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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 6, 2007)
APRILS. 2007 MARTY DAVIS 22 jUStOUt Continued from Page 21 and others gather at Q Center three times a year for a social services roundtable. According to Healea, the topic in Febmary was body image, and the fonim drew 35 attendees from a variety of organizations. “We’re focused on providing space for social serv ice providers to come together and network,” says Healea. For example, the Women on Wellness Coalition Forum, which is not organized by Q Center volunteers, makes use of the community space, where it meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Q Center has also hosted yoga and Qi Gong classes and personal safety trainings for sexual minorities. “We struck gold in visioning the center as a hub where people connect,” says Healea, who stepped down temporarily from his position as board co- chairman to serve as interim coordinator. “It’s true that in Portland, we don’t need a center for survival like in other, less welcoming cities. However, 1 think (¿) ( all« Bingo Bingo has been the signature success for the social subcommittee at Q Center. The event, held from 7 to 9 p.m. on first Mondays, draws approxi mately 50 people looking to win exciting prizes and have casual, high-spirited fun. Poison Waters and her banter with rhe crowd has been a highlight of bingo, as has its ability to draw in people with different interests and of varying age groups and genders. The event is also a fund-raiser for Q Center, bringing in $5 a head to cover operating expenses. The prizes—often donated by Darcelle XV, Pearl Bakery, the Portland Trail Blazers and BodyVox— have proven to be well worth the cover charge. “Bingo provides a social outlet for the commu nity that isn’t a bar situation,” said Healea. “It’s a place where people can cross different lines." Q Center also offers its space to community groups nearly every night of the week, outsije of its own programming. The center has proven to be a social outlet for those attending Lesbian Country Dancing, an upcoming prom for the Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC) and a new game nightfrom 7 to 9 p.m. on first Tuesdays. (jetting I lealthy. Staying Well At Q Center, health and wellness programming is all about reaching out to organizations to be part of an information and referral program. Represent atives from Cascade AIDS Project, Outside In, the Multnomah County Health Department, Q-LAND there are some specific areas a center can address. We’ve been overwhelmed by requests for usage of the space and information about what’s going on and for art, family and health and wellness programs.” In the future, Healea says he hopes to continue building Q Center’s infrastructure and get more people through its d<x>rs. Finding I heir Voice« The cornerstone event for sexual minority elders at Q Center is Senior Life Stories, a coffee and tea hangout held from nrxrn to 2 p.m. on third Sundays. 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Other Q Center events have appealed to sexual minority seniors, such as the art exhibit Historic Images of Our Portland and various health and wellness events. Senior programming is probably the least developed of all the subcommittees, according to Healea. A challenge to developing senior program ming for the center is reaching the seniors. The David Martinez and Mary Lee Turner staff the center primarily relies on electronic media for its Q Center booth at Portland Pride 2005. inexpensive and reliable qualities, but the senior set is not often computer savvy. years at SMYRC was that youth must be involved “The seniors programming is sort of at an infan in the process. cy stage,” says Healea. The senior subcommittee That’s why the youth subcommittee is concen has been reaching out to sexual minority seniors by trating its energy on a needs assessment question contacting welcoming churches such as the naire before moving forward with planning events. Community for Welcoming Congregations and gay The committee has designed an open-ended survey and lesbian senior groups including the Elder to poll queer people younger than 23 about simple Resource Alliance and Senior Housing and issues such as whether they want the use of Q Center Retirement Enterprises. and whether there are barriers to access. “We’re slowing ourselves down because we don’t Questioning Youth want to throw youth programming out there before Jonathan Weedman was a whiz at youth we have all the facts,” he says. “We want to be programming when he was approached by the thoughtful about the process, to build for success.” Q Center board. The program manager at SMYRC Weedman also has an eye on ensuring that serv and a child and family therapist seemed like the ices between SM YRC and Q Center do not overlap. natural person to help design youth-oriented “Q Center wanted to focus on social aspects, activities at the community center. a space where youth could come and hang out in. It’s One thing that Weedman knew from his six not about services, it’s about connections,” he says. • Inheritance Estate Planning Strategies • IRAs, Roth IRAs, Rollovers • Tax Planning • Investing with a Conscience 503-283-9481 afc Finirti ntl Srrvu n* 8124 N. Denver Clearly the best.' ’eHered through orraegemeets with imwaiua (omgamat Isrvlsg Oregee * Wester* Weebleftee CCB#19095 MEMBER SIPC www .waddell.com anneseelye@wradvisor$.(om * 700 Northeast Multnomah Strut • Suite! 15 503 238 7056 FAX • Toll Fru 888892 (503) 642-9992 1-800-356-1884 Aloha Market Centre 20455 SW TV Highway www. westsideflorist, net
