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Seeking Candidates for Board of Directors & NEW Advisory Council

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The DC Center invites you to get more involved in our work by applying to join the Board of Directors or our new Advisory Council.

Why apply?

  • Contribute strategic counsel to the DC Center’s organizational priorities, financial decisions and long-term vision
  • Contribute to a future where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people feel healthy, safe, and affirmed
  • Advance the Center’s mission of educating, empowering, celebrating, and connecting the LGBT communities.
  • Deepen relationships within the DC LGBT community

For the Board of Directors, we are seeking candidates with experience and/or interest in fundraising, finance, operations, communications or strategic planning who can commit 1-3 hours per week to this role.

If you are interested in supporting the DC Center, but do not have the time to support efforts, consider joining the Advisory Council.

Board of Directors Application

Advisory Council Application

Please send your completed applications to nominations@thedccenter.org.

DC Center Relocating by December 2022

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October 27, 2021

Have you been back to the DC Center yet? We reopened our doors earlier this month, inviting community members to explore our new set up, and experience our newest Center Arts Gallery exhibit by Julian Vankim. We are once again offering access to our cyber center, library, food pantry and a new clothing closet, as well as some in person, virtual and hybrid support groups and events. The Center was also part of a successful advocacy effort to secure funding from the DC government for a new space for a community center.

As we look towards this exciting future, we are writing to share that the DC Center will relocate by December 2022, due to the renovation of the Reeves Center. The Board of Directors is working with other community leaders and organizations on a long term strategy for the permanent location of the DC Center.

While the DC Center staff and volunteers did a fantastic job providing support and services virtually for over a year and half,  the pandemic has also reminded us of the importance of gathering in person. Having a community center is essential not only as a place to congregate and experience a sense of belonging, but also as a place to distribute essential resources. 

Although we do not yet have a new address to share yet, we are confident that our new home will enable us to fulfill that purpose. We look forward to a new building that will enable us to offer our current programs — and possibly some new ones —  to the LGBTQ+ community of the DC metro area.  We will keep the community aware of any updates as they develop. 

If you have any questions or thoughts regarding the DC Center’s future home, please contact Board Chair, Rehana Mohammed, at rehana@thedccenter.org.

 

Job Opening at The DC Center: Front Desk Support Team Member

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Job Opportunity at the DC Center for the LGBT Community

Full Job Description

The DC Center for the LGBT Community has a mission of educating, empowering, celebrating, and connecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community of Washington, DC.

To fulfill our mission, we focus on four core areas: health and wellness, arts & culture, social & peer support, and advocacy and community building.

Our Front Desk Support Team member helps to achieve this mission by being the first person our community members connect and engage with to gain access to our supportive services and resources.

The ideal candidate will:

  • Answer phone calls and routinely check voicemail during The Center hours Mon-Fri.
  • Forward info from voicemail to appropriate team member during The Center hours Mon-Fri.
  • Review and address all emails during Center hours Mon-Fri and within 24 hours.
  • Forward emails appropriately during Center Hours Mon-Fri and within 24 hours.
  • Provide resources and problem solve appropriately all incoming calls/emails and address all visitors to the DC Center as well as connect community members with DC Center programs. In addition will provide community members unfamiliar with the DC Center’s facility, tours of our Center.
    • Have a personal and deep understanding of issues that impact LGBTQIA+ communities.
    • Fully knowledgeable of all of our programs, supportive services and offerings and be able to articulate/speak on our services.
    • Be highly self-motivated, independent thinker as well as a team player able to work flexible hours, including evenings and occasional weekends.
    • Assist in maintaining our website, events calendar and create/post some social media messaging including checking The DC Center Calendar for daily events and post those events on social media daily.
    • Maintain a general knowledge of community partners, organizations and resources for community member referrals.
    • Provide support to evening virtual support/peer group meetings
    • Provide appropriate general support as requested by team members.
    • Work with interns to make sure they are adequately trained and provide assistance when requested.
    • This is a full-time, staff position that will require 40 hours of work per week
    • The Front Desk Support Team member will report to the Executive Director.

 

To Apply Click Here 

Introducing Lydia!

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Welcome Lydia Turner-Little to the DC Center! Lydia will be our development intern for the fall and will be working with our professional partners and donors. She is looking forward to planning new and exciting fundraising events. You can meet Lydia at the DC Center on most weekdays and some evenings. She is looking forward to meeting and forming connections with members of the local community! 

Birthdate, Astro Sign

October 3- Libra

Where are you originally from? 

Damascus, Maryland but I go to school in southwestern Virginia 

Why did you start working at the DC Center? 

I started working at the DC Center because I wanted to be able to do work that directly helps the LGBTQ+ community. 

What has been your favorite part about working at the DC Center?

