What We've Been Up To
We continue to accomplish great things at the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center! While other nonprofits have been forced to cut back in this challenging economic climate, our programs and services, amazingly, continue to grow. Our staff and board have been busy securing major grants from the New York State Department of Health, the Dyson Foundation, SAGE, and the David Bohnett Foundation—and a key factor in securing these grants is the proven support of our almost 1500 members.
These grants, and your contributions, support an impressive range of initiatives:
Working it Out Working It OUT is our school-based programs for LGBTQ teens and their allies. We have worked with students at Kingston, Newburgh, and Wallkill High Schools. |
The Safe Schools Roundtable at the CenterThis program brings together representatives of GLSEN, county Youth Bureaus from the region, area school officials, youth-serving organizations and parents to make schools safe for all youth.
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Civic Engagement Project
SAGE Hudson Valley—founded in 2007—received a SAGE grant in 2010. We are using the grant to train SAGE members to become effective advocates in promoting state and local policy reforms. |
Health Care Providers Directory
Our members have referred, and we have verified, over 75 LGBTQ-affirming health services providers in the local area. |
Cultural Competence TrainingIn the past 18 months, our team has trained more than 700 health and human services providers in the tri-county area about the needs of LGBTQ members of the community they serve. These providers include home health aides, social workers, educators, probation officers, shelter care workers, MDs and hospital personnel. |
David Bohnett CyberCenter
Our doors are now open from 1 - 4 PM most weekday afternoons—thanks to the volunteer efforts of members of OLOC—so that people can use our David Bohnett FOundation CyberCenter—equipped with 6 state-of-the-art computer stations and free wireless internet. |
Groups That Meet at the CenterMen's Group meets weekly |
Other Center ProgramsOur array of weekly and monthly programs continues to grow. Recently, we've added a monthly book club—The Readers at the Center—and a weekly Caregivers' Support Group facilitated by Jewish Family Services of Ulster County. During the summer months the Mid-Hudson Valley Transgender Association (MHVTA) meets at the Center. Check out our events calendar. There is something here for everyone. |
None of this would be possible without the generous support of our members. In that spirit, founding Center Board member Ted Hayes has issued a friendly challenge. In memory of his partner Jack Waite, Ted will match your membership pledge with a donation to the Center—doubling your ability to make a difference. So don't wait. Now is the time to join, renew or extend your membership, in tangible support of our mission and our future. Thank you, from all of us, for supporting the Center!