News | Gay Community Center of Richmond

Our Current News:

A message from our Board of Directors

Dear Friends,

We are writing to keep you informed about proposed changes at the Center. Our building at 1407 Sherwood Avenue has been put on the market. While we hope to sell the building, we are not changing our mission or retreating from our commitment to the LGBT community in Central Virginia.

As the Board of Directors of the Richmond Gay Community Foundation, Inc., the parent organization for Diversity Thrift and the Gay Community Center of Richmond, we have an obligation to be good stewards of the Foundation’s resources. The Board has decided that the facility is not central to our mission and that too much of our energy and resources currently is committed to its maintenance. Read More…

A Message From Our Interim Executive Director

Dear Friends:

It has only been a few days since I assumed the job as Interim Executive Director of the Gay Community Center of Richmond, but the work is consuming me. And that’s good. GCCR has such potential and it is exciting as we begin the process of plotting our future.

One of our major funders, Diversity Thrift, is doing well. We are looking at ways to make the stores even more profitable, customer- friendly and service oriented.

Our bingo games, another major income source, continue to bring in several hundred players each week. Like the thrift stores, this is due to the diligence of dedicated paid and volunteer staff.

Just within my first few days as CEO I have heard from several people, past and present GCCR supporters, who want to know what’s going on. As one person asked, “You’ve got money coming in, but no money going back into the community. Why is that?” Good question.

As you probably know, GCCR was originally created with one aspect of the mission to be a source of financial support for other programs that benefit our community. That has not happened for several years and that is one of our top priorities….to make sure we have the resources to resume providing grants to organizations doing great work in our community.

We are actually giving back to the community in ways maybe not so apparent. For example, we supply meeting and event space at our Center for numerous community organizations and communities of faith. We also provide marketing support to community organizations through our newsletter, website and electronic billboard that is seen by a minimum of 100,000 travelers every day. We also offer an array of events and programs here at the Center which are explained in our newsletter and on our website, GayRichmond.com.

With that said, we are examining our programs to ensure that they are what the community wants and needs. We must develop projects that will provide benefit to the community and fill gaps…areas that other nonprofits are not addressing.

We have much to do and we need your input. Please let me hear from you. Call me at 804-622-4646, ext. 20 or write me at Bill.Harrison@LGBTRichmond.net. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Bill Harrison
Interim Executive Director

GCCR Announces Appointment of Bill Harrison as Interim CEO

GCCR announced today the appointment of Bill Harrison as the organization’s interim CEO. A freelance writer and nonprofit consultant, Harrison retired last March from the American Red Cross, Greater Richmond Region, as the Regional Director of Public and Government Affairs. He had served with the Red Cross for fifteen years. Prior to that, he was the first public information officer for the Virginia Department of Health’s Bureau of STD/AIDS. He also worked for several years with the Fan Free Clinic in development and community affairs.

“We are elated that we could snag Bill,” stated Beth Marschak, incoming GCCR Board Chair. “He is so well respected, has a wealth of nonprofit experience, is a bridge-builder and people person. His commitment to the community’s causes has been proven many times.”

“I was very humbled, but a bit conflicted when they approached me,” stated Harrison. “I took early retirement last spring and have loved my new life of writing. It is a decision I took very seriously as I wanted to make sure I could deliver what is needed as we strategize the Center’s future.”
“I had my questions, my concerns, and the board addressed all of them. We had very honest, direct conversations. I have complete confidence in their support and can’t wait to get to work,” he said.

Harrison’s affiliations include serving as Board Chair for the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities; Public Relations Society of America, Richmond Chapter; past board chair of the Downtown Neighborhood Association and past board member of the Virginia ACLU.

SONiA and disappear fear Return to GCCR

Sunday, February 19th | 8 pm | GCCR Event Hall | $12 in advance

GCCR welcomes SONiA and disappear fear back to Richmond. This is a rare appearance of SONiA and the band, including one of Richmond’s favorite drummers, Debbie Flood. Come support GCCR’s music program and hear a fantastic one of a kind artist and activist!

Live Authentically, Love Out Loud, Disappear Fear

“SONiA is an incredible person as well as a great songwriter with meaningful, impactful music. I’ll admit from the beginning that I am not at all objective about SONiA and Disappear Fear; I am a huge fan, and I recently had an opportunity to sit down and talk to SONiA via phone about her life and her music. Read More…

Gaye Adegbalola and Roddy Barnes in Concert

Saturday, March 17 | 8 pm | GCCR Event Hall | $5 in advance

Experience the dynamic and compelling performance of Adegbalola and Barnes as they conjure up another era and put on one hell of a show.

