iTFnnrwnTinetvs P ep T alk Gwenn Baldwin rallies Portlanders to consider creating a community center by Jonathan Kipp ( 503 ) 232-3600 AUTOBODY Collision Repair Problems Solved Wheel Alignment Tires Oil Changes Service Work State Farm Service First Provider Specializing in Foreign & European Cars Mini-Vans & Sport Utility Vehicles 2454 E. BURNSIDE • PORTLAND, OR 97214 w w w .fe r g u s o n a u to .c o m Family Owned & Operated Since 1952 H O fH C S for a Lifetime \ la ll fan tasies A wesome I rvington - R are F ind Huge old PDX, 4 square w/ full pnrrh N|f"W garage, new driveway, NOli !■ ^ on 2nd level & fully finisli - ■ W e d w/ exotic wood inlay. \ Rejuvenation light fixtures,! Fully loaded - you will lov^-n! r fireplace, new roof, new on main, Master & 2 bdrms milli hi ill landscaping. $379,000. ¿'>11 Nh 12th Avenue. 3 levels plus full basement. C o n d o M a n ia - G reat D eal mm << ■ y '•’ * . 5 Shows like new!! 15950 NE Fremont. GRFENWAY - 2 Ixlrms, 1 bath, fireplace, built-ins, balcony. Must see! $185,000. WOW. Call Celia Now! ........................................... ...... ......... - ..... — ............................ .... ............. — ______________________________ See my other fin e listings in the — CELIA J. LYON— Sales Associate (5 0 3 ) 2 8 7 -8 9 8 9 x 5 7 7 4 (5 0 3 ) 7 8 6 -4 9 5 9 Pager: 9 2 0 -8 4 0 3 Mobile: 2 6 0 -6 2 3 1 Fax: 2 8 4 -1 6 1 8 m ortlanders rarely look to Los Angeles for advice, but this was a worthwhile exception. Some are wondering whether the community would support a gay and lesbian center, and they recently asked for some expert advice. Gwenn Baldwin helped rally locals to support the concept when she spoke Oct. 9 to the Portland Area Business Associa tion. She worked with some of Oregon’s most well-known politi cians before being lured to the City of Angels 18 months ago to serve as executive director of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian C en ter. She sat on Gov. John Kitz- haber’s gay and lesbian advisory committee and served as commu nications director for former Gov. Barbara Roberts. But what might have helped Baldwin land the hign-profile jo b in Los Angeles was the Gwenn Baldwin important role she played in defeating 1994’s anti-gay M ea sure 13. As communications director, she “It is a phenomenal place to live.” wrote award-winning editorials and opinion Baldwin said centers are located in Spring- pieces. field, Mo., and Salt Lake City. “These are not easy places to have a center,” she joked, “and Baldwin, who has a long history of giving they are doing great work.” advice and influencing people, was given 20 minutes to pique Portlands interest in a gay and Baldwin thinks what Portland needs in a lesbian center. If anyone could do it, this would center isn’t necessarily what Los Angeles needs. be the person. Every city is different, she said. The Los Angeles center, about 30 years old, To start, the community needs a few com is the oldest gay and lesbian community center mitted leaders. They then must bring to the in the country. It is revered as a model for simi planning table additional people with a lar facilities throughout the country and the vision of what the center could and should world. look like. The center started as a “safe place" for gays Portlanders need to look at current services and lesbians to address issues of internal and and what they would like to offer to the com external homophobia but recently underwent a munity, Baldwin said. “You have to look at substantial growth spurt. In 1992, the organiza today’s issues to be relevant to the people.” tion had a budget of only $3 million. In Los Angeles, if the center only were to Today, with an annual budget o f $33 mil offer social services, Baldwin explained, lion, it has five locations, 250 paid “W e’d be on a treadm ill.” Instead, it staff and more than 3,000 volun diversified and offered activities teers and attracts more than and advocacy services that are "(Portland is) 2 2 0 ,0 0 0 people annually. relevant to the Southern C al a phenomenal place Baldwin said the growth ifornia community. took “hard work, vision and T h e Los Angeles center for a center. a lot o f generosity." serves 2 ,3 0 0 patients for T h e centerpiece of the It is a phenomenal H IV services. A n additional organization is “the V il 2 ,000 patients are seen in the place to live." lage”— an activity oasis general health care program. located in the heart o f Holly Programs also serve homeless wood. “It’s quite a place,” Bald youth and senior citizens. win said. Vision is important, but a center She listed several factors required in cre requires substantial cash. Baldwin said one ating a strong center like the one she directs. of the first steps is to find or cultivate what One of the most important: People are more she calls “angels”— individuals to help with a likely to support a project with their money if capital campaign. Donors will be needed as the space has a feeling of permanency. well as others who have knowledge or con Baldwin said 106 community centers for sex nections in real estate. ual minorities are located in 36 states across the “You have to create a community a step at a country. Only half of them have budgets and time,” Baldwin said. “No community center is paid staff; less than a dozen have budgets built in a day.” j n exceeding $500,000. “Does Portland need it?** Baldwin asked the For more informaticm on the LOS ANGELES businesspeople. "Absolutely!” she enthusiasti G ay & L e s b ia n C e n t e r , visit the Internet site cally answered her own question. ivwiv.laglc.org. “It’s a phenomenal place for a center," said Baldwin, who still considers Oregon her home. — Gwenn Baldwin