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 Get
Centered
by Thom Lynch for the San
Francisco Spectrum
As I write this, we still have no idea who the president for the
next four years will be. We don’t know yet which way the various
anti-gay initiatives will go. What we do know is that there will
be much more work to do no matter what happens. Keep watching out
for events at the Center as our community talks about the issues
that affect us the most.
Our Economic Development program is in high gear. Last month we
celebrated our first loan to a business in partnership with Wells
Fargo Bank to the Bikram Yoga Studio at 301 Eureka. Check out new
business owner and yoga instructor LaMott Atkins while he helps
you get fit and flexible while staying warm in his 105 degree yoga
studio this winter.
The recent job fair was a big hit with 22 employers and 345 job
seekers. The diversity of the participants was extraordinary and
several people were offered jobs on the spot. Here is an email we
got from one job seeker:
David,
Just in case you had not yet heard, I just was offered a contract
with Deltanet thanks to my recent participation in the LGBT Center's
Workforce Development programs. After having been out of the corporate
tech market since the crash, the good advice and warm encouragement
offered in the workshops I attended were invaluable in helping me
to bolster my courage and raise my confidence level to successfully
overcome the trepidation that had been holding me back
Thank you!
Stuart
The goal of The Center’s Workforce Development and Empowerment
Program is to stimulate gains in social equity by increasing the
number of LGBT people who are satisfactorily employed. By holding
job fairs at The Center, LGBT job-seekers do not need to worry about
whether, how, or when to “come out” while communicating
with participating employers. Additionally, job-seekers know that
participating employers are actively seeking to recruit a diverse
workforce that includes LGBT people.
As we move firmly into fall and try to recover from election season,
here at The Center there are plenty of things to keep your calendar
hopping. Join us as we celebrate the man behind the hat, Former
San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, for his long term support of The
Center and the LGBT Community at the 2004 DVXcellence Award party
at the Clift Hotel on November 4th. (www.sfcenter.org for ticket
information). Then on November 5th, The Center in partnership with
the Stop AIDS Project, Larkin Street Youth Services, UCSF Connect
to Protect, SF DPH AIDS Office, Youth Gender Project, Center for
Aids Prevention Studies, and the Downtown Youth Clinic (Oakland)
will be hosting the second annual Partnership for Youth Symposium
from 9am -4pm. Then on Saturday November 6th, the Gill Foundation
is calling all philanthropists for their Regional Outgiving Conference
(www.gillfoundation.org).
Looking to learn? You can always find out something new here at
The Center, whether from our community posting boards, extensive
information & referral service, the wide range of City College
classes or the many seminars held by local non-profits, if you need
to know about it, odds are its happening here. On November 9th join
the Horizons Foundation for their Transgender Inclusiveness Training
for LGBT Organizations and then on November 15th Compasspoint Nonprofit
Services is offering up Beyond the Bottom Line; A Conference on
Non Profit Financial Management. . Our Family Coalition continues
their important work helping LGBT families with workshops including
Finding A Primary School for Your Child (Nov. 13th), Parent Education
Classes (Nov. 3rd , 10th , & 17th ), Advocating for our Kids
(Nov. 20th ), while Mamas & Papas continue offering their Saturday
morning series Helping Childcare Workers Help Us (Nov. 6th &
20th ).
Of course if you’re seeking the social, there are plenty
of arts and cultural events where you can connect with the community
and make some new friends. Join The Center’s Latino Forum
on November 11th as we celebrate Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the
Dead): an ancient Mexican tradition dating back to pre-Hispanic
times, which commemorates the spirits of those family members, friends
and loved ones who have passed away. It starts at 7pm, and light
refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be provided. Then come
on down to the Three Dollar Bill Café on Friday November
12th for Queer Open Mic, a sure spot to see poetry for perverts,
as featured reader Kirk Read joins a crew of enthusiastic open mic
performers to challenge, enthuse and amuse the audience. If laughing
along with the best and brightest queer comics in the City sounds
good to you, join QComedy at their monthly showcase on November
15th! For a more mellow evening, join The Center’s Book Club
on November 17th (full information on which book is up for discussion
available at www.sfcenter.org).
The Center is proud that so many important community events continue
to happen here. On November 20th alone are two parenting workshops
(mentioned above) a talk about Are We Ready for Same-Sex Marriage
from Equally Empowered, the HIV+ Support Group hosted by Thrive,
a Video Unveiling Ceremony for the Deaf Gay and Lesbian Center in
conjunction with the Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency
and the Transgender Day of Remembrance as hosted by FTM International.
So if you are looking for a Tae Kwon Do class, a 12 step meeting,
job support groups, yoga or mediation classes or so much more, please
come on down to The Center or visit our calendar at www.sfcenter.org
for updated daily event listings. We’ll see you there!
Thom Lynch is CEO and Executive Director of The
SF LGBT Center.
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