My favorite part has been interacting with others because everyone here is so friendly! I also love how I am allowed to be creative. How many other jobs do you get to spend time thinking about drag shows and it be considered on task?

What is your music anthem? 

My go-to is usually whatever song Lil Nas X has most recently released, but I like all types of music from Motown to 80’s power ballads to musical theater to rap and, yes, even some country

What is your favorite part about the LGBTQ+ community? 

My favorite part is the sense of community and how when I’m interacting with other LGBTQ+ folks there tends to be a stronger connection right off the bat. It’s also easier to talk about my own experiences with other LGBTQ+ folks and I appreciate feeling that same trust from others. 

What is your favorite spot in DC and what do you do there? 

Being from Maryland, I’ve been a Washington Nationals fan since I was young so I would have to say that my favorite spot is Nats Park. Going to a baseball game in person is so much fun and even people who aren’t baseball fans can have a good time. 

What is your favorite queer movie?  

I was super excited for this question because the movies I watch are almost exclusively queer-themed, but my all-time favorite is a tie between Pride (2014) and Maurice (1987). Pride is about the real-life group of gay and lesbian activists who supported the striking miners in Wales in 1984 and the unlikely relationship that formed between the two groups. Maurice is based on the novel by E. M. Forster and tells the story of a gay man coming to accept his sexuality and the relationships he forms with others. The movie also features young Hugh Grant which I find to be a very compelling selling point.

What color would you paint the White House, given the chance?  

I would have some very smart scientist invent a paint that makes things clear and paint that on the White House. Some may call it a security risk, but I call it a way to fix the lack of transparency in DC.

Who do you look up to in the queer community?

Dr. Jamison Green is an activist based in California who has been fighting for the rights of trans* people for decades. He was an integral part of bringing about legal changes that make it easier for anyone to obtain a legal name change, and he currently works to help workplaces create better environments for LGBTQ+ employees. He was kind enough to let me interview him for a school project several years ago and I am forever grateful to him and in awe of all of the challenges he has overcome. 

Intergenerational Hangout (Virtual)

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A Zoom event by The DC Center for the LGBT Community and the DC Department on Aging and Community Living (DACL)

Join us on Saturday, July 31st from 1pm – 3pm ET for a special Zoom event brought to you by The DC Center’s seniors program (Center Aging) and DACL. Join us in discussion between LGBT older adults and LGBT younger adults as we chat about everything and anything in the hopes of building bridges between generations and providing some laughs along the way! For more information please reach out to adamheller@thedccenter.org. We hope to see you there!

 

To register for this event, click HERE

 

Additionally, we would like to send $50 Uber Eats gift cards to a limited number of attendees (via the registration link above) to help folks enjoy the event. To qualify for a gift card, you must be a senior (60+) and DC resident.

 

DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition

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DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition

The DC Center is proud to be a part of the DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition. Being led by LGBTQ+ providers and leaders, the coalition is made up of representatives from LGBTQ+ and ally organizations to put pressure on Mayor Bowser and Chairman Mendelson in including LGBTQ+ issues into the 2022 budget. By ensuring that LGBTQ+ issues are a funding priority, it will allow for the expansion and protection of vital resources for the community in the D.C. area.

2020 was an incredibly difficult year. Many people in the LGBTQ+ community experienced financial disruption, housing insecurity, and an overall loss of community. Our community also experiences higher rates of poverty and food insecurity than the general population. As LGBTQ+ households – especially those headed by Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ people – continue to be disproportionately harmed by the pandemic, additional relief is necessary to support basic necessities for LGBTQ+ people and their families.

The coalition has four major areas of focus: Housing, LGBTQ+ Community Advocates & Coordinators, LGBTQ+ Resource & Community Center, and Commitment to Transgender/GNC Workforce. By focusing on housing, the coalition hopes to expand resources for LGBTQ+ people, particularly victims of domestic violence, Transgender/GNC folks, and seniors, by creating sustainable and permanent housing options. The LGBTQ+ Community Advocates & Coordinators section deals with allocating funds to realize the benefits of planned but not yet implemented programs and unfilled positions. The coalition also hopes to put into place a plan for a LGBTQ+ community center to ensure local LGBTQ+ organizations are in a central and accessible area. Lastly, the coalition requests to expand the Transgender/GNC workforce grant program for individuals over the age of 24 to aid those experiencing employment discrimination. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial that we place pressure on politicians to ensure the needs of our community are met.

We ask for people to join The DC Center and other LGBTQ+ organizations in securing these budget requests. For more information on the coalition and to learn ways you can support, visit: https://sites.google.com/view/dclgbtqbudget/home

Statement from the DC Center regarding Nellie’s

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The DC Center for the LGBT Community condemns Nellie’s actions during Pride Weekend. The security staff’s violent treatment of Keisha Young was unacceptable. We know that LGBTQ+ liberation is connected to Black liberation and we will continue to support and stand in community with Black and Brown organizers. The DC Center demands that Nellie’s take reparative action for this and prior harm caused to the community.

