Center Blog

Guest Post by Rob Zukowski

If you have ever tried to quit smoking, or had a friend or loved one who has taken on the task of giving up smoking, you know that it is not an easy undertaking. Having been a smoker for many years, and having gone through the trials and tribulations of quitting, only to return to smoking and struggle to quit again, I can attest to difficulty of reaching the goal of being smoke free.

The good news is that help was available to me. What’s better? It’s available to YOU! There are a plethora of quality services available to you. You can make phone calls to quit lines for information and you can sign up for a variety of web based services, but for LGBT and allied individuals there is another option in Manhattan’s West Village.

The LGBT SmokeFree Project, a program of the Community Services department of The Center, offers workshops and classes specifically designed to provide the support, tools and information you need to flick that very last cigarette to the curb and walk away happier, healthier and free of the financial impact that goes hand in hand with the habit.

Since 1993, The LGBT SmokeFree Project at the Center has been dedicated to helping members of the community quit smoking for good. It’s more than just another pamphlet with the same old Q&A you’ve seen before. It’s more than just a lecture. What you encounter at these classes are people like you; LGBT and allied people with the drive and desire to quit smoking and stay quit. And the best part of all, is that these people are there to share their experiences and learn from yours; it’s an exercise in giving and receiving the support smokers need to take on the task. You become a part of a collective unit of “quitters”. I can say, without question or reservation, that I have been both moved and inspired by the accomplishments, struggles and successes of those in my group.

It all begins with Not Quite Ready to Quit. This 3-hour workshop focuses on understanding nicotine addiction, increasing motivation, and eliminating roadblocks to making the decision to quit. Once you have completed the workshop, it is on to the next program – Commit to Quit. The 6-week Commit to Quit group helps you develop a quit plan, build a support system, and effectively handle relapse pressure and stay quit. One session of Not Quite Ready to Quit is required to start the 6-week program.

Adam Steiner, the SmokeFree Project counselor, knows firsthand what quitting smoking is like. Adam’s passion for helping people become smoke free isn’t only professional, it’s personal. He is currently in his 10^th year of living smoke free and it shows in his compassion. In a recent article, he said, “I took my first puff of a cigarette at age 8. I kept smoking until I was 40 years old. Luckily, I found the strength to quit. Now I spend my days helping others quit.” He goes on to say, “In addition to helping people develop a quit plan, build a support system, and effectively handle relapse pressure once they have quit smoking, the Center also works with The Manhattan Smoke – Free Partnership as a part of the New York City Coalition for a smoke free city.” Adam is a leader for smoke free people of all ages. He, along with Youth Organizers Against Tobacco Advertisement interns, advocate against tobacco marketing that targets young people. Adam is a dedicated counselor with the kind of insight and experience to help you nip your cigarette addiction in the “butt”. Pun intended.

As someone who has attended both the initial workshop and the 6-week program, I would urge you to do so. The experience, in my opinion, goes above and beyond the smoking cessation programs I have tried before. Not only did I find the content unique and being surrounded by other LGBT folks who understand the world I live in to be an extra push, but the camaraderie among group participants was an essential tool.

Imagine what it must be like to wake up on your quit day to find supportive texts or emails from the members of your group. Think about how empowering it can be to have someone reach out to you for support should that moment come when they want to reach for a cigarette.

I know what you are thinking, “does it work?” With your hard work and determination it does. Here are some follow up statements from past group participants.

“It is funny that I just received the email of the center talking about the commit to quit seminar. I quit smoking at The Center five years ago and i always send people to this smoking cessation program.”

“Yesterday, I sent a letter to the board of Directors of the Center and I mentioned this great achievement with the help of you guys. Thank you for doing this great job.”

“If you ever need someone that quit with this program to come and talk to the people in the program let me know.”

“I quit smoking in December of 2003. The ONLY reason I was successful THIS TIME, was because of your group.”

“It was non-judgmental – t was done with patience and gentleness. But I have never not smoked for a period of eight years.”

“Thank you all so much for the best program to try and get us to not smoke.”

“Finding out that there was a program available at the center, with other members of the LGBT community was the best thing for me.”

“To have a safe, welcoming environment with professional support staff and leadership, and be among peers was PRICELESS.”

“Because of the center care smoke free program and stern but gentle approach of my counselor, I was ready to take the leap, and free myself. I had the right coping skills (including nicotine patches and proper guidance) and found the whole experience a huge self esteem booster and overwhelming sense of pride.”

