Pride Month comes but once a year, so now’s a good time to kick off your volunteering with the Center on Halsted.
The Center on Halsted project launched in 2001 with its official building opening in 2007, though its origins date back to the 1970s as the “Gay Horizons” volunteer-run meeting place for gays and lesbians. The organization also ran a help line for information and referrals for professional, recreational and medical needs.
The organization slowly morphed over time to also include counseling and support groups, creating a community for LGBTQ people where there previously was none. Today, the Center is the most comprehensive center for the Midwest’s LGBTQ community. The services provided include anti-violence programs, counseling, community events and recreational sports, HIV/AIDS and STD information as well as programming for LGBTQ youth and seniors.
“We’re celebrating 10 years this month of providing a safe space for this community in Chicago,” said Modesto Tico Valle, the Center’s CEO. “Now more than ever is not the time to get complacent, but to get out and volunteer and engage with each other.”
According to Valle, the number of Chicagoans getting involved with the Center has seen a spike since the ushering in of the new administration under President Donald Trump, with upwards of 100 interested people coming to volunteer orientations every month.
“We’re a force of change creating a community of volunteers,” Valle said. “This month especially is the time to come together.”
For those looking to get involved, the process starts with an orientation that teaches the ins and outs of the Center, as well as a Saturday volunteer training session to get the hang of the different opportunities available.
Volunteers can take part in a number of different opportunities depending on their availability and how many hours they can offer. From helping at special events to serving meals to maintaining the Center’s rooftop gardens, there’s an opportunity suited to anybody’s skill set.
For more information about how to get involved visit centeronhalsted.org.
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