C e l e b r a t i n g , P l a n n i n g ,A n d M o v i n g F o r w a r d !

The William Way LGBT Community Center - 1315 Spr uce Street - Philadelphia, PA 19107w w w. w a y g a y . o r g - 2 1 5 - 7 3 2 - 2 2 2 0 - i n f o @ w a y g a y . o r g

Way Gay TMThe William Way LGBT Community Center Newsletter September 2010

Dear Friends,

On Saturday, October 2nd, we'll be celebrating the Center's annual community fte: Indigo Ball, at the Doubletree Hotel atBroad and Locust. The event is always a great night of fun, and a time to celebrate our growth and success. And, it is also anight when we see the breadth of participation in the Center - volunteers, staff, community leaders, seniors and youth -come out in full force. You'll see more about the Ball elsewhere in this newsletter, but please join us that night to partici-pate in our celebration. And make sure that you come grab me for a dance!

I've been thinking about the ways that all of us - volunteers, staff, donors, and other stake-holders - can fully participate in the work of the Center. Many of us are already giving gener-ously - either time at the front desk, volunteering at other efforts, or as a donor. And someof you may want to do more in terms of participation!

I'm writing to those of you who are looking to step up your level of participation by invitingyou to do just that. In the upcoming months, we will be developing the next strategic planfor the Center setting forth the path for the Center's work over the next five years. I'd likeyou to consider getting involved in that planning process. There'll be a number of ways youcan make sure that we hear your voice, and I want to make sure that all of our members havea chance to add their input as we develop a vision for a growing and thriving Center.

Now's a good time to start thinking about what you'd like to see: new programs that ad-dress a particular need or population? A new cafe or social meeting space? Ways to bringthe vision and energy of the center to neighborhoods outside of Center City? Expandedprograms for seniors? Ideas for making the Center more environmentally friendly andsustainable? An improved presence on the web?

Allow yourself the freedom to believe that we can dream the biggest dreams for the Centerand imagine its probable future as one of the largest and most successful centers in the coun-try. That is what we deserve. Start dreaming big so that when the planning process takesoff, your vision becomes part of our vision.

The next few months will be busy ones for us. I'd like to welcome Avis Albaladejo who will be stepping in as Interim Facili-ties Coordinator. Avis has been a warm and welcoming presence at the Center, and I am grateful that he will be managingfacilities after the departure of Phillip Prillman, who has done a marvelous job over the last year in building our facilitiesprogram. We wish the best to Phillip, and are very excited to support Avis, who is profiled in more detail in the Center Spot-light. One of our big and immediate goals in the Facilities Department is the creation of the accessible restroom on the firstfloor. We are working to complete this project in Autumn, 2010.

A quick note of a favorite place of mine at the Center: Take a look near Ann Northrup's Pride and Progress mural on the wallof the Center. There is a new Mural Arts Program cell phone tour that allows you to hear details about this (and other mu-rals!) You can listen to the Pride and Progress recording (including the thoughts of PGN Publisher Mark Segal) by dialing 215-525-1477 and pressing 9# when the recording comes on.

Best regards to all, and please drop by the Center and say hello!

Chris BartlettExecutive Directorwwccedir@waygay.org

PS - Here at the Center, we have an open door policy for communication to me as Executive Director. Feel free to schedulea meeting or to email me with any thoughts, comments, or feelings you might have about the Centers new direction and fu-ture!

Executive Director Chris Bartlettin August 2010 (photo by Liz

Reasey)

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As the Center prepares to welcome new leadership acrossmany levels, the William Way LGBT Community Centerwelcomes Avis Albaladejo as its new Interim Facilities Co-ordinator. First starting out as a maintenance assistant,Avis has demonstrated a friendliness and warmth that suitshim well as he takes on hisnew role.

A Philadelphian native, Avis isa graduate of CardinalDougherty High School.[Outgoing Facilities Coordi-nator Phillip Prillman] con-tacted me through a mutualfriend about an open tempo-rary position at the Centerlast fall, says Avis. What atfirst was a temporary positionquickly transformed into anopportunity for the Centersmembers, staff, and volun-teers to welcome a colleaguewith much to offer.

The dedication of the staff and volunteers is the Centersbiggest asset. While the age of the building requires con-stant upkeep along with renovation and beautification,

and its hard to consider the future. As I adjust to my newposition, I am certain things will continue to progress andimprove when it comes to facilities, he remarked.

We are looking forward to beginning construction of anew ADA compliant restroom this fall, as well as keepingthe spaces clean and ready for use. Our space sharinggroups and tenants are a constant source of laughter,friendship, and income for the Center, so we want to makesure they are as happy as possible, Avis added.

In his free time, Avis enjoys to bike ride through thePhiladelphia areas parks and trails and encountering ad-venture with friends during times of travel.

As Avis begins his tenure as Interim Facilities Coordinator,he will be overseeing all facilities duties, including build-ing maintenance, space sharing, tenant contracts, andother matters.

If you are interested in renting space here at the Cen-ter, exploring the idea of how the Center can help youand your organization utilize Center spaces to help youfulfill your mission, or to learn more about the Centersdirection as it continue to improve its facilities, contactInterim Facilities Coordinator Avis Albaladejo at 215-732-2220 or aalbaladejo@waygay.org.

Interim Facilities CoordinatorAvis Albaladejo at 2010 BuildingBash (Photo by Liz Reasey)

Center Spotlight:Meet Avis Albaladejo, Interim Facilities Coordinator

The William Way LGBT Community Center - 1315 Spruce Street - Philadelphia, PA 19107www.w a y g a y. o r g - 2 1 5 - 7 3 2 - 2 2 2 0 - i n f o @w a y g a y. o r g

The William Way LGBT Community Center cordially invites you to the

Saturday, October 2nd, 20106:00PM - 11PM

The Doubletree Hotel237 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Theme: New Orleans Extravaganza (Fancy Dress)

Two hour open bar and Hors d'oeuvres Dinner Buffet with all the flavors of Bourbon Street

Silent Auction Dancing and Deluxe desserts

To purchase tickets for the ball call 215-732-2220, or purchase on-line at http://www.waygay.org/indigoball

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September 2010:Layout 1 9/1/2010 9:29 AM Page 2

September at a Glanceat the Center

The William Way LGBT Community Center - 1315 Spruce Street - Philadelphia, PA 19107www.w a y g a y. o r g - 2 1 5 - 7 3 2 - 2 2 2 0 - i n f o @w a y g a y. o r g

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September Calendar

The William Way LGBT Community Center - 1315 Spruce Street - Philadelphia, PA 19107www.w a y g a y. o r g - 2 1 5 - 7 3 2 - 2 2 2 0 - i n f o @w a y g a y. o r g

September 2010:Layout 1 9/1/2010 9:29 AM Page 4

Robert R. Rosenbaum Oral HistoryProject to Debut in October!

The William Way LGBT Community Center - 1315 Spruce Street - Philadelphia, PA 19107www.w a y g a y. o r g - 2 1 5 - 7 3 2 - 2 2 2 0 - i n f o @w a y g a y. o r g

On Thursday, October 14th from 6-8pm, the Centerwill host the opening night reception for the exhibi-tion Listen to My Story, See Through My Eyes: Sto-ries From the Robert R. Rosenbaum Oral HistoryProject.

The night will include opportunities to hear from andspeak with project coordinator, Qrescent Mali Mason,exhibitions designer, Rick Bluhm, and exhibitions cura-tor and Center archivist, Bob Skiba. The Center willwelcome all and provide free wine and food and an in-side glimpse into some of the more than 30 oral histo-ries collectedthrough the project.Attendees mayenjoy video clipsfrom select inter-views projectedonto the exhibitionwall with longersnippets available atvarious listeningstations. Also, visi-tors will have to theopportunity to become part of the project themselvesthrough interactive media and to make an appoint-ment so that they can share their own unique, impor-tant, and personal stories.

The stories that people have told, including the mili-tarys ban of gays and lesbians via the controversialDont Ask, Dont Tell policy, the histories of Philadel-phias LGBT activist organizations, the experience ofcoming out in various circumstances, the effects ofHIV/AIDS in Philadelphia, and the impact of gender,race, and religion on members of the communitydemonstrate dramatically the magnitude and rele-

vance of engaging in the project.

As an ongoing effort to encourage and enable LGBT in-dividuals to share their stories and add to the rich andcolorful tapestry of LGBT history created and ex-pressed by community members, each of the oral his-tories contributed will be housed and accessible tothe public in the Centers John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archive.These insightful are recorded through video, audio,and text transcription. In the near future, portionswill also be available through the Centers Web site.

The Robert R. Rosenbaum Oral History Project is madepossible through a gift from the late H. David Homan,someone who had never set foot in the Center butnevertheless had personal experience with the impactoral histories have on LGBT lives and history. Theproject is named after Davids late partner, who likeso many, chose to share his story and shape how LGBThistory and experience are remembered.

This exhibition is the last in a yearlong series fundedby the William Penn Foundation to support the Cen-ters interpretive history programs. Much of the infor-mation collected and displayed was obtained from theCenters John J. Wilcox, Jr. Archive. Other exhibi-tions this year have included: Into the Streets: A His-tory of Gay and Lesbian Protest in Philadelphia andthe Northeast, Beyond Bayard: Stories from thePhiladelphia Black GLBT Community, and Wrestlingwith Angels: Religion and Spirituality in the City ofSisterly & Brotherly Love.

Everyone has a story to tell, and every story is impor-tant. This project is dedicated to giving all membersof the community a say in their own history.

Robert R. RosenbaumOral History ProjectOpening Reception:Thursday, October 14,

2010, 6:00 PM

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Delaware Valley LGBT Elder Summitto be Held at Center in October

The William Way LGBT Community Center - 1315 Spruce Street - Philadelphia, PA 19107www.w a y g a y. o r g - 2 1 5 - 7 3 2 - 2 2 2 0 - i n f o @w a y g a y. o r g

The Delaware Valley LGBT Elder Initiative Summit will takeplace at the William Way LGBT Community Center on Friday,October 15, 2010. The very first of its kind in the region, thiscollaborative effort brings together providers from TheDelaware Valley LGBT Elder Initiative Summit will take placeat the William Way LGBT Community Center on Friday, Octo-ber 15, 2010. The very first of its kind in the region, this col-laborative effort brings together providers from aging andLGBT services agencies in addition to community membersand stakeholders to implement change in engaging withLGBT elders and advocating for their unique needs as LGBTsenior citizens.

Planning for the Summit began in February with a workinggroup gathering ideas, amassing information, and creating asketch for the event. Later, three sub-committees wereformed: one for funding, one for outreach, and one to de-sign the events of the day.

To insure that voices of LGBT elders in Philadelphia are mosteffectively represented in this discussion, an LGBT ElderNeeds Assessment was launched early this summer for LGBTpeople 55 and older. Distributed here at the Center, online,and at a number LGBT events, the assessment allowed forthe summit group to collect vital demographic informationto determine key areas of interest for LGBT people 55 andolder.

In order of importance, seniors remarked that PhysicalHealth, Mental Health, Social Isolation, Housing, and accessto Social Services were among their top concerns. These in-terest areas will remain in the foreground and woven eachaspect of the days program.

Intended to be an integral part of a continuing effort toreach LGBT seniors, the William Way LGBT Community Cen-ter is thrilled to host this engaging discussion. As thePhiladelphia areas de factor LGBT senior center offering tar-geting programs for gay seniors, the Center will continue tobring its unique knowledge and experience to the LGBT sen-ior population.

Guest speaker Lisa Krinsky, Director of the LGBT Aging Proj-ect in Boston will open the event sharing her professional in-sights and successes with the LGBT Aging Project there inBoston. A panel discussion with local experts and seniors willcontinue the conversation with focus on the interest areasidentified on the LGBT Elder Needs Assessment. Later, theevent will divide into interactive breakout sessions meant todraw attention to specific action steps for the future.

The event will close with a call to action for the discussionand its participants to seize the opportunity for new devel-opments and work with the aging LGBT population to begin.

Ask Jessie and Jordan:Whats Going on with the Newsletter?

To Our Friends:

This summer, we at the Center took a long break fromthe newsletter in order torevamp it to make it lookas beautiful as you all are!And, movingforward, each newsletterissue will offer more con-tent, more program infor-mation, and more newsabout YOUR Center andhow your volunteerism,participation, and dona-tions make a huge difference for your community!

Starting this September, weve added the calendar aspart of the newsletters overall content in addition to

including more information on goings-on and staff so youcan feel even more connected to your Center!

As you read on the front page, your Centers new Execu-tive Director, Chris Bartlett, is hoping that youll startsending in your questions, comments, and feelings aboutthe direction of the Center. In fact, we even encourageyou to send along some of your personal stories abouthow the Center has affected your life positively!

We sure had a fantastic summer down the shore andbeing busy bees keeping the Center humming. Be sureto stop by and visit us, and keep sending in your ques-tions!

-Jessie and Jordan, the Dancing Wsjessieandjordan@waygay.org

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Center Snapshots

The William Way LGBT Community Center - 1315 Spruce Street - Philadelphia, PA 19107www.w a y g a y. o r g - 2 1 5 - 7 3 2 - 2 2 2 0 - i n f o @w a y g a y. o r g

Cap t i on s(Counter-clockwise from Top)TransWay participants strike apose at their bowling field tripin June (photo by Jessica Dum-mer); Marchers represent the

Center at Gay Pride 2010 (photoby Deb Kocsis); Board Member AlBesse talks to Philadelphia GayNews publisher Mark Segal atthe Cornerstone Society HappyHour at Knock in August (photoby Liz Reasey); Marchers hold

the Centers banner at Gay Pride2010 (photo by Deb Kocsis.)

September 2010:Layout 1 9/1/2010 9:29 AM Page 7

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