“The whole process has changed my opinion on what I would consider a “life-long” habit and for me, choosing smoking will never be that crutch again. This past October, 2011 marked 2 years since I have quit smoking, an accomplishment that after 14 years with the addiction I never thought I would say. I can’t endorse the program enough.”

For more information about upcoming Not Quite Ready to Quit and Commit to Quit Programs, Click Here

Guest Post by Donald Conrad

On Tuesday, February 7, we had the delightful opportunity to listen to Joshua David and Robert Hammond, co-founders of Friends of the High Line, share their extraordinary journey with us.  I say extraordinary because what they have accomplished over the last 13 years could be described as a Herculean.  Their endurance and tenacity has given the city one of the most unique park settings found in the world – the park in the sky.

Photo by Lester Echem

Had some very powerful forces succeeded, the High Line would have been obliterated from the landscape from our great city and future generations would not even remember that it had existed.  A perfect storm of influences including businesses, landowners and political figures converged to eliminate the High Line.  In fact, most people do not realize just how close we came to losing this park.  Mayor Giuliani had actually signed the demolition order to have it razed and only because David and Hammond filed a legal challenge was that order stayed.

Joshua David and Robert Hammond, Co-Founders, The High Line; Photo by Lester Echem

We must remember, however, that at that time the High Line was nothing like it is today.  It was illegal to even step foot on the abandoned elevated railway.  Fenced off and overgrown with wild brush, many city elders and landowners were pressing for something to be done with it and, unfortunately, eliminating it was favored over all other suggestions.  Enter David and Hammond.

Photo by Lester Echem

A community board meeting was scheduled in 1999 to discuss the future of the High Line.  David and Hammond, who did not know each other, had read a recent New York Times article about the line and it sparked their interest to attend the meeting.  Hammond remembers thinking that David “looked cute” and introduced himself at the end of the meeting.  Within months this relationship produced the organization known as Friends of the High Line.  Their new book, High Line: The Inside Story of New York City’s Park in the Sky, tells the rest of the history, but a history that is not yet finished.

David and Hammond are delightful individuals whose genuine passion for the High Line is quite evident as they discuss their project.  Although both are referred to as partners on the project, they are not a couple.  The two exhibited a lighthearted and comedic tone as they presented their work.  At one point Hammond put up a photograph of himself standing on the High Line and then, without the slightest hesitation, explained the photo by saying, “This has nothing to do with the presentation.  I just thought I looked hot in this photo,” to the laughter of the crowd.  The two kept the standing-room-only crowd smiling and laughing throughout their hour-long presentation.

Their presentation focused entirely on the LGBT influences that shaped the design of the park.  LGBT individuals throughout the community were involved in the planning of the park and more importantly were active participants in Friends of the High Line.  David and Hammond readily admit that without this support, the High Line would be vastly different from what it is today.  In fact, LGBT individuals in the community suggested many of the elements that make the park unique.

As David described the design meetings held with the architectural firm, Diller Scofidio + Renfro (the firm that is designing the new business district for Fire Island), you couldn’t help but envision something out of a comedy sketch.  The Friends of the High Line board would make requests for various park elements and the designers would respond with the feasibility and cost.  One such element was the glass wall of the toilets that allowed visitors outside the toilet to see hazy or cloudy images of people inside facilities.  To this, a very pro-LGBT designer responded with that very politically incorrect phrase, “That’s so gay,” though it was meant only in lighthearted jest.  He began to use the phrase in subsequent meetings and it became an ongoing joke.  Then the board asked for something no other park in the world uses, dimmer switches for the outdoor lighting, and the designer responded with, “Now that’s really gay.”  Again the audience howled with laughter.  But, think about it, who else other than an LGBT individual would think of adjustable mood lighting for a park?

Overall, the time spent listening to David and Hammond was time very well spent.  The High Line will become a treasured part of the city and we can be proud that it grew from and flourishes because of the deep roots in the LGBT community that sustain it. We owe these gentlemen a debt of sincere thanks for their efforts.

However, the work is not finished.  The third and final segment of the High Line must still be developed.  This segment will take the High Line right down along the Hudson River.  At present we can only imagine the breath-taking vistas that it will provide.  David and Hammond ask that everyone participate in finishing and maintaining the park by joining Friends of the High Line. 

