African American Community at The Center tag:www.thedccenter.org,2009-10-30:/blog//1 2013-05-23T21:09:15Z Movable Type 4.32-en africanamericanglbthttp://feedburner.google.com DC Prevention Planning Group Seeks New Members tag:www.thedccenter.org,2013:/blog//1.3225 2013-05-22T18:38:06Z 2013-05-22T18:42:54Z The DC HIV Prevention Planning Group (PPG) needs volunteers to help the DC Department of Health (DOH) address the HIV epidemic in the District. The PPG engages stakeholders in the DC community to help create or update the DOH's HIV Prevention Plan, which is created by the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration (HAHSTA). The PPG also regularly reviews HAHSTA's Plan and ensures that it addresses the needs of those most affected, infected and at highest risk for HIV transmission. We are a diverse group of people who represent the groups most affected by HIV. Members serve renewable 2-year terms, and can vote on all PPG matters. The HPPG is specifically seek representation from injection drug users, or organizations that serve that population, and Black men who have sex with men. We also seek providers of HIV/AIDS care services, substance abuse and mental health services. The PPG meets approximately 8 times a year with additional committee conference calls, for a 6-8 hour monthly commitment. Applications may be submitted until June 21, 2013. Download the application from the HPPG website at http://doh.dc.gov/node/544422. For additional information please contact donald.babb@dc.gov. Brant ribbon052213.jpegThe DC HIV Prevention Planning Group (PPG) needs volunteers to help the DC Department of Health (DOH) address the HIV epidemic in the District.

The PPG engages stakeholders in the DC community to help create or update the DOH's HIV Prevention Plan, which is created by the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Administration (HAHSTA). The PPG also regularly reviews HAHSTA's Plan and ensures that it addresses the needs of those most affected, infected and at highest risk for HIV transmission. We are a diverse group of people who represent the groups most affected by HIV.

Members serve renewable 2-year terms, and can vote on all PPG matters.

The HPPG is specifically seek representation from injection drug users, or organizations that serve that population, and Black men who have sex with men. We also seek providers of HIV/AIDS care services, substance abuse and mental health services.

The PPG meets approximately 8 times a year with additional committee conference calls, for a 6-8 hour monthly commitment.

Applications may be submitted until June 21, 2013.

Download the application from the HPPG website at http://doh.dc.gov/node/544422.

For additional information please contact donald.babb@dc.gov.

]]> Join the DC Center at the 2013 Pride Parade and Festival! tag:www.thedccenter.org,2013:/blog//1.3215 2013-05-16T18:42:36Z 2013-05-19T01:00:11Z Capital Pride runs from now until June, and we are counting on YOU to make it a fabulous Pride for the DC Center. A few notes: JOIN US IN THE PARADE ON SATURDAY, JUNE 8TH March with the DC Center in the Capital Pride Parade and get a DC Center tee-shirt! We need folks to arrive early if possible, around 2:00 PM. The parade does not start till 4:30 PM, but they need us to arrive early. We will also have plenty to do. We will need your help to great ready for the fun of being seen my crowds all along the parade route! If you have trouble finding us on the day of, please check our Twitter account, @thedccenter. We will be tweeting our exact location there. Plan to have a good time. The pre-parade time has a bit of a tailgating time. So allow yourself plenty of time to arrive early, get your shirt, and help us decorate. And feel free to bring something to eat or drink while you're waiting. Please pace yourself. We have beads, and other swag to give out to the crowd. It will be super fun, and people will no doubt be asking you to give them stuff along the parade route. Please remember we have limited give-away items and we have to make them last for the entire parade route, so go slow and steady. Don't forget our photo! When the parade is over, we will take one final group photo, so stick together at the end, please. It will give us a chance to give you a final thank you and take a picture to remember! If you are marching in the parade, please SIGN UP HERE or shoot an e-mail to brant@thedccenter.org. JOIN US AT THE FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY, JUNE 9TH We will have a mega-booth at the festival from open to close. Our booths can be accessed through the main entrance at Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street, NW. We have volunteers lined up to volunteer at the booth, however please feel free to join us, the more the merrier. Specifically, if you are part of a program or group associated with the center (Women in their Twenties, GLOV, HIV Working Group, etc...) you'll be more successful with outreach for your group/program if you have your own volunteers lined up to work 11-6. We will have a cooler at the DC Center Booth. So if you want to bring some soda or snacks and leave them at our table, feel free to do so. The vendor food is wonderful, but drinks and food are a bit expensive on the street. If you are volunteering at the booth, please SIGN UP HERE or e-mail brant@thedccenter.org. Brant pride051613.jpgCapital Pride runs from now until June, and we are counting on YOU to make it a fabulous Pride for the DC Center. A few notes:

