Building Stronger Families, One Step at a Time
The Center Families Program at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center has historically been the gateway for LGBTQ prospective parents in New York City and neighboring communities to learn about their reproductive rights and options. We are now establishing a stronger support system for those currently on the journey of parenthood. In this vision, we are working towards increasing opportunities for LGBTQ parents to engage in positive socialization and networking. This month’s blog announces our newest Support Group: the Parent’s Support and Networking Group which grew out of thoughts, ideas, feedback, and requests from the community. We are pleased to have our blogger for this month, Hunter College Student and Center Families Intern Pamela Mendelsohn with us. Ms. Mendelsohn is not only the group’s facilitator; through her work she is actively influencing the growth of our families, our program, and our community.
Our New Parent Support and Networking Group at Center Families
We are very excited to announce that November 17th 2010 marked the first meeting of our Center Families newest support group: the Parent Support and Networking Group: a group for LGBTQ parents to connect, share experiences around parenthood, and exchange resources. We are thrilled to continue to connect with all of you whose Center Families journey began in one of the support groups around planning parenthood or navigating pregnancy, as well the opportunity to meet parents who are new to the LGBT Center. This is a safe space for parents to discuss concerns and struggles, share wisdom and experiences, support each other through challenges, and celebrate progress and community.
The Parent Support and Networking Group will meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 7:30pm to 9pm at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center.
On January 19th 2011 The Parent’s Support and Networking Group will welcome our esteemed colleague Sandra Chapman, an expert on school-related issues for LGBT parents.
We welcome your continued feedback regarding the group, your inquiries, and your participation. We look forward to seeing you in the very near future, and wish you all great success during your parenting journey. It is our hope that you will visit us one evening and share a little of your family with our family.
Please do not hesitate to contact us by sending an e-mail to centerfamilies@gaycenter.org
Thank You!
Shanequa Anderson, LMSW, MPA, CASAC
Center Families Programming and Services Coordinator
&
Pamela Mendelsohn
Center Families Intern and Group Facilitator
I am very pleased and excited over the continuous iniatives that the GLBT Center takes as we redefine who we are, who we can be and what we can achieve in the interest of true equality. The Center was there for me when I was bottoming out in my life and needed to make some serious changes, the Center was there when I was finally ready to start dating and wanted to try something different from the bars and clubs and now the Center continues to be there for me as my partner and I begin the process of creating our family through gestational surrogacy.
Thank you…
Farid