We Are Moving!!! Read Our Press Release About Our New LGBTQ+ Community Center

Street view of the outside of the DC Center's New Space

We’re so excited to share the big news!

We’re Moving!

Check out all the details about our new location in our press release and watch this space for more details to come!

This amazing next chapter in our LGBTQ+ community members lives needs your support!

Please click here and donate what you can to help support the creation of our new space!

Click here to read our press release

 

  • thumbnail of the press release

 

 

Rendition/Photo Credit: Hickok Cole, our architects on this project

DC Center Reopening FAQ

As we reopen, the DC Center is doing our best to meet the needs of our community while creating a safe environment for our staff, volunteers, and visitors. Please see below some of the information available about our space, our meetings, and other questions. We will update this information as necessary as the situation changes or we understand better what information people are looking for.

 

What are The DC Center’s hours of operation?

  • Mondays through Fridays from 12pm to 6pm
  • Saturdays from 11am to 3pm
  • Sundays are closed

After 5 pm on weekdays or on Saturdays, please enter from the side of the building (facing U Street) and state that you’re coming to the DC Center to the security team, who will let you in.

 

Are support groups/meetings meeting in-person, virtually or hybrid?

Based on surveys and conversations with peer group facilitators and participants, we are offering a hybrid (physical with webstation for Zoom), completely virtual, and in-person only, at each groups’ discretion. The information is available on the event sign-up for each group (easily found via: thedccenter.org/calendar)

 

Which groups/meetings, and when, are offering a hybrid (in-person with webstation) meeting option? (This list subject to change as groups choose to return to the DC Center’s offices)

2nd Fridays: WiTT from 8 – 9 pm

2nd Saturdays: GenderQueer from 1 – 3 pm (in-person only)

4th Wednesdays: Job Club from 6 – 7 pm.

4th Wednesdays: Ace/Aro Peer Support Group from 7 – 8:30 pm.

 

Which groups/meetings, and when, are offering a virtual (Zoom) only meeting option?

Any groups not listed above are meeting virtually.

 

Can I just walk-in to participate in a hybrid support group/meeting?

Currently, the Center is unable to accommodate walk-ups for peer support groups. Registration in advance will be required for peer support group meetings. Information in this regard will be circulated among peer support group leaders and participants as well as be listed on the Center’s website. This is to help make sure the room is not over-crowded.

 

Are therapy meetings still being offered at the Center?

At this time mental health therapy groups and sessions are available virtually (via HIPAA compliant Zoom) or in person. Therapy locations will be chosen based on conversations between clients and therapists, based on comfort/safety and availability.

 

When is the Center expected to open back up and what are some of the processes?

  • Monday through Friday 12 to 6pm; Saturday 11 to 3pm.
  • CyberStations are available via three computers.
  • Mental Health services are available either virtually or in-person based on client/therapist decisions.
  • New and expanding clothing closet and food pantry for those in need of clothes and food.
  • The Art Gallery is opening while the office is open.

Now that the Center is reopening again, what kind of opportunities are available for those in the community who would like to get involved?

  • The best way to stay current with the Center’s activities is to subscribe to our newsletter via our website which comes out every week. This includes volunteer opportunities, information about art installation, monthly programs, and all different social media accounts to get news updates.
  • Volunteers wanting to become a support group facilitator are provided with the necessary training.
  • Joining a support group is the best way to stay connected to the Center and others in the community.
  • There is an events volunteer list to help in events like help preparing to open before events.
  • Members of the community can also join a board committee to help and learn how the Center works.

 

What will be the mitigation efforts to reopen the Center back safely?

  • The DC Center asks that if you are feeling ill, please wear a mask in our space.

Are masks required at the Center?

  • The DC Center asks that if you are feeling ill, please wear a mask in our space.

 

What kind of sanitation procedures will be implemented to prevent the spread of the COVID-19?

  • A sanitation station that includes wipes/sanitizer and masks are available to community members.
  • Air purification system will be provided for various spaces within the Center.

 

If rates of COVID continue to rise in DC will the Center remain open?

  • Federal and local guidelines will be closely monitored and adhered to, up to and including closing the Center due to an increase in COVID cases in the DC area to ensure the safety of our employees and constituents.

SMYAL LGBTQ Youth Leadership Awards

SMYAL has launched the applications for their annual Youth Leadership Award for LGBTQ+ youth getting ready to start their first year of higher education.

The SMYAL LGBTQ Youth Leadership Awards provides financial support (up to $5,000) to offset the costs of continuing one’s education, whether at a technical or trade school, or a two or four year college or university. Funds may be used for everything from tuition to housing, room and board, or materials required for the program. The award is open to youth who will have graduated high school or completed a GED by Spring 2021, and will start their next educational program by the Spring of 2022. To apply, visit www.SMYAL.org/Scholarship. See the attached flier for more details, or reach out to Ty Kitchen ([email protected]) for more information.

We Are Closed In Observance Of Juneteenth

 

The DC Center will be closed on June 19, 2020 in observance of Juneteenth

and

to support the #StrikeForBlackLives. #BlackLivesMatter

If you are facing a life threatening situation or seeking immediate care:

DC Mobile Crisis: 202-673-9300
DC Shelter Hotline: 202.399.7093 or 311
Maryland Mobile Crisis: 240-777-4000
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
LGBTQ under 25: Trevor Lifeline: 866-488-7386
LGBTQ National Help Center (all ages – various lines/hours): 888-843-4564 www.glbthotline.org

 

DC Center – Closed Effective 3/16/20

Image of the Coronavirus and the works COVID-19

Taking guidance and recommendations about social distancing from the DC government and the CDC, effective Monday, March 16th, The DC Center for the LGBT Community’s office will be closed. Staff are still working remotely, and will be checking emails and voicemails multiple times each day. Please reach out to [email protected] to connect with the DC Center, as we are still able to provide services and support.

