Lesbian And Gay Community Services Center Inc

EMPOWERING LGBT PEOPLE, BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITY.

CENTER CARE & CENTER ADVANCEMENT: THE CENTER IS A NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES (OASAS) LICENSED, OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY. THE CENTER OFFERS A MEDICALLY SUPERVISED, INTENSIVE PROGRAM FOR SUBSTANCE USE AND DEPENDENCE. IT USES AN ABSTINENCE BASED MODEL AND INCORPORATES A RANGE OF HOLISTIC SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE LGBT COMMUNITY, AGE 18 AND OLDER. THE CENTER PROVIDES THE TOOLS OUR CLIENTS NEED TO LEAD SOBER, HEALTHIER LIVES. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH A RANGE OF PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND EVENTS, THE CENTER PROVIDES MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO HELP PEOPLE TAKE CHARGE AND LIVE THE HAPPY, HEALTHY LIVES THEY DESERVE. THE CENTER ALSO ADDRESSES COMING OUT HIV AND AIDS PREVENTION AND EDUCATION LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS GENDER EXPLORATION, TRANSGENDER AND GENDER IDENTITY CONCERNS MENTAL HEALTH IMMIGRATION AND MORE. THE CENTER HELPS LGBT YOUNG PEOPLE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, ESTABLISH SUPPORT NETWORKS AND EFFECT POSITIVE, SOCIAL CHANGE. OPEN TO YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 21, OUR PROGRAMS BUILD SELF ESTEEM AND HELP READY PARTICIPANTS TO SUCCEED IN ACHIEVING THEIR LIFE GOALS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CENTER HAS SUPPORTED THOUSANDS OF LGBT FAMILIES OVER THE YEARS WITH RELATIONSHIP AND FAMILY COUNSELING PARENTHOOD PROGRAMMING THE LGBT FOSTER CARE PROJECT AND FAMILY RESOURCE COACHING.

STATEWIDE ADVOCACY: THE CENTER MANAGES A STATEWIDE ADVOCACY PROGRAM CALLED RISEOUT. THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY OF NEW YORK STATE. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE ORGANIZE, LEAD AND SUPPORT THE DIVERSE INTERSECTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY ENFORCE, PROTECT AND ADVANCE OUR RIGHTS THROUGH PROACTIVEPOLICY AND LEGISLATIVE WORK EDUCATE, EMPOWER AND MOBILIZE THE COMMUNITY VIA THE PROVISION OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TOOLS AND TRAININGS AND, INCUBATE AND DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF THOUGHT LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS.

COMMUNITY BUILDING SERVICES: THE CENTER IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR DEDICATED INFORMATION AND REFERRAL STAFF HELP THOUSANDS OFVISITORS NAVIGATE THE CENTER AND ALL OF NEW YORK CITY EVERY WEEK. COMBINE OUR SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING WITH OUR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY, THEN PLACE ALL OF THIS IN A FACILITY LIKE OURS, AND WHAT YOU GET IS A ONEOFAKIND LGBT CENTER WITH A SPECIAL PURPOSE. OUR FUNCTION IS TO PROVIDE A PLACE IN WHICH LGBT PEOPLE CAN MEET, SEEK SERVICES AND FIND SUPPORT. WHAT TRULY DIFFERENTIATES THE CENTER IS THE SENSE OF HOME THAT WE PROVIDE FOR THE MORE THAN 6,000 PEOPLE WHO VISIT US EACH WEEK. IN ADDITION TO OFFERING AFFORDABLE MEETINGS ROOMS AND EVENT SPACES FOR RENT, THE CENTER IS A RESOURCE AND INFORMATION HUB. OUR INFORMATION AND REFERRAL STAFF COORDINATE THOUSANDS OF ACTIVITIES EACH YEAR ON BEHALF OF THE LGBT ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS AND NONPROFITS WHO HOST THEIR FUNCTIONS IN OUR BUILDING. ALSO A HOME FOR THE ARTS AND EDUCATION SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE CENTER IS AT THE HEART OF LGBT CULTURE IN NEW YORK CITY. FROM THE FAMOUS KEITH HARING MURAL AND OTHER PERMANENT ART INSTALLATIONS, THE CENTER PROVIDES A FORUM FOR ARTISTS, AUTHORS AND PERFORMERS TO CREATE, CELEBRATE AND CONNECT. THE CENTER IS ALSO A PERMANENT HOME FOR THE PAT PARKER/VITO RUSSO CENTER LIBRARY AND THE LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER NATIONAL HISTORY ARCHIVE. BOTH ARE OPEN TO ALL AND THE CENTER'S ARCHIVE COLLECTION HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE THOUSANDS OF PAPERS, PERIODICALS, CORRESPONDENCE AND PHOTOGRAPHS DONATED BY LGBT COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS.