Dear Center Community,
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we hope this finds you healthy and well, and always know that The Center is here for you. The Center has so many programs and services, resources and assistance, but we often hear “I didn’t know The Center did that!” To let you know all that The Center does for, and offers to, our LGBTQ community, we are proud to share our 2020 Annual Report with you.
Our 2020 Annual Report, that spans July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020, has it all - information on our new programs like our expanded housing services continuum, service visits throughout the year, financial information, and how The Center has responded to the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and anti-Black racism and violence. Most importantly, this Annual Report contains The Center's Strategic Plan for our future, a three-year vision for The Center.
This Strategic Plan is an important accomplishment that is the result of a significant investment of time, resources, and energy from our community. Our board and staff committed deeply to this process, which saw more than 2,000 community stakeholders and volunteers participate in a deep, broad, intentional, and thoughtful community engagement process last year, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Strategic Plan outlines a three-year vision for the work of The Center, including updated mission and vision statements. The plan also includes a statement of Center values focused on dignity, inclusion, compassion, respect, equity, and equality. The major objective areas outlined in the plan include expanding services and programs, as well as expanding outreach and engagement to underserved and/or disengaged communities, increasing communication and partnerships, and more. The five major objectives are focused on critical services, essential support, quality valued, robust engagement, and truly serving as the community’s center.
In our 2020 Annual Report, we hope you enjoy seeing everything that you helped The Center accomplish this past year. We also look forward to working with all of our stakeholders to fully and successfully accomplish the goals and aspirations of our Strategic Plan, using it as our North Star to create a brighter future.
Looking forward,
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-Cara Dessert (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Chief Executive Officer
PS: Vote to make your voice heard in this election! There is so much on the line, so please make your plan to vote and vote your entire ballot. For information on voting and more, visit www.lgbtcenter.info/Vote.
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The San Diego LGBT Community Center is excited to announce the 2020 inductees into the Benjamin F. Dillingham, III & Bridget Wilson LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor, and invite you to join us in a virtual Induction Ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 6-7pm, livestreamed from The Center’s Facebook page.
Since 2011, The LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor recognizes LGBTQ veterans who served under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and transgender and nonbinary veterans, all with ties to San Diego. By serving our country honorably, and with distinction, each veteran honored as part of this Wall of Honor has served as a role model for advancing equality for all. The LGBT Veterans Wall commemorates these veterans' lives in hopes that their courage, bravery and sacrifices will continue to inspire future generations.
The 2020 San Diego LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor inductees are:
• El Bisarra, USN
• Lynn Pender, USN
• Jose Rivera III, USN
• Tristan Sotomayor, USN
• Barbara Jean Crusberg, USMC
I hope you will join me in honoring the inductees at the virtual Nov. 5 ceremony. The evening will include a brief program with celebration of military colors, the National Anthem, recognition of inductees, and special remarks.
-Rebekah Hook-Held (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Chief Public Affairs and Civic Engagement Officer
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Over the past 48 years, our Center Supporters have been integral, ensuring that many LGBTQ community members and those living with HIV receive the resources and services they need to thrive. Because of this generosity, we continue to launch groundbreaking programs that better serve our community members who need them, and we are proud that 83 cents of every dollar goes to these vital programs and services. The Center appreciates all of our supporters - past, present, and future - and we know that their generosity truly changes lives. Thank you to our Leadership Circle members who make a financial commitment of $1,500 or more each year. They truly are the backbone of The Center's funding and the fuel for emerging programs. Thank you for your deep commitment to developing and strengthening the LGBTQ community in San Diego County.
To learn more about becoming a Leadership Circle member or a Sustaining donor, please contact development@thecentersd.org. We can't wait to hear from you and welcome you to the Leadership Circle family.
-Ian Johnson, (Pronouns: He/Him/His)
Director of Development
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There's still time to register for “Let’s Talk: Conversations with The Center and our Black LGBTQ Community” coming up this Thursday, October 15th from 5-8pm via Zoom. The program will include updates on the work The Center has done since last year’s Town Hall and will make space for attendees to share ideas, feedback, and experiences with Center decision makers to help guide our next steps.
This event is aimed at centering Black LGBTQ voices within our community as an opportunity for The Center’s leadership to listen, collect feedback, and ultimately grow in how we can better serve the Black LGBTQ community. This event is for members and guardians of the Black LGBTQ community. If you would like to receive the Zoom link, please RSVP HERE.
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CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY ON ZOOM
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Staying connected with community is more important than ever. The Center has Zoom offerings for everyone in our community! Please visit our website, visit The Center's Facebook page, or call us at 619.692.2077 x 211 to find the right discussion group, support group, or online event for you. Let's keep our connection to community strong!
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