If you are interested in attending support groups remotely, please reach out to your facilitator or [email protected] and we can provide options for remote meetings using conference lines.

The situation is changing rapidly, please refer to the CDC’s website and coronavirus.dc.gov for up-to-date information on what you can do to help prevent and slow the spread of the coronavirus. 

The DC Center team will be meeting regularly to assess the situation and rest assured that we will open as soon as it is safe to do so, as we know that many of our clients and participants are vulnerable and will need support. If you are able, please consider donating and supporting organizations that provide food, medicine, and other support to marginalized populations. 

 

If you are facing a life threatening situation or seeking immediate care:

DC Mobile Crisis: 202-673-9300
DC Shelter Hotline: 202.399.7093 or 311
Maryland Mobile Crisis: 240-777-4000
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
LGBTQ under 25: Trevor Lifeline: 866-488-7386
LGBTQ National Help Center (all ages – various lines/hours): 888-843-4564 www.glbthotline.org

 

UPDATE : DC LGBTQ Health and Wellness Festival

LGBTQ Health & Wellness Festival

*** Hello friends,
In order to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus, the DC Center is closed effective Monday, March 16th. To protect the health and safety of everyone we have decided to postpone our health and wellness festival, we will no longer have the event on March 28th , a new date will be decided in the future. Please consider how you can help delay the spread of coronavirus by consulting sites such as https://coronavirus.dc.gov/ for more information. ***

Due to unfortunate circumstances, we have been forced to reschedule our Wellness Expo. Join us on Saturday, March 28th for our first-ever DC LGBTQ Health and Wellness Expo.

Please click here for the updated event information, and if you have previously registered there’s no need to re-register. Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions please email [email protected].

Invitation : SMYAL for New Year

SMYAL for the New Year

Join SMYAL’s Young Donors Committee, the SMYAL Allies, and members of the board and staff for SMYAL for the New Year. Celebrate the new year with a toast, learn about SMYAL’s current programmatic work, and renew your commitment to support and empower LGBTQ youth in 2020. Click on the above image to be redirected to SMYAL’s website.


Wednesday, January 22
6:00 – 8:00 pm 

Longview Gallery

1234 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001 


  Event Co-chairs

James Reeves & Victoria Mitchell


Open bar with light hors d’oeuvres provided


Sponsored by

 

 

Job Opening at the DC Center: Community Engagement Specialist – Position Filled

Job Opportunities at the DC Center for the LGBT Community

***We are no longer accepting applicants***

 

Job Opening at the DC Center: Community Engagement Specialist

 

The DC Center for the LGBT Community is hiring! We are looking for a full-time Community Engagement Specialist to work with our new Total Care Team doing Early Intervention Services under our new Ryan White (part A) Grant.   

Position Details:

This position requires a person that is knowledgeable about marginalized communities that are at greater risk for HIV, Hep C, and other STI’s due to barriers minority communities experience due to oppression and socio-economic inequalities.  Much of the work is focused on Gender Non Binary, Transgender and MSM populations.  

The DC Center for the LGBT Community has a mission of educating, empowering, celebrating, and connecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual,queer, and transgender communities of Washington, DC. The Community Engagement Specialist will help to achieve this mission by providing culturally competent  supportive services to the aforementioned populations. This particular grant is status neutral so it includes both positive and negative populations. Persons of color from LGBTQ communities are encouraged to apply, as we seek to develop more diversity within our staff and services.  

 Special Skills:  

The Community Engagement Specialist  will provide referral assistance and direct service (medical and non-medical) to ensure disparities that challenge access to care and/or treatment are addressed to give community members their best chance at maintaining a healthy status through traditional sexual health strategies, biomedical prevention (PrEP); and through treatment as prevention and the U=U model (undetectable = untransmittable). 

The person who fills this position is also responsible for other duties, such as minor case management, outreach, health education, data collection and  data entry. The Community Engagement Specialist will report to the Community Engagement Manager directly.

 

Functions and Duties 

  Community Engagement Specialist / Total Care Team 

 

  1. Collect and enter data from focus populations in respective systems (Careware, Link U, Redcap)
  2. Engage groups and individuals in sexual health education and planning sessions
  3. Provide referrals to eliminate barriers, thus increasing improved health outcomes
  4. Assist in meeting program goals that reduce harm and risk, improving the quality of life 
  5. Provide client-centered service that reflects status neutral healthcare and education
  6. Engage and retain focus population clients in HI-V programming and assist in achieving individual goals. 
  7. Educate on viral suppression and PrEP; providing timely linkage to care
  8. Contribute to programming, marketing, and branding of culturally competent services
  9. Assist in testing, in-reach, outreach, and representing the organization in professional settings
  10. Engage volunteers and clients as directed to meet program and grant deliverables 
  11. Facilitate or Coordinate testing for focus populations
  12. Promote Rapid treatment and Comprehensive Harm & Risk Reduction initiatives
  13. Assist in Facilitating Cultural Competency training’s for organizations and individuals
  14. Assist with Consumer Satisfaction Surveys and data to ensure program effectiveness
  15. Assist in implementing and tracking medical and non-medical support and client outcomes
  16. Work with associated staff to ensure grant deliverables and promote program continuity 
  17. Provide good customer service and assist in various capacities as needed 

 

Please send qualified resumes to  [email protected] before Monday, October 7th. Salary Range is expected to fall within $38,480 – $45,760

 

*Interviews will be held on 10/16/19 and 10/17/19