The Atlanta Pride Committee (APC) has announced two new additions to their team: Steven Igarashi-Ball, who will serve as the organization’s Director of Equity and Engagement, and Lance Mealer, who will come on board as their new Administrative Coordinator.
Igarashi-Ball joins the APC team from AID Atlanta, where he was employed for nearly 13 years. During his tenure with AID Atlanta, Steven helped coordinate the largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser in the Southeast and was a featured speaker at a variety of high profile conferences and events. He is activist, educator, and fundraiser and has been recognized internationally for his work with Drag Queen Story Hour Atlanta.
“I am excited for the opportunity to work to ensure that every member of our entire community sees themselves represented in the events offered by The Atlanta Pride Committee- not just during our October festivies, but all year long,” Igarashi-Ball said.
Mealer is a seasoned administrative professional and brings experience in office administration, database management and process management to this new role. He is committed to social justice, a conviction born out of his own coming out story. Lance has volunteered during the Atlanta Pride Festival every year since 2000 and is thrilled to be joining the full-time staff.
“I’m very excited to join The Atlanta Pride Committee as a staff member!” said Mealer. “Being able to devote my full attention to something I am so passionate about is truly a blessing.”
“Our organization would have been fortunate to have either one of these qualified experts as a part of our staff – but to get both of them to come on board at the same time is an extraordinary development for us,” Jamie Fergerson, the Executive Director of APC, said of the new additions. “[I’m] looking forward to seeing all that these two will bring to the table as we return to an in-person festival and throughout the year.”