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MEET Q CENTER'S NEW EXECUTIVE STAFF; OREGON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION COMMITS $25,000.
June 21, 2015
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To the community of Q Center supporters,
Over the past six months the board of directors has gathered community feedback about what we needed to keep and what needed to change about Q Center. Collectively, our communities have called for transparency, collaboration, accountability, and more diversity in leadership. As we sought new executive staff, it became apparent that Q Center's organizational model must reflect these values.
After exploring a few options we determined that the shared responsibility and power of an executive
co-directorship was the right fit for Q Center. This week, in addition to celebrating Stacey Rice's promotion to Executive Co-Director, Operations and Programs, I am thrilled to introduce Justin Pabalate, joining her as Executive Co-Director, Development and Community Relations.
You'll learn more in this newsletter, and in the coming weeks, about Stacey and Justin and what they each bring to Q Center. Next week you'll hear from them directly about their plans and personal commitments to the Q Center community. I hope you'll join all of us in congratulating Stacey and welcoming Justin to Q Center. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the Oregon Community Foundation, whose generous support has helped us reach this milestone.
Athen O'Shea, Chair
Q Center Board of Directors
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| MEET Q CENTER'S NEW EXECUTIVE CO-DIRECTORS. |
Stacey and Justin will send you a special introductory message next week. But until then here's a quick overview:
STACEY RICE
Q Center's new Executive Co-Director, Operations and Programs, Stacey Rice, is a white trans woman who joined the Q Center family in 2012. In addition to her experience as a small-business owner for a fast-paced, multidimensional business, Stacey has 10 years of relationship building and marketing experience in corporate sales and nonprofit environments. Stacey loves working at Q Center because she has seen first-hand how it changes people's lives and helps those who most need it in our community.
JUSTIN PABALATE
Q Center's new Executive Co-Director, Development and Community Relations, Justin Pabalate, is a queer person of color and first generation Filipino on his father's side. Justin brings experience in financial accountability assurance from his 10 years in the credit union industry, along with a deep understanding of community and nonprofit resource building from his decade in nonprofit
organizations. Most recently, Justin was Development Manager at Basic Rights Oregon. As one of the first places that welcomed him to Portland, Justin is dedicated to seeing Q Center continue to transform into an open, welcoming, empowering, and community-driven home for everyone.
Visit Q Center's website to
learn more about Q Center's leadership team.
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THE OREGON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INVESTS $25,000 IN Q CENTER'S FUTURE.
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Q Center board of directors is honored-and thrilled!-to announce a recent grant award from The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) to Q Center for general operating expenses. It's no secret that Q Center had financial difficulties last winter and continuing on into the spring. So it's certainly true that this money will help the rebuilding process that's already well under way. But even more important is OCF's show of confidence in the leadership and future vision now guiding Q Center. As OCF stated: "OCF is pleased to support Q Center as it transitions to new leadership and a new phase in its evolution. The center remains the only one of its kind between San Francisco and British Columbia, providing
important services to the LGBTQ population. We were impressed by the extraordinary outpouring of community support for Q Center's transformation and we are happy to be a part of it."
We're grateful for The Oregon Community Foundation's confidence in the future of Q Center, and invite you, our current and past supporters, to
make a contribution that's meaningful to you in celebration of community led efforts to stabilize Q Center as well as the start of our new Executive Co-Directors. Thank you for your past and continuing support!
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HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING AT Q CENTER!
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With deep support and enthusiasm from a diverse community Q Center continues to rebuild, and the activities there every week give testimony to our communities' diversity, creativity and remarkable energy. For those who visited Q Center on June 20th to attend the REAL TALK! Black LGBTQ Forum-part of Portland Black Pride 2015-you know about the wonderful crowd and great energy. The event focused on bringing together community to connect, network, share resources and build a stronger Black LGBTQ community.
Also, Q Center has recently hosted several thought provoking trainings and conversations on our new nondiscrimination policy, and dozens of participants, so far, have brought a wide spectrum of experience. Several non-LGBT individuals joined some trans and genderqueer folks along with the rest of our diversity for in-depth discussions about interrupting racism and transphobia.
And maybe you saw us at Pride, or walked with us, or were part of our presence at the Pride Festival. What a blast! Coming up soon at Q Center you'll find many fun and creative activities as part of our *eRa* program for LGBT seniors, several support groups for people seeking community with people of shared experiences, and some great special events. Be sure to
bookmark our calendar.
Q Center contingent in Portland Pride Parade 2015
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PLEASE SUPPORT BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT Q CENTER!
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Thanks to the generosity of our community partner She Bop, you can support the Q Center when you shop there this month. She Bop will be donating 10% of sales every Tuesday in June.
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Stay connected with Q Center!
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4115 N. Mississippi Ave., Portland, OR 97217
(503) 234-7837
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