Doing our part to help build more cohesive and united communities is central to our belief system at Carvana. It’s part of our “We’re All In This Together” spirit that drives what we do, both in how we aim to serve our customers, but also in the way we aim to uplift the people and places that have welcomed us with open arms.
Advancing the cause of LGBTQ+ community, specifically, has been a long-standing mission for Carvana team members. To celebrate Transgender Awareness week last year, the PRIDE community at Carvana partnered with TAKE Birmingham to donate a much needed vehicle to the organization. Originally founded as a peer group, TAKE Birmingham has evolved into an organization that provides resources, advocacy, support, housing, and trans-friendly services to the transgender community in Birmingham.
“TAKE Birmingham offers services and support groups to LGBTQ individuals all around Birmingham,” said Lauren Wilson, a title and registration specialist at Carvana. “The main thing that they do is help transport members of the community from to doctor’s appointments, to housing, to go grocery shopping, and things like that. [They serve] people who don’t really have the means to get around.”
The organization aligns with PRIDE’s mission to serve as a group of LGBTQ+ employees, allies, and everyone in between to create and maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all.
TAKE founder and executive director Daroneshia Duncan-Boyd says she started the organization because there was a need to serve the LBGTQ+ community in Birmingham which was underserved and had limited visibility at large. Duncan-Boyd’s leadership and hard work to fight for her community was something that was not lost on Lauren, who spearheaded the effort to donate a 2015 Ford Transit 350 XL to TAKE.
“This all came together when I found out Carvana was giving away a car to the PRIDE community,” said Wilson. “I reached out to the CEO of the organization and asked if this would benefit them and there was an overwhelming yes that this would be an amazing thing for them.”
“My first thought when I got the call about PRIDE donating a vehicle was the saying ‘never give up,'” said Duncan-Boyd.
“When it comes to public transportation, you’re exposed to all types of people who don’t understand your background, don’t understand who you are as an individual. But with us providing our own transportation, we can kind of ensure that it will be a safe environment and that our community will get to where they need to be at safely and return back to their homes safely.”
Having access to safe and reliable transportation shouldn’t be a concern for anyone, particularly for those who are actively working to be a force of love and support in their community. Carvana is proud to help make a difference for TAKE and the LGBTQ+ community of Birmingham, and we hope Daroneshia and her team find great use of the donated vehicle for years to come.
“At the end of the day, we are all human beings,” said Duncan-Boyd. “No matter what our gender identity is.”
