Manchester True Collaborative Provides Space for Belonging, Community, and Action
A sign inside the Manchester True Collaborative Center, April 3, 2025. — Paul Cuno-Booth/NHPR
When Manchester True Collaborative launched four years ago, the goal was to ensure that Manchester continued to have a Pride festival and parade. Today, the organization has grown into New Hampshire’s first LGBTQIA+ community center, a volunteer-run space that serves as a hub for connection, support, education, and community-building.
For Co-Founder and President Scott Cloutier, the evolution was a natural response to a need that had long existed in Manchester and across the state. “There was a lot of advocacy happening, and there were spaces focused on youth,” Cloutier said. “But there really wasn’t a place where LGBTQIA+ people could gather, connect, organize events, and learn from one another in the Manchester area.”
“There was a lot of advocacy happening, and there were spaces focused on youth. But there really wasn’t a place where LGBTQIA+ people could gather, connect, organize events, and learn from one another in the Manchester area.”
A Space to Belong Every Day of the Year
Manchester True Collaborative was born after a previous Pride organization ceased operations. Rather than allow the city’s annual celebration to disappear, Cloutier and a group of volunteers stepped in to create a new organization.
NHCJE’s MG Benjamin & Amine Tabet at Manchester Pride, 2025.
The first Pride festival organized by Manchester True Collaborative was an immediate success. The following year, the group hosted its first Pride Parade. Attendance has since continued to grow, with vendor booths, artist spaces, and performance slots regularly selling out.
For Cloutier, however, Pride isn’t meant to be only a once-a-year event. “The festival is this moment of visibility and celebration,” he said. “The center is what ensures that our community exists every day of the year.”
Manchester True Collaborative hosts between 20 and 30 events each month where people can build relationships and find a sense of belonging. Programming includes support groups for transgender people, queer elders, families, and allies, social activities like Dungeons & Dragons nights, writers groups, self-defense classes, and community forums.
For many, the center offers something traditional community spaces have not always provided: a place intentionally created with LGBTQIA+ people in mind. “I think there’s a difference between being welcomed into someone else’s space and having a space of your own,” Cloutier said.
Regardless, the center is open to everyone and emphasizes a culture of acceptance and mutual support. “If one person comes in and feels connected, learns something, or finds community, that matters,” Cloutier added.
“I think there’s a difference between being welcomed into someone else’s space and having a space of your own.”
Safe Spaces and Brave Spaces
The demand for the center reflects that many LGBTQIA+ people still experience isolation, particularly in smaller communities. People regularly travel from across New Hampshire to attend events, sometimes driving one or two hours to participate in game nights, support groups, and educational programs.
And at a time when attacks on LGBTQIA+ rights have become increasingly visible in New Hampshire and across the country, Cloutier believes that community spaces play an important role in fostering understanding.
In addition to creating environments where people feel safe, Manchester True Collaborative is increasingly focused on creating brave spaces. The concept inspired the organization's new podcast, Brave Space NH, which explores challenging conversations affecting LGBTQIA+ communities and other marginalized groups.
“Safe spaces are important,” Cloutier said. “But we also have to have the uncomfortable conversations.” He emphasized the power of dialogue and the sharing of lived experiences to create opportunities for learning, connection, and building stronger relationships across differences. “Community doesn't mean everyone agrees all the time,” he added. “It means showing up, listening, and working together.”
“Community doesn’t mean everyone agrees all the time. It means showing up, listening, and working together.”
A Collaborative Model for Support
This philosophy has also shaped Manchester True’s approach to programming and partnerships. The organization frequently collaborates with local nonprofits, educators, advocates, and community leaders. “We don't want to reinvent the wheel,” Cloutier said. “We want to partner with people who are already doing great work.”
The Manchester True Collaborative team, at the Center’s grand opening. Photo credits: Mila Pavek
Located within the YWCA building, Manchester True Collaborative is part of a growing network of organizations serving underserved communities across the state. More than eight organizations now share the space, including mutual aid groups, youth-focused nonprofits, therapists, advocacy organizations, a diaper pantry, and organizations supporting Black mental health professionals.
“The building is becoming something bigger than any one organization,” Cloutier said. “There’s beauty in seeing all these groups working alongside each other and supporting communities that need support.”
The result is a place where organizations can share resources, collaborate on programming, and connect residents with services that extend beyond any single mission. For the LGBTQIA+ community, that means access not only to community and support, but also to a broader ecosystem of organizations working to strengthen equity, belonging, and well-being in New Hampshire.
“There’s beauty in seeing all these groups working alongside each other and supporting communities that need support.”
Community Starts with Showing Up
Perhaps most remarkable is that Manchester True Collaborative was created without any paid staff. The organization is run entirely by volunteers, including a 12-member board whose members balance full-time jobs while managing the center, planning Pride events, coordinating programs, and building partnerships.
As Manchester True Collaborative looks ahead, Cloutier hopes more people will become involved not only in LGBTQIA+ advocacy but in supporting causes and communities across New Hampshire.
“Find a movement or a community that matters to you and get involved,” he said. “There are so many organizations that need support. Sometimes what people need most isn't a donation. It's another person willing to show up and give their time.”
Manchester True Collaborative's Pride Festival and Parade will take place at Veterans’ Park in Manchester on June 27, from 12 PM to 6 PM. This year's theme is “Strong as Granite.”
Other upcoming Pride events across New Hampshire include:
White Mountain Pride, June 27 | 10 AM - 4 PM, North Conway
Littleton Pride, June 27 | 11 AM - 5 PM, Riverfront Commons
Black Pride Lunch, June 28 | 1PM , The Office Lounge, Dover
Rochester Pride, Aug 1 | 12 PM - 3 PM, Rochester
Keene Pride, Sept 21 | 12 PM - 7 PM, Downtown Keene
About Scott Cloutier
Scott is an innovative leader at the intersection of community advocacy, technology, and marketing strategy. With over a decade of experience in technology and leadership, Scott is dedicated to innovation, inclusion, and impact, shaping a future where people, technology, and community-driven initiatives will create lasting change. Their ability to bridge cutting-edge technology with mission-driven work makes them a sought-after voice in both the nonprofit and marketing automation spaces. While not at work, Scott enjoys spending time with his Fiancé Ronnie, and their three cats, Odin, Loki & Thor.