MARCH 5, 1999 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE
11
COMMUNITY GROUPS
'The Pride Center' to be name of new Akron facility
by Tom Beck
Akron-The Akron Area Pride Collective board of directors has selected "The Pride Center" as the name for the new Akron area gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community center.
The Pride Center officially opened its doors to the public in early January but a permanent name for the center had not been selected. Members of the community were asked to suggest names for the new Akron
center.
"We received over 20 suggestions of names," said Brian Simmons, a board member of the Akron Area Pride Collective. "Some were suggestions to name the center after specific individuals and some were more general."
"The Pride Center" was selected as the name to represent the entire gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. "Pride is what we're all about," said James
Lehman, a member of the AAPC board of directors. "And 'Pride' is also part of the name of our organization, the Akron Area Pride Collective."
"The Pride Center is a name that's gender neutral and doesn't favor one individual or group in the community over another,” said board member Jackie Figler.
The AAPC board left open the possibility that the name could be modified in the future.
"It's always possible that an individual's name could be attached to the center," said board member Tom Beck. "We might want to recognize an individual's contribution to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered community by adding a person's name, such as the Smith Pride Center. If the X-Y-Z Corporation donated the funds needed to build a new building, we might recognize that contribution by calling it the X-Y-Z Pride Center."
"It's all speculation at this point," board
member Judy Byrd said, "but we're open to all kinds of possibilities. For now, the Pride Center is a beautiful name."
The Pride Center is located at 71 North Adams Street in Akron near Summa City Hospital off East Market Street. It's in the same block as the Adams Street bar, a gay landmark in Akron.
The Pride Center is operated by volunteers from the Akron Area Pride Collective.
"The Pride Center is open and operating every day through the efforts of some very dedicated volunteers," said facilities coordinator and board member Marnay Schrock. “And we can always use more volunteers," she added.
The AAPC board of directors is now making plans to extend the programs of the center. Committees have been organized to investigate specific needs in the GLBT community and propose plans to meet those needs through programs at the Pride Center.
Some Pride Center volunteers come from as far away as Canton, Medina and Kent to participate in activities.
"We don't see the Pride Center as just being confined to the city of Akron," said board member Jonathan Adee. "We'll eventually reach out to serve the five county area and our doors are open to all GLBT people in the area along with their friends and supporters."
The Pride Center is open afternoons and some evenings ever day of the week except holidays. Call the center at 330253-2220 for specific open hours.
"What's in a name?" AAPC treasurer Terry Zimmerman asked. "Well, it summarizes how we feel about the center. We're proud of who we are and the name 'The Pride Center' expresses that feeling very well."
Tom Beck is an Akron Area Pride Collective borad member.
An Ohio GLBT retirement community may be coming
by Linda Krasienko Cleveland Can you imagine a retirement community specifically created to serve the needs of the GLBT community? In the next five years this might be a reality for the Northeastern Ohio area.
As we enter the 21st century, the increased aging of the American population is an important issue which needs to be addressed. This raises a variety of issues regarding housing, health care, supportive services among the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
For the past year, an ad hoc committee of
nity having independent apartments, condominium units, assisted-living apartments with meals and supportive services, and a nursing home with an AIDS hospice center.
These units would be located around a village square having retail stores, commercial space, a restaurant/pub catering to the GLBT community, and a multi-purpose center. Another option is to target an exist-
GRAY PRIDE
people in the Cleveland area has been exploring the retirement housing, health care, and supportive service needs of the aging GLBT community. Committee members Linda Krasienko, Kevin Kukoleck, Ralph Sanderson, and Bob Dickson have determined that now is the time to get detailed input from the local GLBT community to determine specifically what is wanted and needed in Northeastern Ohio.
A variety of alternatives have been explored. One option being considered would consist of a planned community consisting of a full continuing care retirement commu-
Community Groups
ing community for scattered development projects within a larger area that would cater to the needs of the aging.
Depending on the location and the size of the parcel to be developed, it is envisioned that part of the village would possibly also
cater to the needs of younger members of the GLBT community. Additional apartments, condominiums, cluster-homes, and singlefamily houses would be included as part of the larger complex.
The proposed development would be a for-profit project, due to the amount of money that will be needed to build it. Shares will be sold primarily to members of the GLBT community as an investment opportunity— but one that will also benefit the GLBT community by meeting an increasing need for these types of services. A prospectus is being developed to sell these shares.
The "Community Groups" columns on these pages are published by the Gay People's Chronicle free of charge, as a public service. They are written by members or officers of each non-profit organization, reflecting the views of their group.
If your organization would like to submit a column for this page, contact the Chronicle's managing editor, Doreen Cudnik, at 216-631-8646, toll-free 800-426-5947, or e-mail editor@chronohio.com.
Ad hoc committee members Ralph Sanderson, Linda Krasienko, Kevin Kukoleck and Robert Dickson (clockwise, left to right) met recently at Borders Books and Music in Westlake to work on plans for a GLBT retirement community in Northeast Ohio.
Ten percent of the company will be donated to a non-profit foundation. Its purpose will be to raise funds to subsidize those residents of the retirement community (on a sliding fee scale) who cannot afford the services needed, or who "spend down" their resources so that they can no longer afford to pay the full costs.
It should be noted that while the retirement community would be targeted to those in the GLBT community, the facilities would be open to anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation.
To hear more about this topic, Gray Pride
of Cleveland is inviting you to its Tuesday, March 16 meeting at the Lakewood Senior Center West, 16024 Madison Avenue, Lakewood. A potluck begins at 5:30 p.m.; please bring food to share. There is plenty of parking. To receive more information or ask any questions about the GLBT planned community, please contact Linda Krasienko at FGVlinda@aol.com. We need your input. If you plan to attend or have further questions regarding Gray Pride, contact Doug Braun at 216-791-8039 or graypride@juno.com.
Linda Krasienko is coordinator of the Gray Pride housing committee.
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