“Gaye Adegbalola embraces and redefines the classic style of the great blues divas of the 1920′s and 1930′s, those of the fiercely independent ‘wild women’ who were unashamed to lay their souls bare and unafraid to give advice. She invokes the spirit and addresses the lyrics and improvisational techniques of the classic blues women and brings history to life” Gaye was a founding member of Saffire the Uppity Blues Women and is truly the epitome of “Uppity.” Roddy Barnes is a classically trained pianist and can play any genre, but excels in the old-timey sound that works best with this music.

Saturday, March 17 at 8 pm. Doors open at 7:30 pm. All seating is general admission.

Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door, at Diversity Thrift and DT2. Tickets are also available online here. Tickets purchased online include a $1 service fee.

“Brother Outsider” Screening

Sunday, March 18th | 4 pm | GCCR Classroom | $5 suggested donation

A master strategist and tireless activist, Bayard Rustin is best remembered as the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, one of the largest nonviolent protests ever held in the United States. He brought Gandhi’s protest techniques to the American civil rights movement, and helped mold Martin Luther King, Jr. into an international symbol of peace and nonviolence.

You are invited to a screening and discussion of the award-winning film “BROTHER OUTSIDER: THE LIFE OF BAYARD RUSTIN” on Sunday, March 18th, at 4 PM in the GCCR Classroom. A $5 donation is suggested. Read More…

Telling Stories That Matter: GCCR Celebrates Black History Month 2012

Every other Thursday | GCCR Lounge | 7 – 8:30 pm | $95

GCCR announces the second installment of Reading and Writing LGBT Lives, our ongoing series of writing workshops. This course, set to meet every other Thursday began February 2nd, and showcases the work of two Black artists whose unique insights and sensibilities have expanded the boundaries of our common humanity. The course is taught by Randy Marshall. (Late starters are welcome to join.)

Randall Kenan is an American author of fiction and nonfiction. Raised in a rural community in North Carolina, Kenan has focused his fiction on what it means to be black and gay in the southern United States.

His stories, at once uplifting and troubling, explore the grey areas where individual passion and personal history get tangled up in the grape-vine of a made-up town, in its gossip and its gospel. But the love and loneliness and longing for redemption that Kenan’s characters share are as real as it gets. Read More…

OWLS Discussion Group Reveals Topics for 2012

The OWLS Discussion Group returns for 2012!

2011 was a growing year for us, and a common theme we heard was desire to learn more and get to know others better in the new year. Please come out and join in some great discussions in 2012. OWLS stands for “Older, Wiser Lesbians,” although all are welcome.

Topics for the 1st Quarter Include:

Jan 16th – Who In Your Life Inspired you? Read More…

SAGE Central Virginia presents: You Can! Live Well, Virginia!

Tuesday afternoons, Feb 7 – Mar 13 | 2 – 4:30 pm | GCCR Classroom | Free

You Can! Live Well, Virginia! is a 6 week program designed to help you take control and feel more in control of your health. It is primarily focused toward people with chronic conditions: chronic pain, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, etc., and their families, friends and caregivers. It can give everyone a better understanding of their own health and better strategies to deal with chronic conditions. This program is a great way to start making 2012 a healthier year!

SAGE Central Virginia is partnering with Senior Connections, the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Aging to offer this free program developed at Stanford University here at GCCR. Read More…

GCCR Announces Inspirational/Spiritual Book Discussion Group

Monday, February 13th | 6:30 pm | GCCR Lounge | Free

GCCR is forming a new Inspirational/Spiritual Book Discussion Group! Our hope for this book group is to provide each person with an atmosphere that will give us an opportunity to encourage and experience personal growth through the reading and discussion of inspirational/spiritual books. To start off 2012 the Group will be reading and discussing “The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom” by Don Miguel Ruiz.

Each group will have a leader and will consist of thought provoking questions which will be discussed during each group. This is a safe group, encouraging open sharing and listening respectfully of one another. Confidentiality will be part of the group requirements.

The group will meet every other Monday for 6 weeks beginning February 13th. The group will meet on from 6:30-8:00PM in the GCCR Lounge. The group is free and open to all – men, women, the religious as well as non-believers. Read More…

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