 

 

Capital Pride Celebration Washington DC

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IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE. 

#StillWe continues be a powerful statement about the resilience, struggles, celebrations, and pride that exist within our community. In a year like no other, still, we came together to educate, advocate for change, uplift marginalized voices, and support our neighbors.  

As it becomes safer for us to come together once again, we hope that you will join the Capital Pride Alliance in 2021, as we celebrate our community and continue the important work that we’ve committed ourselves to. Whether you plan on celebrating virtually or in person, our upcoming events provide safe and creative ways to honor our local traditions while taking into account varying levels of personal comfort. There are many ways to celebrate Pride in Washington, DC!

 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE OFFICIAL DC PRIDE WEBSITE

Job Opening at the DC Center : Community Engagement Specialist

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Job Type

Full-time
Number of hires for this role – 1

Qualifications

    • Associate (Preferred)

    • Spanish (Preferred)

Full Job Description

The qualified individual will be responsible for the following:

  • Collect and enter data from focus populations in respective systems (Careware, Link U)
  • Engage groups and individual in sexual health education and planning sessions
  • Provide referrals to eliminate barriers, thus increasing positive health outcomes
  • Assist in meeting program goals that reduce harm and risk, improving the quality of life
  • Provide client-centered service that reflects status neutral healthcare and education
  • Engage and retain a focused population client in HI-V programing and their individual goals.
  • Educate on viral suppression and PrEP; providing timely linkage to care
  • Contribute to programming, marketing, and branding of culturally competent services
  • Assist in testing, inreach, outreach, representing the organization in professional settings
  • Engage volunteers and clients as directed to meet program and grant deliverables
  • Facilitate or Coordinate testing for focus populations
  • Promote Rapid treatment and Comprehensive Harm & Risk Reduction initiatives
  • Assist in Facilitating Cultural Competency trainings for organizations and individuals
  • Assist with Consumer Satisfaction Surveys and data to ensure program effectiveness
  • Assist in implementing and tracking medical and non-medical support and client outcomes
  • Work with associated staff to ensure grant deliverables and promote program continuity
  • Provide good customer service and assist in various capacities as needed

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $22.00 – $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off

Schedule:

  • 8 hour shift

COVID-19 considerations:
At this time our team is working remotely. We are developing our re-opening plan. it will adhere to any and all government and CDC guidelines.

Education:

  • Associate (Preferred)

Experience:

  • HIV/PrEP Prevention/Care/Education/Grant Implementation: 1 year (Required)
  • working with the LGBTQ community: 1 year (Required)

Language:

  • Spanish (Preferred)

Work Location:

  • One location

Work Remotely:

  • Temporarily due to COVID-19

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

April 9th is National Day of Silence

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Silence is Power on this Day

 

National Day Of Silence is a yearly student-led demonstration involving members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. This year the day falls on April 9. It is a day in which students participate by being silent throughout the day to show their support and recognition for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people, but can also be used as a day to recognize anyone that is silenced. Anyone can organize an activity or event, and it can be a powerful way to join together and take a stand and make your voice heard. Many communities are silenced each day, by : anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying , harassment , discriminatory state laws and among many other forms of silencing. Silence is a symbol for oppression, inaction or avoidance. “Silencing” is synonymous with shutting down or leaving behind, but not today, our silence will speak POWER.

 

History of the day

The National Day of Silence was first celebrated in April 1996. National Day of Silence was created by a student named Maria Pulzetti who wanted to make an impact on many people at schools and other places. Students organized the first event at the University of Virginia in 1996. In 1997, organizers took efforts to take the event to the national level, with almost 100 colleges and universities participating in them. In 2000, Pulzetti’s classmates and GLSEN National Student Organizer developed the proposal for the day to become an official project of GLSEN. And in 2001, the GLSEN became the official organizational sponsor with new funding, staff, and volunteers. GLSEN developed its first-ever student leadership team as part of the National Day of Silence. In the last several years, over 10,000 participants have registered their participation with GLSEN each year who are from middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. They include students from the U.S.A. as well as students from all around the world.

 

How can you celebrate the day

  • You can wear a unique shirt for the day in solidarity of a group or people that’s being silenced.
  • Be silent for the day.
  • Highlight communities that’s being silenced.
  • Contact your schools GSA ( Gay-Straight Alliance) to see how you can be apart of planned events ( virtually or distanced) .\
  • Sharing speaking cards that raise awareness of anti-LGBT bullying

 

National Day Of Silence