Alton native is 1st executive director for 603 Equality

A statewide organization focused on promoting rights for in the LGBTQ+ community hired its first full-time employee last month, when Alton resident Aimee Terravechia assumed the role of executive director of 603 Equality.

Terravechia, a former sales representative at The Laconia Daily Sun, started her new position Dec. 29. She said this came at a perfect time for the organization — entering its third year of existence — as Jan. 7-8 were the first days of the new legislative session. In her role, she'll strive to be a connection to the Statehouse for lobbying, directing policy and focusing on advocacy work.

“Our organization does this in a multitude of ways, through community organizing, engagement, storyteller series and de-escalation trainings,” Terravechia said.

Terravechia grew up in Alton, and said things have changed since then. She recalls a time when it was rare anyone “came out” in school.

“It is such a different landscape now, but there is still a lot of fear and misinformation,” she said.

The primary challenge of the new role, she said, is being able to make the case for pending legislation.

“A lot of legislators fail to see the greater impact that legislation has,” Terravechia said. “It goes beyond the LGBTQ+ community, and raises privacy and safety concerns for everyone.”

Terravechia has a diverse professional background, working in nonprofit development in recent years. She was employed by the Currier Museum of Art, as well as New Hampshire PBS, where she was involved in fundraising. She said this type of work bleeds into community engagement.

While at the Currier Museum, Terravechia said she was heavily involved with engaging with legislators and attended various government events. However, she said she couldn’t do the same level of work there that she can with 603 Equality, due to her new organization’s 501(c)(4) status.

Nonprofits with a 501(c)(3) designation, she said, are restricted and cannot engage in political speech and lobbying. Terravechia said this restricts how elected leaders can be engaged. The 501(c)(4) status allows advocates for the organization to endorse specific candidates, and directly lobby for support, or to oppose specific legislation.

“We are at a weird point here in New Hampshire with what is going on at the Statehouse,” she said. “We heard three bills last week retained from the 2025 legislative session, but there are 24 pending bills scheduled, maybe more, that target or deal with the LGBTQ community.”

Terravechia said the bills cover a “range of topics,” with some involving issues like banning books or bathroom access, marriage equality and athletics involving the transgender community.

“There is a lot of misinformation and a lot of people disengaged in the political process,” Terravechia said. “My hope is to make people feel that they can engage in a meaningful and impactful way.”

603 Equality was founded in 2023, and before Terravechia’s hiring was run by a working board of directors. She called it a “dedicated, small, but mighty team” heavily involved in the day-to-day operations, working to achieve the goals. Terravechia praised the board, saying they bring a wealth of experience and a wide range of knowledge.

“By hiring me, the hope is for the board to do a lot more strategic work,” she said. “Even though I’m their first full-time employee, it is a team effort.”

The organization has a mission of advocating for inclusive legislation and policy change. This is done through direct advocacy, community empowerment, education, and coalition building, according to the 603 Equality website. The aim is to build communities where LGBTQIA+ people “have the safety to live authentically, with access to care and community.”

603 Equality operates under a three-pillared system of policy, storytelling, and de-escalation and self-defense.

Focusing on policy, the organization supports legislation that empowers people in the LGBTQ+ community to live to the fullest capacity possible, as well as contribute to local economies, and enrich their community by living authentically. A main focus of the organization is to give the community the tools to engage in the democratic process.

There is a storytelling series Terravechia compared to “The Moth,” instead focused on transgender stories. People are invited to come and be supported with tools and resources to do public speaking events.

“It is really empowering for people who tell the stories, and also those who come to attend and hear them,” Terravechia said.

Monthly events will be held statewide for people to tell their stories “at vulnerable depth to the broader community.”

“The intent is to be seen with empathy— humanizing members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the process,” according to the website.

Terravechia said de-escalation and self-defense training is slated to start in February, and will involve safety and resilience building through workshops. The organization will offer bimonthly trauma-informed safety trainings to small groups.

According to the website, the trainings range from verbal de-escalation to light self-defense, and have a focus on leaving a dangerous situation with minimal impact. The program is designed to empower people in the LGBTQ+ community to “build mental, emotional, and physical strength and resilience through a trauma-informed lens.”

“We are really trying to be the connective tissue in the state for the LGBTQIA+ community,” Terravechia said.

The organization has an office in Dover, but much of the work going on is directly at the Statehouse and beyond. Now that Terravechia is at the helm, she is deep in the planning process of the coming months, saying representatives of 603 Equality will be present at pride events throughout the state, especially during Pride Month in June.

She said Lakes Region residents can expect members of the organization to attend local events, and a calendar is currently being devised.

For more information, visit 603equality.org.