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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE January, 1990

1989 Community Service Awards

Aubrey Wertheim

by Faith Klasek

Aubrey Wertheim will receive the Gay People's Chronicle Community Service Award for his work with Cleveland's youth group PRYSM (Presence and Respect For Youth in Sexual Minority). Every year the Chronicle honors those whose service to the community has been outstanding. Although Wertheim's work has benefited Cleveland's gay and lesbian community for several years, his efforts with PRYSM have helped reach a segment of our community who are often most vulnerable and alone.

Plans for PRYSM began in early 1988. It was then that Wertheim began gathering volunteers for what was thought would be an adult-run group. Wertheim wanted to begin by collecting accurate information about Cleveland's need for the group. The difficult process of gathering the facts began, and volunteers began to fade away.

Wertheim explained, "It was just too much. People kept dropping out. One of the volunteers, Bob Boone, took the initiative and said, 'why don't we consider other options?' In June of that year,

""

Boone was one of the volunteers who attended the National Gay and Lesbian Health Conference.

"At that conference," Wertheim continued, "Bob interacted with youth groups from all over the country in particular the Boston group, BAGLY. He then came back and started formulating plans for a youth-run group." Boone presented a proposal to the board in November, and PRYSM's first meeting was held in January of 1989.

Although PRYSM serves as a social group, it is also acts as an educational service. Volunteers have taken part in Bay Village High School's Social Aware-

ness Fair, and have made presentations at Wooster College, Shaw High School, and the West Side Mental Health Center. In addition, 150 information packets were sent to area schools and service agencies, informing them about not only the group but the situations of lesbian and gay youth. But the internal functions of the group continue to be important. Wertheim comments, "The group is an ideal entree into the community in terms of coming out and coming to grips with all of the alternatives available. It's a safe space for members to express a variety of issues. Also to get a greater sense of their history and their community from the experiences of the adult advisors."

Since the group began, the amount of youth involvement with the center has greatly increased. “The amount of energy is tremendous," said Wertheim. "The sense of community and family is greatly enhanced by their [youth] presence. There was initially a lot of anxiety about starting a large youth project. Now people seem immensely enheartened. Usually the men and women say, 'Why wasn't this around when I came out?" "

Wertheim's involvement with the group so far has been in the area of publicity, long-range planning, fund raising, and leadership development both youth and adult. In the future, however, he'd like to be more involved in direct mainstream education about gay and lesbian issues.

Wertheim's experience with the group has been tremendous. "It's just a joy," he said. "It's an unending source of joy and pride to have the privilege of interacting with them every weekend."

MEN

SING ALONG

WITH US

iiiiiii

NORTH COAST MEN'S CHORUS

We are always searching for men to join us in song.

If you are interested,

YOU'RE INVITED

to our

GET ACQUAINTED POTLUCK

7:30 PM Saturday, January 6, at The Community Center, 1418 W, 29 (at Detroit)

or join us at rehearsals 7:30 PM Sundays at Judson Manor 1890 E. 107th 8t. (just north of Chester).

The Women's Coffeehouse Collective

by Lois Lane

The Women's Coffeehouse Collective is moving into their third successful year of providing the women's community with live musical entertainment, and a women-only chemical-free space which has served hundreds.

The Women's Coffeehouse Collective started in the spring of 1988 after an idea was born from Jill Winegarden.

"The idea of the Women's Coffeehouse Collective grew out of the Lesbian and Gay Community Center and the West Side Women's Center," said Winegarden. "I had long conversations with Aubrey Wertheim [director of the Center], and we both thought it was a good idea. I presented it to the women at the West Side Women's Center and we decided to try it."

The purpose of starting the Coffeehouse Collective was to form a place where women could go that was chemical-free and that served as an alternative to attending bars. In addition, the coffeehouses intended to provide a womenonly space with live entertainment.

A collective of approximately 15 women was formed and money was raised through monetary donations from friends of collective members. Between $800 to $1000 was raised, enabling the collective to begin.

The first two coffeehouses were held at the Lesbian-Gay Community Center in the spring and summer of 1988. Both had a tremendous turnout, according to Winegarden.

"We then had to move from the Center basically because we grew out of it," she said. "The Near West Side was chosen as a location for coffeehouses due to the accessibility for both East Side and West Side residents."

Since the beginning of the coffeehouses many local performers have played, including Lisa Rainsong, Bobbie Antes, Annie DeChant and Peggi Cella. Pat Humphries from New York has also performed. In addition, Jill said that the coffeehouse's reputation has brought women from all over Ohio, and from as far away as Canada.

Antone F. Feo Clinical Psychologist

The collective is currently comprised of close to 15 women who meet on the average of once every six weeks to plan and organize events. Within the organizational structure of the collective, there are subcommittees assigned to designated duties, which include entertainment and kitchen.

According to Winegarden, the collective has struggled to find a variety of entertainment and has suffered criticism for this.

"It is really difficult to find entertainers (in the Cleveland area)," she said. In response to this concern, the collective distributed surveys to the audience of past coffeehouses. Some of the feedback they received, Jill believes, "reflected the heterogeneity of some collective members and audiences." Thus, the collective plans to include a winter coffeehouse which will be open to men, as well as booking male entertainers.

"We are going to see how this works," Winegarden said, "and if it successful we may turn it into an annual event."

Jill Winegarden attributes the success of the coffeehouse collective to "the interest from the community, the interest in alternatives to a bar, women-only space, and the entertainers."

At present, Jill describes the coffeehouse as taking a break to prevent burnout, but is currently preparing for the next coffeehouse on Saturday, January 27, which will feature Pat Humphries of New York. The Febuary performer will be Annie DeChant and Mitchell Smith and Patty M. will be featured in March. The cost to attend the coffeehouse is $5.00 (more if you can, less if you can't).

If you are interested in becoming a member of the collective, or if you want to volunteer, you may contact Denise Jackson at 631-7114, or Jill Winegarden at 351-9406. The collective is always open for suggestions and willing to have volunteers.

By the way, bring your appetite, because the collective provides many different wonderful foods at reasonable prices by chef Denise Jackson. See you there! ▼

Ph.D.

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If you have any questions call Wade (268-4303), John (261-8645), or Tom (221-8458) or write us at NCMC, P. O. Box 15181, Cleveland, OH 44115.

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