Alonzo S. Blalock

As the Board President & CEO of Newark Pride, Inc., Blalock provides strategic leadership, vision, and advocacy to advance the organization’s mission of LGBTQ+ empowerment, visibility, and community engagement. He oversees festival planning, partnership development, and organizational growth, ensuring Newark Pride remains a driving force for equity and inclusion. His role includes stakeholder collaboration, fundraising, public representation, and fostering a culture of leadership within the LGBTQ+ community.

Career Highlights:

• Leads Newark Pride, Inc. in organizing the Annual Newark LGBTQ Pride Festival, expanding its impact and visibility.

• Serves as a Ron L. Simmons Leadership Fellow, focusing on intersectional advocacy and Black LGBTQ+ representation.

• Spearheads the rebranding and digital expansion of Newark Pride, enhancing community engagement through social media and website updates.

• Advocates for and helped implement the tiered registration system for the Newark Pride Festival, increasing accessibility and VIP engagement.

• Plays a key role in securing sponsorships from Prudential, Mars Wrigley, AHF, Gilead, and ViiV Healthcare, ensuring sustainability for Newark Pride’s initiatives.

• Champions initiatives to improve language accessibility, leading to the hiring of an Administrative Translator for Spanish and Portuguese-speaking communities.

• Strengthens partnerships with local and national LGBTQ+ organizations to expand programming and advocacy efforts beyond the annual festival.

• Leads policy discussions and community outreach efforts to address health equity, housing, and economic opportunities for LGBTQ+ individuals in Newark.

• Serves as a public spokesperson for Newark Pride, representing the organization in media interviews, panel discussions, and advocacy forums.

• Recognized as a cultural strategist and thought leader in LGBTQ+ advocacy, arts, and entertainment.

• Advocates for inclusive policies and community-driven initiatives that empower marginalized voices.