JOIN US IN THE PARADE ON SATURDAY, JUNE 8TH

March with the DC Center in the Capital Pride Parade and get a DC Center tee-shirt!

We need folks to arrive early if possible, around 2:00 PM. The parade does not start till 4:30 PM, but they need us to arrive early. We will also have plenty to do. We will need your help to great ready for the fun of being seen my crowds all along the parade route!

If you have trouble finding us on the day of, please check our Twitter account, @thedccenter. We will be tweeting our exact location there.

Plan to have a good time. The pre-parade time has a bit of a tailgating time. So allow yourself plenty of time to arrive early, get your shirt, and help us decorate. And feel free to bring something to eat or drink while you're waiting.

Please pace yourself. We have beads, and other swag to give out to the crowd. It will be super fun, and people will no doubt be asking you to give them stuff along the parade route. Please remember we have limited give-away items and we have to make them last for the entire parade route, so go slow and steady.

Don't forget our photo! When the parade is over, we will take one final group photo, so stick together at the end, please. It will give us a chance to give you a final thank you and take a picture to remember!

If you are marching in the parade, please SIGN UP HERE or shoot an e-mail to brant@thedccenter.org.

JOIN US AT THE FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY, JUNE 9TH

We will have a mega-booth at the festival from open to close. Our booths can be accessed through the main entrance at Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street, NW.

We have volunteers lined up to volunteer at the booth, however please feel free to join us, the more the merrier.

Specifically, if you are part of a program or group associated with the center (Women in their Twenties, GLOV, HIV Working Group, etc...) you'll be more successful with outreach for your group/program if you have your own volunteers lined up to work 11-6.

We will have a cooler at the DC Center Booth. So if you want to bring some soda or snacks and leave them at our table, feel free to do so. The vendor food is wonderful, but drinks and food are a bit expensive on the street.

If you are volunteering at the booth, please SIGN UP HERE or e-mail brant@thedccenter.org.

]]> DC Black Pride Speed Dating Event tag:www.thedccenter.org,2013:/blog//1.3210 2013-05-15T21:06:42Z 2013-05-15T21:21:11Z Rainbow Connects and DC Black Pride.org Present an evening of LGTBQ Speed Dating and Networking (DC Black Pride Edition). This event takes place Friday May 24th at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill (400 New Jersey Ave NW | Washington, DC 20001). Check-in begins at 7:30 PM. Speed Dating & Networking will take place from 8:30 pm. to 10:30 PM. Donations will be collected to support the DC Center for the LGBT Community. The DC Center blackpridespeed.jpgRainbow Connects and DC Black Pride.org Present an evening of LGTBQ Speed Dating and Networking (DC Black Pride Edition). This event takes place Friday May 24th at the
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill (400 New Jersey Ave NW | Washington, DC 20001).

Check-in begins at 7:30 PM. Speed Dating & Networking will take place from 8:30 pm. to 10:30 PM. Donations will be collected to support the DC Center for the LGBT Community.


