Programs & Events

The Programs & Events Team brings our vision to life through vibrant, inclusive social gatherings that create safe, welcoming spaces for community and joy. This team ensures that celebration and unity remain at the heart of our community.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Volunteer at Plainfield Pride-hosted events
• Plan and organize Plainfield Pride-hosted events (e.g., PrideFest, Gala, and other social events)
• Attend and/or volunteer at other social events in the Plainfield community
• Collaborate with R&D for sponsor funding, Volunteers for staffing, and Communications for marketing

Do you love to host a party?  Do you enjoy planning logistics? Maybe have ideas for new Plainfield Pride-hosted social events?  Join the programs & events team!

Communications

The Communications Team amplifies the voice of Plainfield Pride. By promoting awareness, educating the public on inclusive language, and sharing powerful stories, this team keeps our community informed, connected, and inspired.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Create marketing content to promote Plainfield Pride-hosted events, other LGBTQIA+ events and news, and Ally businesses
• Build brand awareness through social media posts and events
• Create a quarterly newsletter and other announcements
• Collaborate with the other Plainfield Pride teams to build awareness and participation

Do you enjoy making reels, videos, or photos? Do you have ideas to increase Plainfield Pride's voice and reach? Join the communications team!

Research & Development

Driven by a commitment to continuous growth and impact, the Research & Development Team gathers insights and tracks community needs to ensure our outreach, support services, allyship, and community connections are grounded in evidence, innovation, and long-term sustainability.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Coordinate fundraising efforts and campaigns
• Research and apply for funding grants
• Build relationships with Plainfield organizations and businesses
• Attend Plainfield community and business events (e.g., PSAC, grand openings)
• Collaborate with Programs & Events for sponsor funding and Communications to build awareness

Do you have experience writing grants? Do you enjoy attending community and business events? Join the research & development team!

Volunteers

Volunteers are the backbone of our organization and the driving force behind our mission. The Volunteer Team recruits, supports, and empowers dedicated community members and allies who donate their time and talents to foster a Plainfield where everyone truly belongs.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Recruit and onboard new volunteers
• Coordinate volunteer assignments across teams
• Volunteer at Plainfield Pride-hosted events
• Volunteer at Plainfield Pride service days
• Collaborate with Programs & Events for event staffing needs and Communications for volunteer opportunities awareness

Do you enjoy giving back to your community? Do you have ideas for ways to coordinate volunteers or give back to the community? Join the volunteer team!

Youth Services

Dedicated to uplifting the next generation, the Youth Services Team creates affirming environments and tailored support systems for LGBTQIA+ youth. Through leadership development, education, and peer connections, they empower young people to embrace who they are with confidence and pride.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Develop and organize youth-focused programs & events
• Build relationships with Plainfield schools
• Ensure safe and inclusive environments for youth and young adults
• Collaborate with the Plainfield Pride Board to uphold safety policies and Communications for awareness

Do you enjoy working with youth and young adults? Want to help create safe, affirming spaces and programming for LGBTQIA+ youth? Join the youth services team!

Advocacy & Education

The Advocacy & Education Team works tirelessly to drive systematic change and foster deeper cultural understanding by organizing educational workshops, promoting equity across local institutions, and championing LGBTQIA+ rights.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Volunteer at community events to support public awareness of Plainfield Pride
• Organize advocacy initiatives and campaigns
• Develop educational content and workshops
• Partner with community organizations
• Collaborate with Communications for awareness and education

Do you enjoy research? Have experience designing and facilitating educational workshops? Want to support understanding and support of the LGBTQIA+ community? Join the advocacy & education team!

Brian Bahde

Research & Development Team

Bio coming soon!

Edward Baronia

Research & Development Team

Bio coming soon!

Cindy Bennecke

Volunteer Team

Bio coming soon!

Candi Forest

Programs & Events Team

Candi Forest is Plainfield’s resident drag queen and serves as drag liaison to Plainfield Pride and their events. They are passionate about all the art forms of drag and its place in LGBTQIA+ history. Their goal is to help foster connections between the queer community and businesses in Plainfield to help establish drag events in the suburbs. They are a camp queen who performs and hosts everything from shows to storytimes. They are also focused on fighting injustice against the drag community and helping to educate to make drag a safe space. If you are a business owner in Plainfield interested in hosting a Drag event or have questions about drag education opportunities, please reach out. Drag is not a crime; drag is art, and drag is for everyone.

John Gilmore

Youth Services Team

Jonathan (He/They) is the leader of Plainfield Pride Youth Center and Young Adult Pride (Y.A.P). They have been working with Plainfield Pride since 2022 to make safe, inclusive, and fun spaces for youth and young adults. Jon believes everyone deserves a space to relax, take a break, and hang out with friends and neighbors. Through Youth Center and Young Adult Pride, Jon has worked to create these spaces, and they hope to keep making these groups the best they can be. When Jon is not at the Youth Center or Y.A.P you can find them working at local forest preserves to keep them beautiful and healthy or hanging out and laughing loudly with friends.

“Hope will never be silent.” ― Harvey Milk 

Sara Jezik

Youth Services & Communications Teams

Sara recently moved to Plainfield with her wife and daughter in 2021 and was immediately welcomed by the community. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, she was an educator and counselor, but her passion is all things history.

Being aware of how powerful visibility is for the mental health and well-being of LGBTQIA+ youth, Sara hopes that living authentically will encourage others to feel it is possible to do the same.

Nicole Messier

Communications Team

Nicole (she/her) has served on the Communications Team since January 2025, with a dedicated focus on expanding awareness and participation in Plainfield Pride-hosted events, services, and programs. She intentionally leverages Plainfield Pride's channels to amplify the voices and events of other Pride organizations, equity-aligned community-based organizations, and Ally businesses. Nicole is the Associate Director of Instructional Design at the University of Illinois Chicago and a long-term resident of Plainfield.

Victoria Watson

Advocacy & Education Team

Victoria (she/her) has served on the Diversity Committee since January 2025, with a dedicated mission to foster a radically inclusive community where every resident feels safe, seen, and valued. As a transgender woman, she brings a vital perspective and deep commitment to ensuring that Plainfield's policies and culture actively support its diverse population. She is focused on creating a lasting legacy of acceptance, working to support and secure a positive, equitable future for the next generations of LGBTQIA+ residents and their families.

Joy Vandervelde

Youth Services Team

Coming soon!