Center News+Events
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GAGING SENIORS CENTER NEWS+EVENTS EN • Center builds upon its August 2008 programs for LGBT youth As many of you know, we recently vide and the code of conduct that one is required to follow in DEVELOPING FAMILIES • celebrated the community cen- the Center. The expectations and consequences were written ComeOUT Fundraising ter’s one-year anniversary. Look- by our youth. These procedures provide the opportunity to con- ing forward, Center on Halsted duct intake interviews where we can identify specific needs of Campaign an anticipates another year of many each client and match those needs with our services. Overwhelming Success successes. Each month, we’ll be COME sharing with you news and infor- Finding a job or accessing job assistance services is one criti- Thanks to the many generous donors who ADVANCING CULTURE ADVANCING • mation about exciting activities cal challenge for many of our youth. To meet these needs and responded to our request for contributions and programs at Center on Hal- further our objectives of promoting self-worth and personal sted. This month, we focus on our responsibility, we offer career development programs at the and the volunteers who assisted with the Tag Youth Program; next month, we’ll Center and in the community, staffed by two full-time voca- Night and Thank-a-thon, Center on Halsted’s highlight our Senior Program. tional specialists, to help young people find and keep jobs. ComeOUT fundraising campaign was an This program is off to a successful start, having assisted 30 overwhelming success. In order to receive young people in securing employment since March. a generous challenge gift of $50,000 from SUSTAINING NUTRITION SUSTAINING Beginning with the founding of Horizons’ youth program in • Center board member Sarah Schmidt and her 1974, Center on Halsted has demonstrated its commitment to Furthering Our Outreach partner Julie Matthei and the Elizabeth Morse LGBT youth, culminating in the creation of the Polk Bros. Foun- In June, to get a better understanding of the youth in the Charitable Trust, the Center had to match dation Youth Center, which fosters self-exploration, promotes Lakeview community, members of the Center’s Youth Pro- interdependence and develops potential among our young gram, as well as those from The Night Ministry, Broadway that amount by June 30. The final people. Since opening the community center’s doors in June Youth Center and Youth Pride Center, surveyed young people numbers have been tallied, and 2007, we have enhanced our youth programs and initiated on Halsted Street about their present or potential participation the support was above and beyond what we various community partnerships. During this year alone youth in youth programs and about basic demographic information. could have hoped for. Center on Halsted raised almost 15% TRAINING PROFESSIONALS program participation has grown substantially from 80 youth Surveys were conducted from midnight to 2:00 a.m. on Fridays over our expected matching gift goal of $50,000, bringing • per week one year ago to 200 per week today. and Saturdays. Results from those surveys are currently be- our fundraising total to $107,413! ing compiled and will provide the Center with valuable insight A Community-Wide Effort about the service and program needs of youth who come to This amazing financial response will see the continuation Last fall, we convened a meeting with our neighbors, youth Halsted Street. of invaluable programs and resources at the Center. Again, PREVENTING HIV service providers and area business partners to discuss • questions regarding the increasing number of youth By listening and comprehending the needs of the the board, staff, and most importantly the clients and coming to the Center. As an outgrowth from youth in our community, Center on Halsted participants served by our programs at the Center thank that meeting, we implemented a community plays an essential role in welcoming our young everyone for their contributions of both time and money task force which meets regularly to address op- people off the street and into a positive, chal- during our campaign! portunities and concerns regarding our youth, and to lenging and safe environment. By growing and TEACHING SKILLS • assess the progress of our programs. We are excited to adapting our youth programs and researching future be collaborating with such able and committed partners as ones, Center on Halsted is cultivating the potential of the The Night Ministry, Broadway Youth Center, Café Pride and youngest members of Chicago’s LGBT community. LakeView Action Coalition. New Changes Center on Halsted has welcomed more than 100,000 visitors In May, we focused on enhanced logistics to best handle the in- during its first year of operation. We’re especially proud that in Cyber Center SUPPORTING WOMEN SUPPORTING creasing numbers of young patrons using our programs. For in- not only young people in the area but people of all ages and • stance, we increased the amount of security in and around the backgrounds from the entire city feel welcome and have cho- We are in the process of developing new and exciting Center on Halsted building to ensure an appropriately peaceful sen to take advantage of all the Center has to offer. classes in the Cyber Center. If you have ideas for classes, environment for Halsted Street pedestrians, businesses and contact Brian Minka, Community Technology Center area residents. We have expanded our program hours signifi- Building on what a community center is all about—outreach, Coordinator, at 773.661.0730. cantly, increased accessibility to our services and begun provid- inclusion, promotion of positive values, personal growth and ing daytime services specifically for homeless youth. Previous- community engagement—we will continue our discussions In an effort to create a fully sustainable program, effective ly our youth programs operated from with our neighbors and community leaders, and we encourage July 1 the Cyber Center has introduced a nominal fee-based PROMOTING TECHNOLOGY PROMOTING • 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., now youth you to ensure open communication by providing us with your system for document printing and class registration. are in programs at the Center valuable feedback and suggestions. There are also many ways from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. you can personally make a difference for our young people, Each Cyber Center user can print up to through mentoring, donating to our programs and volunteer- 40 pages a month free; any pages We have also instituted ing. Each of us can make a profound difference in the lives of printed beyond 40 will be ten cents a a new multilevel mem- our young people by investing in them. FIGHTING VIOLENCE FIGHTING page. Class fees will be assessed on • bership program for youth, which includes To learn more about our youth programs, visit us on the a sliding scale and no one will be a peer-led Leadership Web at www.centeronhalsted.org/prog_youth.html. turned away because of inability Council. Each indi- While on our Web site you can explore all of our pro- to pay. vidual who uses our grams and make a donation. Thank you for supporting program is required Center on Halsted. NURTURING YOUTH NURTURING For more information, call • to attend an orienta- 773.661.0730. tion to learn about the services we pro- Modesto Tico Valle Executive Director BUILDING COMMUNITY LOOK WHAT’S HAPPENING IN AUGUST AT CENTER ON HALSTED > 2 AUGUST 2008 EVENTS CALENDAR SPIRITUAL PROGRAMS SUNDAYS: AUGUST 3 | AUGUST 10 | AUGUST 17 | AUGUST 24 | AUGUST 31 Worship Celebration Sundays by achurch4me/MCC BUILDING TOUR 11:00a On August 3 Vernita Gray will deliver a timely and important message. Also join SATURDAY, AUGUST 30 us on August 10 as transgender advocate Julie Nemecek leads us in worship. RSVP required: [email protected] Hoover-Leppen Theater Meet in the Amy N. Maggio Lobby 1:00p. FREE TUESDAYS: AUGUST 5 | AUGUST 19 Free2Be: A time of reflection, meditation, music and prayer VOLUNTEER TRAINING SESSIONS 7:15p FREE SATURDAY, AUGUST 30 | 1:00p – 3:00p Free2Be offers a contemplative, safe space for people from all faiths and spiritualities to reflect, pray, listen to music and meditate. Free2Be is hosted by achurch4me/MCC To sign up for a training session, send complete contact information to and open to all. [email protected] SATURDAYS: AUGUST 9 | AUGUST 23 RECREATION PROGRAMS Faithful Conversations: Sexuality and Spirituality 10:00a FREE BILLIE JEAN KING RECREATION HALL Every other Saturday we meet to explore questions of sexuality, spirituality and faith; Open Gym: $5 admission; 18 years with ID watch a movie or discuss a book. Hosted by achurch4me/MCC Schedules subject to change. Call 773.472.6469 for updates. COUNSELING & SUPPORT PROGRAMS information, go to www.centeronhalsted.org. MONDAYS: AUGUST 4 | AUGUST 11 | AUGUST 18 | . AUGUST 25 TUESDAYS: AUGUST 5 | AUGUST 12 | AUGUST 19 | MONDAY, AUGUST 11 Open Gym Volleyball 6:00p – 9:00p AUGUST 26 Monthly LGBTQ Grief Group 7:00p – 8:30p $5.00 Immigrant Support Group (In Spanish)/Grupo de Apoyo para Immigrantes (en Espanol) 6:30p – 8:00p FREE Pre-registration required. Pre-registration required for first-time attendees only WEDNESDAYS: AUGUST 6 | AUGUST 20 A weekly support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender immigrants, Offered in partnership with Rainbow Hospice, LGBTQ Grief Group is a monthly SATURDAYS: AUGUST 16 | AUGUST 23 | AUGUST 30 regardless of their immigrant status. Participants explore the challenges of group designed to help grieving members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, “Old School” Exercise Class 5:30p – 7:00p Wed.; 10:00a –12:00p Sat. relocating and adjusting to the environment while building a support network and transgender and questioning communities to find support and information as they $5 per session developing skills to cope with those challenges./Grupo de apoyo en Espanol para mourn someone they love.