]]> Poet R. Erica Doyle featured at OutWrite 2013 tag:www.thedccenter.org,2013:/blog//1.3182 2013-04-25T18:44:11Z 2013-04-25T19:34:57Z Poet R. Erica Doyle comes to The DC Center on Saturday, August 3rd at 11:30 am to read from her book Proxy. This reading is in conjunction with Dan Vera, Daniel Nathan Terry, and Michael Klein who will be reading from their poetry works as well at this panel. Proxy: "If thunder were a vowel, this is the lip it would occupy." PROXY is an unrequited love story in prose poems, where the landscape of the beloved body becomes the windows of New York City, the deserts of North Africa, and the mangroves of the Caribbean. Proxy is a conversation with the calculus, plotting and space against the infinite capacities of desire. R. Erica Doyle was born in Brooklyn to Trinidadian immigrant parents, and has lived in Washington, DC, Farmington, Connecticut and La Marsa, Tunisia. Her work has been anthologized in Best American Poetry, Our Caribbean: A Gathering of Gay and Lesbian Writing from the Antilles, Bum Rush the Page: A Def Poetry Jam, Gathering Ground: A Reader Celebrating Cave Canem's First Decade and Voices Rising: Celebrating 20 Years of Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Writing. Her poetry and fiction appear in various journals, including Ploughshares, Bloom, Blithe House Quarterly and Sinister Wisdom. She has received grants and awards from the Hurston/Wright Foundation, the Astraea Lesbian Writers Fund, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Humanities Council of DC and Poets and Writers, and she was a New York Foundation for the Arts Poetry Fellow. Erica is also a fellow of Cave Canem: A Workshop and Retreat for Black Writers. In addition, she has read her work at the Kennedy Center, the National Black Arts Festival, Joe's Pub, the Nuyorican, the Calabash International Literary Festival in Jamaica, WI and various colleges and universities. Erica received her MFA in Poetry from The New School, and lives in New York City, where she is an administrator in the NYC public schools and facilitates Tongues Afire: A Free Creative Writing Workshop for queer women and trans and gender non-conforming people of color. Learn more about R. Erica Doyle by visiting her website. The OutWrite Book Fair will include several book and poetry readings, and literature discussions. Several book publishers will display and sell recently published LGBT books, and the DC Center will have over 1,000 used LGBT themed books for sale at the event. Find out more on the OutWrite website. Front Desk rericadoyle.jpgPoet R. Erica Doyle comes to The DC Center on Saturday, August 3rd at 11:30 am to read from her book Proxy. This reading is in conjunction with Dan Vera, Daniel Nathan Terry, and Michael Klein who will be reading from their poetry works as well at this panel.

Proxy: "If thunder were a vowel, this is the lip it would occupy." PROXY is an unrequited love story in prose poems, where the landscape of the beloved body becomes the windows of New York City, the deserts of North Africa, and the mangroves of the Caribbean. Proxy is a conversation with the calculus, plotting and space against the infinite capacities of desire.

R. Erica Doyle was born in Brooklyn to Trinidadian immigrant parents, and has lived in Washington, DC, Farmington, Connecticut and La Marsa, Tunisia. Her work has been anthologized in Best American Poetry, Our Caribbean: A Gathering of Gay and Lesbian Writing from the Antilles, Bum Rush the Page: A Def Poetry Jam, Gathering Ground: A Reader Celebrating Cave Canem's First Decade and Voices Rising: Celebrating 20 Years of Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Writing. Her poetry and fiction appear in various journals, including Ploughshares, Bloom, Blithe House Quarterly and Sinister Wisdom.

She has received grants and awards from the Hurston/Wright Foundation, the Astraea Lesbian Writers Fund, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Humanities Council of DC and Poets and Writers, and she was a New York Foundation for the Arts Poetry Fellow. Erica is also a fellow of Cave Canem: A Workshop and Retreat for Black Writers.

In addition, she has read her work at the Kennedy Center, the National Black Arts Festival, Joe's Pub, the Nuyorican, the Calabash International Literary Festival in Jamaica, WI and various colleges and universities. Erica received her MFA in Poetry from The New School, and lives in New York City, where she is an administrator in the NYC public schools and facilitates Tongues Afire: A Free Creative Writing Workshop for queer women and trans and gender non-conforming people of color.

Learn more about R. Erica Doyle by visiting her website.

