Dear Center Community,
The Center is proud to offer targeted resources to all members of the LGBTQ community and today we focus on the wide variety of programming for men and the issues that impact their lives. During the pandemic and over the last year, we’ve seen increased instances of isolation and our online Support & Discussion Groups are a safe place for men to gather, to discuss issues including the struggles of the pandemic, meet others, and socialize. Many men who have never considered joining a group have found a real sense of community, support, and connection during these difficult times.
The Center offers many Support & Discussion Groups specifically for men including the Men’s Social Discussion Group - a place to socialize and participate in conversations on current events; the Men’s Coming Out Discussion Group - a safe place for straight, gay, bi, or trans men anywhere in the process of coming out; Heal Thy Soul - an empowerment group for Black men; and the Prostate Cancer Support Group - a place for support and encouragement from men who are experiencing, or have experienced, the same health issue; and more.
The Center also offers critical health and social-support services, referrals, and collaborations with other agencies, for issues that specifically impact men. We provide connections to Behavioral Health Services for individual and group counseling sessions, connections to housing resources and rental assistance funds, HIV prevention, testing, and support, as well as critical Food Resources and programs including twice-monthly food banks and Non-Perishable food delivery every Tuesday. If you, or someone you know, would like more information on the Men's Programs at The Center, contact men@thecentersd.org. These groups are always looking to expand, so please see more information on groups on our website and below, and consider reaching out and connecting with other men in the community.
We continue to provide Emergency Services during the pandemic - for more information, please call 619.800.4252 from 9am - 4pm or 619 800.4216 from 4pm - 9pm or email frontdesk@thecentersd.org.
If you are able to donate so that we are able to continue our Emergency Services for men and all of our community members, please visit https://thecentersd.org/giving/
In community,
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- Cara Dessert (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Chief Executive Officer
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COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATE
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The Center wants to keep you up to date on the latest COVID-19 vaccine information. As of March 15, the COVID-19 vaccination was made available to those with certain health conditions, disabilities, illness, living spaces, or work environments that put them at higher risk for serious COVID-19 illness, including those living with HIV. Also eligible are those living in congregate residential settings, such as incarceration/detention facilities, homeless shelters, or behavioral health facilities.
As of April 1, Californians 50+ years old are able to sign up for the vaccine and beginning, April 15, eligibility will be expanded to everyone 16 and older.
To get up to date on COVID-19 vaccine phases, information on who is eligible, details on vaccination sites, or to make your appointment, visit the San Diego County website.
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Dining Out For Life® San Diego is back in a way that is on point for 2021! This year, with the twin goals of raising funds for The Center's HIV services and Prevention Programs and helping our local restaurants, this year's event is essential for so many. Mark your calendar and make your plans to DINE OUT. TAKE OUT. FIGHT HIV from Thursday, April 29 - Sunday, May 2 by supporting some of our long-standing partners. This year we won't have our fabulous in-person ambassadors, but you can still have the opportunity to donate and be entered to win $500 worth of gift certificates to participating restaurants. Fill out your virtual envelope at thecentersd.org/dofl. Hope to see you then!
- Ian Johnson (Pronouns: He/Him/His)
Director of Development
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The Center proudly serves as a founding member of the Coalition for Police Accountability and Transparency (CPAT) and was honored to partner on our recent CPAT event – “PrOTECT Our Communities: Townhall on Biased Policing” last, Tuesday, March 30th. It was wonderful to see so many community members holding space for a policy that would make serious progress in our fight for racial justice in law enforcement. Thank you to our CPAT partners for thoughtfully engaging in the Townhall, and thank you to all attendees for using your time and energy to come together and join us in this important work.
Whether you were able to attend the Townhall or not, we invite you to join The Center’s Advocacy Team at our upcoming "Center Advocates Organizing Workshop: PrOTECT" this Thursday, April 8th from 5:30-7pm via Zoom.
Meet The Center's Advocacy team and learn about how you can get involved with the PrOTECT ordinance, the timeline for when it is headed to the Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee and the plan to bring it to the full City Council. Plus, our Center team will share about our broader Advocacy work! This workshop will be informative, community based, and action driven...all attendees will leave with concrete advocacy tools and connections. RSVP HERE.
- Rebekah Hook-Held (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Chief Public Affairs & Civic Engagement Officer
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There is one more opportunity to attend the Community Budget Alliance (CBA) workshops! The Center is advocating for a more equitable San Diego City budget with our partners at CBA and hope you attend the upcoming online forum to help imagine a new vision for the City of San Diego. Click here to sign up and stay up to date on The Center's Advocacy efforts.
Tuesday, April 6, 5:30pm-7pm
Redefining Public Safety Panel #2: Invest in Communities: Panelists will discuss how investing in communities and community care is what makes us safe.
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THE CENTER'S TRAINING INSTITUTE
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As part of The Center’s efforts to educate and inform the community, we held the first of three trainings in our Community Training Series, called Providing Affirming Care for LGBTQ+ Communities. We welcomed attendees from all over the country, from the Education, Medical, and Social Services sectors, and community members looking to learn. The Center’s staff from the Training Institute provided information, training, and answers to help these organizations to better provide affirming care to LGBTQ+ communities. Don’t miss the next trainings on Thursday, April 22 and Thursday, May 27 - Sign up here and see more information below.
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OFFERINGS FROM THE CENTER
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Join us for discussion and support groups, special programs, and more via Zoom - all tailored for our LGBTQ community. Please visit our website, visit The Center's Facebook page, or call us at 619.800.4252 from 9am - 4pm or 619.800.4216 from 4pm - 9pm to find the right one for you. Below find just some of The Center's offerings.
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RESOURCES FOR THE BLACK LGBTQ COMMUNITY
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San Diego Pride is teaming up with UCSD Health and partners at SD Trans Pride and the San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition to host a vaccine clinic for transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming folks this coming Friday, April 9th. Learn more and make an appointment.
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Join the San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition for a virtual Community Engagement Forum on April 10th from 11am-12:30pm PST. Please take a moment and complete our Virtual Community Engagement Survey.
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THE CENTER'S EMERGENCY SERVICES
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT THE CENTER
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The Center offers employees an amazing environment where community building, compassion, and care are uniquely combined with an insistent striving toward excellence and best practices. The Center is one of San Diego’s most exciting places to work, with staff renowned for dynamic and creative teamwork, professionalism, and unparalleled heart and dedication. Check out our job listings.
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