As Granite Staters of all ages and identities search for belonging, one Manchester-based nonprofit has become a beacon of inclusion and participatory action. Queerlective, founded by Randall Nielsen in 2022, has become the first point of contact for people looking to get involved in social change and create community.
A sense of belonging leads to involvement, opportunity, social change, emotional safety, creativity, and joy. Queerlective brings people together in many ways, both online and in real life. They host a Discord channel where people can feel safe to share and connect virtually; they host social events like kayaking and art museum tours; they even have a physical space called the “Co-Lab” where people come to create, connect, and be in community. “In order for us to build the kind of change in communities we want, belonging comes first, and that is where Queerlective is really well positioned and focusing our work,” Nielsen told us.
Queerlective’s mission is “To celebrate and uplift our shared humanity through queer joy, art, and community connection,” and their work extends in such a way that all feel welcomed to participate, to take action, to feel like they belong and that they are capable of making a difference. “Queerlective was intentional in utilizing the word ‘queer’ because our liberation is shared amongst so many communities. We uplift anybody that might feel like the system doesn’t work, isn’t working for them, or might feel the need to establish that sense of belonging and across differences,” said Nielsen.
A 2025 Community Grant recipient, Queerlective is a blueprint for new pathways to inclusion through artistry, self-expression, community building, and a strong, provable belief that belonging begets involvement, involvement generates social change, and social change leads to belonging for all. We are thrilled to be part of their ongoing work.
To learn more about Queerlective or our other 2025 grantees, visit: https://nhwomensfoundation.org/grantmaking/2025-grant-recipients/.
