November 2026 Dear Spencer Pride Community, For my first Executive Director’s letter, I wanted to write about memory. This month, on November 20, we observe Transgender Day of Remembrance, a… Read More »Executive Director Letter – November 2026
The holidays aren’t always easy. That’s why we’re launching Spencer Pride’s first-ever Holiday Assistance Program. We’re hoping to spread a little extra joy to LGBTQ+ families in and around Owen… Read More »Holigay Assistance Program
This past Sunday, we welcomed a record 78 community members, volunteers, and supporters to our 2026 Annual Meeting, an evening devoted to celebrating an extraordinary year, conducting our annual business, and looking… Read More »Spencer Pride Hosts Annual Meeting and Celebration
SPENCER, Ind. – On Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, the Spencer Pride Festival returns to downtown Spencer for a full day of celebration, learning, entertainment, and community connection. Celebrating its milestone… Read More »Spencer Pride Marks its 20th Pride Festival
SPENCER, Ind. – June 1, 2026 Celebrating two decades of LGBTQ+ advocacy and rural community building, Spencer Pride today announced a historic milestone to kick off Pride Month: the appointment of Jake… Read More »An Historic Pride Month: Spencer Pride Celebrates 20 Years by Appointing First Executive Director
Jake is a native of rural Michigan, Missouri, and Indiana, and brings a background in community development, nonprofit work, education, and equity-centered practice. Jake holds an MA in Intercultural Encounters from the University of Helsinki and a BA in Journalism from Indiana University.
Before joining Spencer Pride, Jake served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, partnering with local communities on education, health, and agricultural initiatives, managing grant-funded projects, working with local organizations, and helping launch a village library. They also served as a Team Leader with AmeriCorps NCCC, leading a team through disaster relief, public health, and community service projects across the United States.
Jake’s experience includes advocacy and nonprofit work through roles with the Human Rights Campaign and the Center of Excellence for Women & Technology, where they supported equity programming, community engagement, and board relations.
As for Jake’s passions outside of work, they enjoy reading, language learning, and spending time outdoors.
Contact Jake via email jake@SpencerPride.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Simons Foundation’s Infinite Sums Initiative Multiplies Kyne Santos’ Influencer Impact with a Virtual Math Series and Festival Appearance in Rural Spencer, Indiana August 15, 2025 SPENCER, IN… Read More »Simons Foundation’s Infinite Sums Initiative Multiplies Kyne Santos’ Influencer Impact with a Virtual Math Series and Festival Appearance in Rural Spencer, Indiana
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE A Brushstroke of Progress Spencer Pride and KODA’s Powerful New Mural Reshapes Indiana’s Narrative on Equality August 5, 2025 SPENCER, IN — Spencer Pride is proud to… Read More »A Brushstroke of Progress
If you find yourself wandering into the Gathering Place at the Spencer Pride commUnity center on a Friday evening, don’t be surprised to hear laughter, see a swirl of colorful… Read More »Crafting Connection: How One Volunteer Turned Yarn Into Community
On a late winter day in mid-March, when the sun was shining and offering us good pre-Spring ‘vibes’, volunteers from Spencer Pride connected with folks from The Cornell Lab of… Read More »Collaborating “For the Birds”
Spring is here, and there are early seasonal flowers blooming, trees budding, and the world around us is slowly greening. Growth is the theme everywhere, and that opportunity exists for… Read More »Finding Peace, Love, and Joy in Community
Julie Madewell, leader of Spencer Pride’s newest program, COMMUNITY Yoga, recently sat down (virtually) for an interview with Jonathan Balash, Spencer Pride’s Director of Programming. They discussed the program, Julie’s… Read More »Discussing Community, Yoga, and COMMUNITY Yoga with Julie Madewell
Greetings! Check us out in this featured article that discusses the documentary being made about Spencer Pride!
Did you know that the work of Spencer Pride is going to be featured in documentary? Have you seen Mitch Teplitsky at many of our events? Check out the small… Read More »Spencer Pride Documentary
Spencer Pride is excited to welcome visitors for the upcoming total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. This once-in-a-lifetime event is expected to bring 17,000 visitors to Owen County,… Read More »Experience The Eclipse With Spencer Pride
The Monday, April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The total solar eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean. Weather permitting, the first location in continental North America that will experience totality is Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT.
The path of the eclipse continues from Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.
The 2023 Spencer Pride Festival is rapidly approaching, and we are looking forward to welcoming you to our town in just a few short weeks! There will be so many… Read More »Here’s to your Health: Health & Wellness Services at the 2023 Spencer Pride Festival
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 1, 2023 We’re Here. That’s the theme for this year’s Spencer Pride Festival, which takes place on Saturday, October 7. While it may seem an obvious… Read More »SPENCER PRIDE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES ‘SWEET 16’
Did you hear the news? We are going on a cruise in 2024! Have you dreamt of going on a cruise to Alaska? Join Spencer Pride June 7-14, 2024 to… Read More »Cruise to Alaska with Spencer Pride
Spencer Pride was featured at the IU Rural Engagement Conference in French Lick. “Spencer Pride: A short documentary-in-progress” Spencer, IN in Owen County is the smallest town in… Read More »Spencer Pride: A Short Documentary Featured at IU Rural Engagement Conference