The OutWrite Book Fair will include several book and poetry readings, and literature discussions. Several book publishers will display and sell recently published LGBT books, and the DC Center will have over 1,000 used LGBT themed books for sale at the event. Find out more on the OutWrite website.

]]> SAGE Releases New Report on Health Disparities and LGBT Elders of Color tag:www.thedccenter.org,2013:/blog//1.3166 2013-04-17T19:23:35Z 2013-04-17T19:30:51Z SAGE is proud to announce the release of Health Equity and LGBT Elders of Color, a new report that examines health disparities faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults, and offers policy solutions in 10 areas to address these challenges. The report's release coincides with National Minority Health Month to highlight the need to address the health of LGBT people and people of color of all ages. LGBT elders of color experience profound health disparities across multiple areas, but they are often omitted from policy approaches related to health in later life--leading to challenges that will become more urgent as the U.S. grows increasingly older and more diverse. By 2050: The number of people age 65+ will more than double to 88.5 million Latino, Black, Asian and Pacific Islander, and American Indian and Alaska Native people will comprise more than 40% of this elder population The number of LGBT older adults will more than double to 3 million, by some conservative estimates The report offers numerous recommendations for the steps policymakers can take to improve the health and wellness of LGBT elders of color, including addressing federal funding gaps; how health reform implementation can reach marginalized people; dismantling LGBT-specific barriers within programs such as Social Security; ensuring that the Older Americans Act meets the specific needs of LGBT older adults and older people of color; and much more. For more information and to download the report, click here. Front Desk sagenational.jpg
SAGE is proud to announce the release of Health Equity and LGBT Elders of Color, a new report that examines health disparities faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults, and offers policy solutions in 10 areas to address these challenges. The report's release coincides with National Minority Health Month to highlight the need to address the health of LGBT people and people of color of all ages.

LGBT elders of color experience profound health disparities across multiple areas, but they are often omitted from policy approaches related to health in later life--leading to challenges that will become more urgent as the U.S. grows increasingly older and more diverse. By 2050:

  • The number of people age 65+ will more than double to 88.5 million
  • Latino, Black, Asian and Pacific Islander, and American Indian and Alaska Native people will comprise more than 40% of this elder population
  • The number of LGBT older adults will more than double to 3 million, by some conservative estimates
  • The report offers numerous recommendations for the steps policymakers can take to improve the health and wellness of LGBT elders of color, including addressing federal funding gaps; how health reform implementation can reach marginalized people; dismantling LGBT-specific barriers within programs such as Social Security; ensuring that the Older Americans Act meets the specific needs of LGBT older adults and older people of color; and much more.

    For more information and to download the report, click here.

    ]]> Screening of "You Are Not Alone" - Depression and Black Gay Men tag:www.thedccenter.org,2013:/blog//1.3134 2013-04-04T18:30:27Z 2013-04-04T18:45:11Z The Washington, DC Public Library and DBGM present You Are Not Alone. You Are Not Alone is a documentary in which Black gay men are breaking a taboo and speaking out about their depression, how they coped and survived. This event is free and open to public. When: Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 1:00 PM Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G Street, NW, Washington, DC) There will be a post-screening Q&A/discussion. To RSVP, please contact Turner Freeman either via phone at 202-727-1295 or via email at turner.freeman@dc.gov Front Desk You are not alone.jpg
    The Washington, DC Public Library and DBGM present You Are Not Alone. You Are Not Alone is a documentary in which Black gay men are breaking a taboo and speaking out about their depression, how they coped and survived. This event is free and open to public.

    When: Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 1:00 PM
    Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G Street, NW, Washington, DC)

    There will be a post-screening Q&A/discussion. To RSVP, please contact Turner Freeman either via phone at 202-727-1295 or via email at turner.freeman@dc.gov

    ]]>     Volunteers Needed for Black Pride tag:www.thedccenter.org,2013:/blog//1.3060 2013-03-07T17:05:33Z 2013-03-07T17:30:27Z This year, DC Black Pride's Wellness Festival will be Sunday, May 26th from noon until 6PM, tentatively scheduled to take place at Francis-Stevens School. This is an event where community members and organizations get together to reach out to the African-American LGBT community of DC and the surrounding area. Of course, The DC Center will be there, too, and we need some great volunteers! There are going to be two volunteer shifts from 11AM to 3PM and 2:30PM to 6:30PM. Morning volunteers will help take materials over from The DC Center (1318 U Street NW) and set up our table, and evening volunteers will help put leftover materials away and get them back to The DC Center. In between, we'll be reaching out to attendees to let them know more about the services and programming available at The DC Center as well as upcoming events. To sign up, check out our Signup Schedule page by clicking here. If you have any questions you can contact brant@thedccenter.org or call our office at (202) 682-2245. Brant blackpridevol030713.gifThis year, DC Black Pride's Wellness Festival will be Sunday, May 26th from noon until 6PM, tentatively scheduled to take place at Francis-Stevens School. This is an event where community members and organizations get together to reach out to the African-American LGBT community of DC and the surrounding area. Of course, The DC Center will be there, too, and we need some great volunteers!

    There are going to be two volunteer shifts from 11AM to 3PM and 2:30PM to 6:30PM. Morning volunteers will help take materials over from The DC Center (1318 U Street NW) and set up our table, and evening volunteers will help put leftover materials away and get them back to The DC Center. In between, we'll be reaching out to attendees to let them know more about the services and programming available at The DC Center as well as upcoming events.

    To sign up, check out our Signup Schedule page by clicking here. If you have any questions you can contact brant@thedccenter.org or call our office at (202) 682-2245.

    ]]>     LGBT Open Mic Night tag:www.thedccenter.org,2013:/blog//1.3027 2013-02-21T20:03:49Z 2013-03-07T16:59:44Z When: Monday, March 11th, 2013 from 5-7:00 PM Where: Busboys and Poets, Shirlington 4251 South Campbell Avenue Arlington, VA 22206 Join the Gay Men's Health Collaborative at Busboys and Poets for a wonderful evening of spoken word, music, food, and friends. This event is FREE and ALL are welcomed, but please pre-register for the event online. We are looking for performers, so if you are interested please contact James Leslie by phone (703-321-2511) or email. Front Desk openmic12.pngWhen: Monday, March 11th, 2013 from 5-7:00 PM
    Where: Busboys and Poets, Shirlington
    4251 South Campbell Avenue
    Arlington, VA 22206

    Join the Gay Men's Health Collaborative at Busboys and Poets for a wonderful evening of spoken word, music, food, and friends.

    This event is FREE and ALL are welcomed, but please pre-register for the event online.

    We are looking for performers, so if you are interested please contact James Leslie by phone (703-321-2511) or email.

    ]]>     THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION SUMMIT ON HBCUs tag:www.thedccenter.org,2013:/blog//1.3001 2013-02-08T17:26:09Z 2013-02-08T18:24:07Z It will be held at Alcorn State University on April 28-29,2013. It will be co-sponsored by Alcorn State University and the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. It is a dynamic opportunity for administrators, diversity officers, faculty, staff, students, researchers, and supporters of HBCUs to explore and advance issues related to diversity and inclusion at these historic institutions. Find out more here. Front Desk diversityhbcu.png

    It will be held at Alcorn State University on April 28-29,2013. It will be co-sponsored by Alcorn State University and the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. It is a dynamic opportunity for administrators, diversity officers, faculty, staff, students, researchers, and supporters of HBCUs to explore and advance issues related to diversity and inclusion at these historic institutions.

    Find out more here.

    ]]>     Three Great Events for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with The DC Center tag:www.thedccenter.org,2013:/blog//1.2997 2013-02-07T19:36:00Z 2013-02-07T19:55:01Z Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and The DC Center has some great ways you can celebrate by getting involved, having a conversation, seeing an inspiring performance, or getting tested! Tonight, you can join the HIV Working Group and Whitman-Walker Health for outreach and HIV testing at Bachelor's Mill (1104 8th St SE) starting at 11PM! Tomorrow night, at the Sitar Arts Center's deLaski Theater will be a performance of the original work 'BALANCING ACTS: Tales of Triumph, Trial & Error', written and presented by Brave Soul Collective. It will be LGBT Night of the two-night run, and that night is sponsored by The DC Center and the HIV Working Group will be doing outreach there. Get your tickets today! And on Saturday, come to The DC Center (1318 U ST NW) from 4PM to 7PM for free HIV testing provided by Whitman-Walker Health. We hope to see you at many or all of these events! Brant nationalblackaidsday020713.jpgToday is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and The DC Center has some great ways you can celebrate by getting involved, having a conversation, seeing an inspiring performance, or getting tested!

    Tonight, you can join the HIV Working Group and Whitman-Walker Health for outreach and HIV testing at Bachelor's Mill (1104 8th St SE) starting at 11PM!

    Tomorrow night, at the Sitar Arts Center's deLaski Theater will be a performance of the original work 'BALANCING ACTS: Tales of Triumph, Trial & Error', written and presented by Brave Soul Collective. It will be LGBT Night of the two-night run, and that night is sponsored by The DC Center and the HIV Working Group will be doing outreach there. Get your tickets today!

    And on Saturday, come to The DC Center (1318 U ST NW) from 4PM to 7PM for free HIV testing provided by Whitman-Walker Health.

    We hope to see you at many or all of these events!

    ]]>     Black is... Black Ain't: An Intergenerational Dialogue for Black History Month tag:www.thedccenter.org,2013:/blog//1.2978 2013-02-04T20:30:17Z 2013-02-25T19:06:03Z The program is entitled "Black is... Black Ain't" and is based on the classic film of the same title by Marlon Riggs, a brilliant African American film maker who died of AIDS. The film speaks on issues in the Black (and larger) community regarding acting white, sexism, patriarchy, homophobia, as well as family, the black church and multiple identities. We will show the film (87 minutes) and immediately afterwards facilitate a 30 minute panel discussion by young and elder LGBT people of color. Refreshments will be served. This showing will be February 25th. TIME and LOCATION ANNOUNCED! See below. TIME: 6:00pm-9:00pm LOCATION: AARP 601 E street NW, Washington, DC Please RSVP: sagemetrodc1@gmail.com Front Desk
    sage.jpg The program is entitled "Black is... Black Ain't" and is based on the classic film of the same title by Marlon Riggs, a brilliant African American film maker who died of AIDS. The film speaks on issues in the Black (and larger) community regarding acting white, sexism, patriarchy, homophobia, as well as family, the black church and multiple identities. We will show the film (87 minutes) and immediately afterwards facilitate a 30 minute panel discussion by young and elder LGBT people of color. Refreshments will be served.

    This showing will be February 25th. TIME and LOCATION ANNOUNCED! See below.

    TIME: 6:00pm-9:00pm
    LOCATION: AARP 601 E street NW, Washington, DC
    Please RSVP: sagemetrodc1@gmail.com


    ]]>     Brave Soul Collective Presents "BALANCING ACTS: Tales of Triumph, Trial & Error" tag:www.thedccenter.org,2013:/blog//1.2942 2013-01-17T19:13:15Z 2013-01-17T19:24:46Z Brant balancingacts150011713.pngWhat: Brave Soul Collective presents
    "BALANCING ACTS: Tales of Triumph, Trial & Error"

    Where: Sitar Arts Center (in the deLaski Theater)
    1700 Kalorama Road NW
    Washington, DC 20009

    When: Friday & Saturday, February 8th - 9th
    Time: 8pm

    Cost: $15 (in advance) / $20 (at the door)

    Following the successful World AIDS Day 2012 performance, "FACING IT - Encounters of an Epidemic" which was presented on November 29th in collaboration with The DC Center for the LGBT Community, Brave Soul Collective returns to kick off 2013 with "BALANCING ACTS: Tales of Triumph, Trial & Error".

    On Friday & Saturday February 8th and 9th, BSC will present theatrical performances in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day which is observed on February 7th 2013. These performances are being presented to help mobilize the African American community around HIV/AIDS education & awareness; reduce stigma and infection rates.

