Contact us today at tim@romllc.us about 2023 opportunities
Our 2023 top-tier sponsors & partners
Our 2023 Friends of the Festival sponsors & partners
Our 2023 Information booths and vendors
Out at Xtream Arena
Welcome
"Out at Xtream Arena"
Third-annual PrideFest to take place in the heart of the entertainment district at Iowa River Landing.
Coralville; September 8, 2023; 1-7 pm (date subject to change).
First-Annual John Lundell Keynote Speaker series
Modesto "Tico" Valle
Modesto Tico Valle was the Chief Executive Officer of Center on Halsted, the most comprehensive community center in the Midwest dedicated to advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community in Chicago.
A native of Chicago, Valle is a longtime community activist and organizer. He founded the Chicago Chapter NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt in 1990 and was instrumental in bringing the AIDS Memorial Quilt to the National Mall in 1996. He has served as both a volunteer and staff member at several Chicago-area non-profits including Chicago House, Test Positive Awareness Network, and Open Hand Chicago, where he served as the organization's first Volunteer Services Director.
Valle was named CEO of Center on Halsted in 2007, where he oversaw the opening of the 175,000-square-foot community center. Since taking the helm, the Center on Halsted has grown into a full-fledged community center with an annual operating budget of more than $7-8 million. Under his leadership, more than 1,400 community members visit the Center every day. Patrons participate in the wide variety of programs and services offered ranging from the arts, volleyball, cooking classes, and yoga to HIV testing, group therapy, and job training. Valle was instrumental in bringing several landmark efforts to the Center, such as the first LGBTQ-friendly affordable housing project for seniors and the nation’s first LGBT clinical psychology internship with Northwestern University. In the spring of 2016, Valle led the launch of the Center’s Youth Housing Initiative, as well as the fall 2017 launch of the Get to Zero campaign.
C.J. Petersen
In 2020, C.J. Petersen was the Democratic nominee for the state senate seat in Western Iowa once held by former U.S. Congressman Steve King. While that campaign was unsuccessful, C.J. was the only openly-LGBTQ candidate for the Iowa senate that year, which helped introduce C.J. to the world of Iowa's political communications, where he built relationships and established himself in a leadership role in the Iowa Democratic Party. C.J. Petersen is the chair of the Iowa Democratic Party Stonewall Caucus, a constituency group of LGBTQ+ members of the Democratic Party in Iowa. He was first elected to the position in 2022.
C.J. was an organizer for Bernie Sanders' campaign in 2016 and served as Communications Director for former U.S. Senate nominee Admiral Mike Franken. C.J. has also worked to engage rural people in progressive activism, including taking part in a rural queer working group to improve political engagement for queer people who live in rural spaces. He has worked in the legislature for Rep. Sami Scheetz and continues to work as a public servant.
Born and raised in southwest Iowa, C.J. grew up using American Sign Language at home and is hard of hearing. Living at the intersection of the LGBTQ+ and disability communities, C.J. strives for inclusion and acceptance for all who want to participate in the political process. He and his husband live on a small farm in rural Audubon County, home of Albert the Bull, where they are active in their community.
C.J. believes the best way to achieve societal change is to remember that nobody's always right and that a broken clock is right twice daily.
Former Coralville Mayor John Lundell
Former Coralville Mayor John Lundell is featured here receiving the Pride Honor Roll Hall of Fame award at the first-annual Coralville Pride Festival held at Tavern Blue in 2021.
The John Lundell Keynote Speaker series is our newest annual event at Fall PrideFest in which distinguished speakers are invited to address the LGBTQ+ communities, friends, families, and allies of Johnson County. Each speaker brings a unique voice to the festival and will surely be one of the year's biggest highlights.
The speaker series will kick off the third-annual Fall Pride Festival at 1 pm. The community addresses will take place on the concourse inside Xtream Arena.
The former mayor still resides in Coralville.
Our 2023 honorary host honored guest
2023 Honorary Host
State Representative David Jacoby
Term:
House District 86 (Coralville area)
Profession:
STEM outreach coordinator at the University of Iowa (retired).
Education:
Received B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa.
Memberships and Activities:
He served two terms on the Coralville City Council. Served on the Iowa Workforce Development Board for eight years. Member of Civil Service Committee, Youth Leadership Program, Iowa City/Coralville Chamber of Commerce, Victory Riders Association, Parents Against Synthetic Drugs, and St. Thomas More Catholic Church.
Representative Jacoby is a strong supporter of the LGBTQ+ communities.
Honored Guest
State Representative Adam Zabner
Born and raised in Iowa City, his parents moved to Iowa City from Venezuela
Term:
First term; House District 90
(Includes most of downtown Iowa City, the historic Northside of Iowa City, and much of the East side of Iowa City)
Profession:
A local activist. Has worked for several Democratic candidates and progressive causes.
Education:
A graduate of Iowa City High and attended college at the University of Chicago, earning a B.S. degree in neuroscience.
Memberships and Activities:
Representative Zabnerfirst Latino Democrat in the Iowa House of Representatives.
Legislative Priorities
-Make public universities and community colleges tuition-free for students who commit to staying in Iowa after graduation.
-Connect Iowa City to Chicago via Amtrak to spur economic growth.
-Restore bargaining rights to strengthen Unions and raise the minimum wage.
-Welcome immigrants with open arms.
-Properly fund our public schools, increase teacher salaries, and respect our educators.
Representative Zabner is a strong supporter of the LGBTQ+ communities.
Coralville mayor Meghan Foster served as our 2022 honorary Co-Host along with State Senator Zach Wahls
Pridefest 2023 Preview
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