Aims Celebrates Pride Month with Inclusive Events and Community Spirit

Free events throughout June are designed to educate, entertain, and foster a more inclusive college and community.

Film Screening - “How to Survive a Plague” | June 17 | Aims Welcome Center Miller Auditorium | 12:30 p.m.

During Pride Month, the Multicultural Office for Student Affinity, Inclusion and Community (MOSAIC) at Aims Community College is hosting a screening of the award-winning documentary, “How to Survive a Plague.” During an intermission, lunch will be served. Participants can discuss the first part of the film with others. 

At this event, Aims will enforce a clear bag policy to provide a safe environment for guests. There is no cost to attend. 

“How to Survive a Plague” tells the story of ACT UP and TAG, activist groups that led a groundbreaking response to the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and '90s. These activists faced government neglect and public stigma, as they fought for more effective HIV treatments and saved millions of lives. Their efforts helped turn AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable condition.

The film uses archival footage and personal stories to capture a key moment in the fight for health and human rights. The film combines archival footage and personal accounts to capture a pivotal moment in the fight for health and human rights.

“This documentary is important to bring to the community,” said Abi Rodriguez, MOSAIC Program Manager and organizer of this event, “because it shows what can happen when communities band together and fight for each other.” She also sees it as an opportunity to deepen understanding of the LGBTQ+ community’s experiences with HIV and AIDS. “It's a pivotal and important part of history that many of the younger generations may not know of or fully understand the impact of.”

The MOSAIC is an inclusive space for all Aims students to connect, explore diverse perspectives and access support. It fosters community, encourages engagement and supports personal growth and reflection. MOSAIC supports an LGBTQ+ affinity group for Aims students during the academic year. This group provides a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ students to connect, share experiences, and access resources. Affinity groups offer flexible, drop-in spaces for building community and connecting over shared, underrepresented experiences, without formal leadership or attendance requirements. All Aims students are welcome to attend any MOSAIC event or meeting. 

Greeley Pride | June 28 | Aims Welcome Center | noon- 5 p.m.

Greeley Pride 2025 is a vibrant celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. The event is free and open to all ages. The festival is held indoors, offering a comfortable experience without the concerns of unpredictable weather. To help ensure a safe environment for all guests, Aims is implementing a clear bag policy. 

 Event Highlights

• Entertainment & Activities: Enjoy live performances and activities designed to engage and celebrate.
   
• Vendor & Artist Alley: Explore booths featuring artists, businesses and nonprofits.
   
• Food Trucks: Enjoy food and beverage options outside the Welcome Center. 
   
• Workshops: Participate in informative sessions focused on LGBTQ+ communities.
   
• Accessibility: American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided for performances in the Miller Auditorium. To request further accommodations, call 970-339-6388 or email disabilities@aims.edu.
   
• Evening Fundraiser: An 18+ ticketed drag show fundraiser will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. following the daytime festivities in the Welcome Center's Miller Auditorium. Proceeds will support the JEDI Advocacy Council of Greeley and its ongoing programs for the local queer community.

Recent Aims graduate Mariah Crawford is a Greeley Pride Planning Committee member. Mariah was the Vice President for Administrative Services for the 2024-25 Student Government Association (SGA). Mariah brings a student voice to the planning process, primarily focusing on ensuring the event feels inclusive, accessible and community-centered. “It’s Greeley Pride, but it’s also just kind of Aims Pride, too,” she said. “It’s meant to bring everyone together.” 

Mariah is particularly passionate about breaking down financial barriers that often limit participation in Pride events, describing how many gatherings feel “behind a wall of consumerism.” In contrast, she sees Greeley Pride, especially its location at Aims, as an accessible space with free activities and openness. 

For more details or to get involved, visit the official Greeley Pride website.

Creating a Space for Belonging 

This month, Aims offers Safe Zone training for its employees. The Safe Zone Project is a resource for developing allyship and learning about the LGBTQ+ community. This event builds a stronger, more inclusive community where everyone feels respected and valued.

“When we truly see and hear each other and learn from our different perspectives, we build a college where everyone feels welcome and fully supported,” said Dr. Teresa Cribelli, a Program Manager at the Aims Center for Professional Development. “This understanding is key because our diverse college is one of our most powerful resources — through learning from each other, we can transform our perspectives and expand our understanding of the world.” 

These values align with Aims’ longstanding mission to educate community members from all walks of life. This also connects to the organization-wide values of:

• authenticity and truthfulness
• community 
• equity and professional respect
• inclusiveness

This training helps participants:

• Explore the many facets of identity and learn to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and seen
   
• Use respectful and inclusive language in conversation and professional settings.
   
• Navigate differences with kindness, empathy and common sense.
   
• Reflect on how to make others feel welcome and safe, whether at work, in the classroom or in the community.

Cribelli also offers Aims employee workshops on belonging to build a supportive community at the College. “Focusing on cultivating a college where we can all be our authentic selves and our voices are heard and valued is the heart of belonging,” Cribelli said. “It is in the space of genuine community that we not only thrive individually but also contribute our best to our community.”

Go to events.aims.edu to learn more about these and other upcoming events at Aims.