids and coincidentally my grandparents on my Father’s side had 9 kids as well ( we have a HUGE family). This crazy group of people is my family by force, but my best friends by choice! <3”

**JT W.** – “On August 4th 1987, I was born in a hospital away from military bases in Heidelberg Germany. I came to America in the 90’s where I have lived ever since. Faith and Religion have been infused in me from generations of praying family members.”

**Chris B.W.** – “My genetic heritage is 71% from Africa, mostly from Nigeria and Mali. Most likely according to my research, most of my ancestors would have come to America through the huge Badagry Slave port in Lagos Nigeria. Malians would have also been enslaved in Africa prior to the European slave trade by North African empires such as in the Songhai empire and my Arabs who would also trade Malian slaves to the Mediterranean coast. The farthest our paper trails goes back is to an ancestor who came from South Africa in 1810 on my maternal side. On my father’s side (the Winstons), our family settled in north central Virginia (Montpelier and Ashland area) in the late 1700s when a slave-master Peter Winston moved his family and slaves there from NC. My great-great grandparents John and Mary where children of the slave-master. When slavery ended they received a farm in Montpelier and kept it in the family until about 20 years ago. On my father’s maternal side (the Jackson family) is the north Richmond, Henrico, area and where housekeepers for rich white families. My oldest living relatives is my grandmother on my mother’s side and 3 aunts, sisters of my father’s father. Most of my family is in Richmond, the Hampton Roads and New York City area (the Bronx and Brooklyn originally). My grandmother was a nurse and my mother’s father was in the military and did nothing productive after that. His dad was a “bookie” and barber. On my father’s side, my grandfather was a dayworker, farmer, bootlegger and later a deacon and preacher. Before that, that side were all farmers in the Montpelier area. My mother works for the DOD and has always worked for the government and my father was a mechanic. My mother as was a minister. I have a biological brother, Michael in Richmond and an adopted sister who is biologically my 2nd cousin and her twins are raised by my mother now.”

We’re proud of our stories. We’re proud of where we come from. We’re proud of our diversity, and we’re even prouder of the diverse community we so humbly serve each and every day right here in Hampton Roads.

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LGBT Life Center’s Melting Pot

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