Verniss McFarland, III, a Houston native, born and raised in the South Park/Sunnyside neighborhood. At an early age, McFarland understood how important it was to build communities and most of all, its people. Their goal is to provide visibility to individuals who have often been cast aside, judged or treated less than human. McFarland has experience in risk behavior reduction, sexual health promotion, youth advocacy, stigma reduction, project planning and implementation, program evaluation, peer education, HIV education, grassroots organizing, and canvassing management. Verniss is the Director of The Mahogany Project and a community leader. They have over 17 years of experience developing innovative community engagement initiatives, creating safe spaces, and mobilizing minority LGBT+ individuals. Most recently, McFarland worked with the Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, The State of Texas Juvenile Justice System, The United Way, Houston Health Department, Morehouse College, AIDS Foundation Houston, UT-Austin Health Innovation and Education Team, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Impulse Group Houston, Emory University, End The Epidemic, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and The AHF Super Advocacy Group of Houston, TX.