The end of construction is nearing on a three-story building that will house the Midwest’s largest LGBT community center. Formerly known as Horizons Community Services, the Center on Halsted is stated to open this summer to serve the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Programs offered will include mental health services, community/cultural programming, and youth outreach.
“The Youth Program is created by the youth…it’s what they want it to be and so if college students came (and they do), they would have an opportunity to shape the program into what they want to get out of it,” said Janine Denomme, director of the Horizons Youth Program.
The center is a non-profit organization that will provide a variety of services to young people and seniors that are either a part of or support the LGBT community. The center plans to keep many of the services that Horizons has been offering the community for over 30 years such as the Horizons youth program, HIV / STD hotline, and their anti-violence project crisis hotline.
In addition to the old services, the Boystown center will now also function to serve the community’s diverse recreational, cultural, and social service needs. Sports and fitness including volleyball, exercise classes, yoga, and dance classes will be available in the recreational space of the center.
Performances such as plays and film festivals will be held in their 175-seat auditorium where members of the community inside the center and out will be able to participate. Individual instruction, group classes, and open lab time will be offered in the Computer Technology center. The center will also have a Whole Foods market, located on the ground level, a cyber- center, a cafe, nearby parking , and child care services. Center leaders are encouraging young people to stop by to share ideas and help shape various programs.
? “College students and members of the community are important to the programs of the Center,” says Kathleen Neville, Senior Director of Programs. “The center is going to be the hub of activity for the LGBT community. College students are our future leaders. The Center is a place for them to get involved and make an impact.” ?
? The Center on Halsted is located at 3656 N. Halsted St., and the grand opening is scheduled for May. 1, 2007. If you would like more information about the Center on Halsted or about many of the services they offer visit their website at: http://www.centeronhalsted.org/about.html.