Quelcome: Fall Welcome Fest & Resource Fair

Quelcome serves as a vibrant celebration of diversity, inclusion, and community-building within our campus and beyond. In past years, we have welcomed more than 700 participants, and we are excited to see that number grow this year.

Quelcome is an opportunity for every corner of campus to demonstrate support and inclusion for LGBTQ+ people. Whether you run a small unit that serves a very specific population or are a campus-wide organization that boasts hundreds of members, your participation will serve as a visible representation of your organization, office, or department's work towards inclusion. Different from your typical Pride festival, here we center our commitment to making sure that each Terp belongs. At Quelcome, the UMD community shares resources and community-building opportunities (such as student organizations and faculty/staff collectives and departments) that exist at the university to promote academic, cultural, social, systemic, and interpersonal LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Quelcome is for students, faculty, and staff - as both tablers and participants.

Among many other descriptors, Quelcome is a festival-style celebration, a community meet-up, and a "welcome and welcome back to campus" for LGBTQ+ and allied students, faculty, and staff. Participants will engage in a variety of activities and receive a formal Quelcome in the middle of the program from the LGBTQ+ Equity Center, MICA, and UMD leaders. A variety of bites and sips will be served, and the community is encouraged to enjoy the entire event, have a chance to win prizes, and get the scoop on LGBTQ+ life at UMD.

Tablers should arrive in the Stamp Union Grand Ballroom at 1 pm and finish setting up by 1:45 pm. We ask that tablers stay for the duration of the event or schedule shifts for their table. The event will begin at 2 pm and wrap up at 5 pm.

In past years, tablers have shared information, given away swag, and generally served as a friendly and welcoming face. LGBTQ+-specific organizations and collectives often provide information about how their organization serves or supports LGBTQ+ people at UMD and the surrounding community. If you need help planning for your table, please reach out to lgbtq@umd.edu and we would be happy to help you plan.

In the coming weeks, we will share additional opportunities for volunteers to help us bring Quelcome to life. It truly takes the entire community to pull this off.

Requests for accommodations should be sent to the LGBTQ+ Equity Center at lgbtq@umd.edu.