While the world is in a forced “shutdown” behind the scenes the Stonewall team is working to safely activate the Center so we can welcome visitors and restart programming anew. In August the Red Cross was here as we hosted a COVID-19 blood drive, the incomparable drag queen Virgina West and cast found space at the Center as they entertained the Central Ohio community with Virginia West Presents “Madame West”, and most exciting was the opportunity to celebrate an intimate wedding for LGBTQ+ community members who we are proud to now call contributing Stonewall members—thank you!
We are opening up and we’re excited that these opportunities presented themselves allowing us the chance to lean in and support important community moments—after all, we are the community’s Center. As we head into the fall, we will continue the work needed to bring “life” back to the Center and find creative ways to uplift and partner with the community.
As we worked to complete construction on the Center and raise funds through our Stonewall Builds campaign we factored in a public moment of engagement where we would ask the community to help us close the final gap of funds needed to welcome everyone home to their new center—we never launched that final phase of the campaign. Our misalignment of community in 2017 truly paralyzed us as an organization, making us unsure of what step was the right step.
Today, as I sit in this interim seat, I know the right step is to ask the community to believe and invest in the Center with their time, talent, and treasure—to hold us accountable for our past, present, and future. But I also know that as an organization Stonewall must continue to demonstrate that we are moving forward in the right direction…I know we’ve been making the right changes.
We’re working reopen the Center:
- Gathering space
- We cannot be a community center with no space to gather; so, we are working to activate the first floor’s Owens & Kowalski Gallery and multipurpose room to be flexible spaces for the community when not under contracted use. We hope that by creating a more welcoming environment with appropriate seating and workstations the Center will become a gathering place of community
- Event/Space Rentals
- We are increasing our kitchen capacity to support community needs for events like weddings, receptions, and expanded programming options—like community meals
- We are increasing our kitchen capacity to support community needs for events like weddings, receptions, and expanded programming options—like community meals
- Partners in Residence
- Working to create opportunity and connection to resources by inviting community uplifting and affirming organizations to rent space at the Center. These partners will offer services to the community that Stonewall may not directly be able to support
We’re updating our programing streams:
- Art(s) + Culture
- We will activate the Owens & Kowalski Gallery and the building as a space to feature are and showcase culture. We will invite and activate partnerships across the state that uplift LGBTQ+ art(s) and culture while introducing a wider community to arts and culture programming.
- Identity
- We will expand our identity programing, adding to our Trailblazers program with new communities of identity (e.g. family, young professionals).
- Education
- Expanding our community classes to introduce opportunities for skills training/development to uplift those most in need in our community.
- Wellness
- Create new strategic partnerships supporting physical and mental health and wellness.
We’re moving forward:
- Holding our past as an accountability marker creating change.
- Taking a clear stance on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability
Internally we are changing, externally it’s starting to show and we’re working to update our website content to reflect those changes to keep the community informed; we encourage you to look around and explore—stonewallcolumbus.org. The next change we hope to make is a new website—and we’ll gladly depend on the kindness of strangers to bring that to fruition.
It’s been a wonderful opportunity to meet with many partners in Columbus, around the Central Ohio region, and across the state who understand the importance of coming together as a community working to uplift all of us so that we all thrive. I am excited for partnership opportunities ahead, the moments of intersection in our community’s work, and the recognition our community will receive for coming together working to move us all forward!
Thoughtfully,
Densil P.
Interim Executive Director
P.S. Click HERE for an update on LGBTQ+ History Month with PRIDE!