    Through a series of theatrical pieces and personal testimonies from individuals living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, this performance will address various topics such as religion & spirituality, family, divorce, relationships, sex, dating & relationships, and much more. FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY.

    "BALACING ACTS" features all new, original works written & directed by playwrights - Barbara Asare-Bediako, Alan Sharpe, Jared Shamberger, & BSC founder, Monte J. Wolfe.

    Friday night's performance will be "LGBTQ/Gay Night" at the Theater with outreach provided by The DC Center's HIV Working Group.

    This event is sponsored in part by Us Helping Us, People Into Living & The DC Center.

    Advance tickets are available (beginning Friday, January 25th) by visiting: http://bit.ly/BalancingActsBSC.

    For additional information, please contact: wearebravesouls@gmail.com

    ]]>     National Survey of Black Gay and Bisexual Men tag:www.thedccenter.org,2013:/blog//1.2909 2013-01-02T01:45:42Z 2013-01-02T01:52:27Z NMAC, the National Minority AIDS Council, is in the final year of a project to develop an action plan to address the persistent and disproportionate impact HIV has on black gay and bisexual men. As part of the project, NMAC is circulating a survey to better understand perspectives and perceptions among black gay, bisexual and same-gender loving men around modalities and structural barriers to prevention and care services. This survey will contribute to both the action plan and help us determine which resources to highlight on an online resource/educational application we are developing called RISE (Resources to Improve, Strengthen and Empower). If you are a black gay, bisexual or same-gender loving man please take a moment to complete the brief survey (30 questions) and share with your networks. If not, please consider sharing with any colleagues, friends or loved ones who may be willing to participate and help us to shed light on the needs of this critical, but under-served, population. To complete the survey, click here or copy and paste the survey's URL [http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RISE_2012] into your internet browser's address bar. The DC Center nationalsurvey.jpgNMAC, the National Minority AIDS Council, is in the final year of a project to develop an action plan to address the persistent and disproportionate impact HIV has on black gay and bisexual men. As part of the project, NMAC is circulating a survey to better understand perspectives and perceptions among black gay, bisexual and same-gender loving men around modalities and structural barriers to prevention and care services. This survey will contribute to both the action plan and help us determine which resources to highlight on an online resource/educational application we are developing called RISE (Resources to Improve, Strengthen and Empower).

    If you are a black gay, bisexual or same-gender loving man please take a moment to complete the brief survey (30 questions) and share with your networks. If not, please consider sharing with any colleagues, friends or loved ones who may be willing to participate and help us to shed light on the needs of this critical, but under-served, population.

    To complete the survey, click here or copy and paste the survey's URL [http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RISE_2012] into your internet browser's address bar.

    ]]>     The DC Center Welcomes Lynel Johnson to the Board of Directors tag:www.thedccenter.org,2012:/blog//1.2901 2012-12-31T05:58:58Z 2012-12-31T06:03:34Z The DC Center welcomes Lynel Johnson to the Board of Directors. New Board members were elected at the December Board Meeting and begin their three-year terms effective January 1st. Originally from Houston, Texas Lynel Johnson, first had aspirations of becoming a Clinical Psychologist and received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas Women's University. He continued his pursuit of a career in Psychology as a PhD student in Physiological Psychology at Howard University in the early 1980's. As GRID became HIV/AIDS he became more involved in the African American Communities response to the growing epidemic and began volunteering with The National Minority AIDS Council. Later, as their first full time employee, he worked first to develop and maintain the organizations volunteer program and later as their director of communications. Seeing increased opportunity to create change he later moved to AIDS Action Council as a Legislative Researcher. It was while at AAC that he decided to pursue a career in medicine. At 35 he returned to school to prepare for medical school, which he completed in 2003. This was followed by an Internship in General Surgery and Residency in Family Practice in Connecticut. He then returned to DC and is now currently practicing community based primary care in Maryland and has become a vocal supporter of Center development and inclusion. By serving on the center Board Lynel hopes to further increase Center Outreach to Trans and People of Color Communities and to help develop creative relationships between the Center and local LGBT Health providers. Lynel currently co-facilitates the First Friday Transgender Discussion Group. The DC Center lynel.jpgThe DC Center welcomes Lynel Johnson to the Board of Directors. New Board members were elected at the December Board Meeting and begin their three-year terms effective January 1st.

