Greetings!
Holiday greetings from your Community Center!
2010 has been a year of tremendous opportunity, dynamic growth and significant change for us. Despite the challenges of difficult economic times it is a testament to you, our supporters, and to the dedication of our volunteers and staff, that the Center continues to do amazing work.
Often, much of what we do goes unnoticed which is unfortunate because our work not only affects lives, it saves lives. Here are a few highlights of our efforts and accomplishments in 2010:
- Our most well-known component, Common Roads, is supported by a full-time staff member, Louie Marven, who manages a variety of social programs, education and outreach efforts, and advocacy needs for youth throughout the region. Louie rocks!
- Common Roads youth groups thrive weekly in Lancaster and Harrisburg providing a full slate of events and activities.
- Common Roads organized and held the 3rd Annual Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) Leadership Summit in the Spring to foster leadership skills. The 200 students who registered enjoyed 15 workshops, inspiring speakers and critical networking opportunities.
- The annual Fall Achievement Benefit in October highlighted several of our youth who have been impacted by and have contributed in significant ways to our programming.
- We brought screenings of Out In the Silence, an inspirational documentary that illustrates the challenge of being an outsider in a conservative rural community, to the area.
- The Center's Book Club, held weekly at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore, enjoyed its one-year anniversary in September with about 80 total members.
- In conjunction with Equality PA, we countered anti-marriage efforts by sponsoring a screening of Stonewall Uprising, followed by a wonderful discussion led by emerging LGBT Youth leaders.
- In February we became the fiscal sponsor of Lancaster Pride.
- Last year 25 of our Common Roads youth braved 100 degree heat to carry our flag at Pride Festival of Central PA's Unity Parade. They did us proud!
- The Center is rolling out the results of an anti-bullying workgroup in the Harrisburg School District. The next step will be to train faculty and staff to confront the epidemic of bullying in our schools.
- We are receiving local and national media attention. Common Roads was recently featured on Channel 27 News and WITF-TV Smart Talk in the wake of the tragic suicide of a teen in Snyder County due to anti-gay bullying. The Center also received local visibility through the Patriot News and national visibility through ABC.com and MetroWeekly.
The list goes on - but it highlights both the critical importance of the tremendous work being done here at the Center.
On November 1, Donna Rose became our first Executive Director. As a nationally recognized leader on inclusion and equality issues Donna brings proven leadership, a wealth of knowledge, and new approaches to forge a strong and healthy community here in Central Pennsylvania.
Entering 2011, both the opportunities and the challenges increase. The Center is poised to expand both its service and programs in significant ways. By mid-2011 we hope to have CPLAN (Central PA LGBT Aging Network) firmly underway to assist and advocate for senior LGBT persons. The new Women's Council will assist the Center in developing programming for women of all ages. We are working on a broad range of exciting new social and educational efforts spanning the entire region.
Our work has never been more critical or important. Recent visibility on the epidemic of bullying and teen suicide, including the horrific incident involving a 14-year old in Snyder County, hits way too close to home and emphasizes the need for getting the word out.
That said - We can't do all this work alone. Without your help - this all stops. In a very real way this truly is YOUR Community Center and the need for both your input and support has never been greater.
The Holiday Season is indeed a time of giving, of supporting those who are less fortunate and who truly need it. Have no doubt - the critical work we do saves lives. It can mean the difference between hope and despair, between education and ignorance, between making it until tomorrow, or not. We can't ask strongly enough that you think of us and provide a generous year-end tax deductible contribution to your Center.
It's easy to reach us. Please send your contributions to 221 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 or visit our website to make a sustaining gift. Feel free to pick up the phone to call directly, at (717) 920-9534.
Thank you for your support! Your help doesn't just make a difference - it makes ALL the difference.
Bebe Mullaugh
President, Board of Directors
Donna Rose
Executive Director
drose@centralpalgbtcenter.org