    Originally from Houston, Texas Lynel Johnson, first had aspirations of becoming a Clinical Psychologist and received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas Women's University. He continued his pursuit of a career in Psychology as a PhD student in Physiological Psychology at Howard University in the early 1980's. As GRID became HIV/AIDS he became more involved in the African American Communities response to the growing epidemic and began volunteering with The National Minority AIDS Council. Later, as their first full time employee, he worked first to develop and maintain the organizations volunteer program and later as their director of communications. Seeing increased opportunity to create change he later moved to AIDS Action Council as a Legislative Researcher.

    It was while at AAC that he decided to pursue a career in medicine. At 35 he returned to school to prepare for medical school, which he completed in 2003. This was followed by an Internship in General Surgery and Residency in Family Practice in Connecticut. He then returned to DC and is now currently practicing community based primary care in Maryland and has become a vocal supporter of Center development and inclusion. By serving on the center Board Lynel hopes to further increase Center Outreach to Trans and People of Color Communities and to help develop creative relationships between the Center and local LGBT Health providers.

    Lynel currently co-facilitates the First Friday Transgender Discussion Group.

    ]]>     Barbara Lett Simmons Receives Neil Alexander Award tag:www.thedccenter.org,2012:/blog//1.2892 2012-12-18T22:36:10Z 2012-12-18T22:49:09Z The DC Commission on Human Rights, DC City Administrator Allen Y. Lew, and City Councilmembers celebrated the 35th anniversary of the DC Human Rights Act at the DC Commission on Human Rights Awards Gala Monday night. DC Center Board Member Alexandra Andrea Beninda serves as a member of the DC Commission on Human Rights. Barbara Lett Simmons was the recipient of the Cornelius R. "Neil" Alexander Humanitarian Award, named after our past Board Member Neil Alexander. Judge Alexander served on the DC Human Rights Commission and was an active member of the LGBT community, where he served on the Boards of Scarlet's Foundation, The DC Center, and International LeatherSIR/boy (as Regional Director for Mid-Atlantic). Ms. Simmons, who was unable to attend the ceremony for health reasons, was awarded the Cornelius R. "Neil" Alexander Humanitarian Award for her lifelong commitment to human rights. She was one of the first African American teachers to integrate the public school system in Montgomery County, MD, served on the DC Board of Education from 1973-1986, was a renowned advocate for education in DC after she left the Board, and was a Democratic National Committee Woman for more 20 years. She paid particular attention to the rights of the poor and people with disabilities. For more information, read the full announcement here The DC Center simmons.jpgThe DC Commission on Human Rights, DC City Administrator Allen Y. Lew, and City Councilmembers celebrated the 35th anniversary of the DC Human Rights Act at the DC Commission on Human Rights Awards Gala Monday night. DC Center Board Member Alexandra Andrea Beninda serves as a member of the DC Commission on Human Rights.

    Barbara Lett Simmons was the recipient of the Cornelius R. "Neil" Alexander Humanitarian Award, named after our past Board Member Neil Alexander. Judge Alexander served on the DC Human Rights Commission and was an active member of the LGBT community, where he served on the Boards of Scarlet's Foundation, The DC Center, and International LeatherSIR/boy (as Regional Director for Mid-Atlantic).

    Ms. Simmons, who was unable to attend the ceremony for health reasons, was awarded the Cornelius R. "Neil" Alexander Humanitarian Award for her lifelong commitment to human rights. She was one of the first African American teachers to integrate the public school system in Montgomery County, MD, served on the DC Board of Education from 1973-1986, was a renowned advocate for education in DC after she left the Board, and was a Democratic National Committee Woman for more 20 years. She paid particular attention to the rights of the poor and people with disabilities.

    For more information, read the full announcement here

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