For more information, please visit www.thehighline.org where you can also purchase David and Hammond’s new book, High Line, The Inside Story of New York City’s Park in the Sky.  Remember, purchasing the book through their website will ensure that all proceeds from the sale go directly to Friends of the High Line.

Center Youth Visit State Lawmakers in Albany

Center Youth Organizing (YO!) interns joined 50 other advocates in late January; they embarked on a bus trip to Albany with a mission of educating state legislators about the importance of tobacco prevention programs.

This yearly event is coordinated by the New York City Smoke Free Coalition and includes young voices from throughout New York City who meet with a host of state assembly members and senators to inform them about the need to keep robust funding for tobacco prevention programs and explain why the initiatives are so important.

The coalition’s local efforts have helped contribute to a significant reduction in New York City smoking rates; NYC has the lowest smoking rates in the nation. Unfortunately tobacco companies continue to bombard young people with advertising at local convenience stores near their schools.

Center Youth Visit Lawmakers in Albany

Center youth speak out regularly about this alarming trend at community board meetings and other forums and push for measures that would limit these manipulative and harmful campaigns which have resulted in alarming statistics: 59 percent of self-identified LGBT teenagers in NYC report using tobacco, compared to 35 percent of self-identified straight teens. State legislators were very receptive to the youth tobacco prevention message and agreed to make this a priority when looking at overall state funding.

Center Youth Visit Lawmakers in Albany

Brian Smith, the Center’s Youth Services Community Organizing Specialist said trips like this one show young people that their educational efforts truly matter:

“It’s great to see the young people take all that they’ve learned inside the walls of the Center and put it into practice in the world. They realize, ‘I can make a difference and my voice does count,’” Smith said.

The NYC Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center is currently accepting new applicants for the spring 2012 internship program in our development/fundraising office. The core areas of focus will include:

•   Support Major Donor and Annual Giving efforts in the processes of prospect   identification and donor research, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship
•   Complete donor research on prospects through software analysis, historical information and public records
•   Assist in planning and supporting smaller home-based events for prospective donors
•   Draft solicitations for potential corporate & foundation partners
•   Assist with gift acknowledgement and renewal process
•   Assist in general development and fundraising events
•   Perform administrative duties, as needed

Requirements: Qualified applicants will be proficient with MS Office suite products – specifically Excel; possess an ability to work independently and maintain an attention to details and project timelines; strong interpersonal skills; and demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills. Previous experience with Raiser’s Edge preferred but not required. Knowledge and familiarity of LGBT communities and issues and high sense of responsibility and commitment to the mission of the Center required.

How to Apply: For consideration, submit a cover letter stating desired position with resume by email to jobs@gaycenter.org. Please include “Spring Development Intern” in the subject line. Materials may also be sent via fax (212) 924-2657.

Guest Post by VC August on behalf of the American Cancer Society’s Diversity Initiative; ACS is a friend of the Center’s Lesbian Cancer Initiative

You don’t usually think of a party and cancer in the same sentence. But the American Cancer Diversity Initiative is fighting the prevalence of cancer, as well  as the reluctance toward early screening for cancer, in the LGBT community in a variety of ways. One way is with the upcoming February 13^th Encore for Hope Bash.  “Our view is to raise money for the ACS diversity initiative – and all the important work we are doing — and have a great time while we’re doing it,” says Erica Blum, Manager, Distinguished events. 

The American Cancer Society is full of ideas for helping the LGBT community. Myrna Duarte and Erica Blum, both tireless advocates of the American Cancer Society (ACS) Diversity Initiative, are working hard to minimize the spread of cancer in the LGBT community.  These initiatives will be celebrated (and supported) at this pre-Valentine’s day party at Club 57, Providence NYC, 311 West 57^th Street, 6:30-10:30 PM.

The Encore for Hope Event will be fun filled with cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres flowing, while supporters take in stellar performances donated in support of the American Cancer Society’s efforts within the LGBT Community. Comedienne Judy Gold will be the emcee and Joey Aries, singer, comedian, performance artist and drag queen will be a starring act. Other notable celebrities and entertainers are The New York City  Gay Men’s Chorus, The Ben Allison Band, Sherry Vine, 2 To Fly Aerial, Manila Luzon, Sahara Davenport and celebrity DJ Choimatic.         

Lung cancer turns out to be one of the high risk cancers for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. “The smoking statistics for the LGBT population are staggering,” explains Myna Duarte, Director of Diversity Initiatives for ACS. LGBT youth have tobacco use rates as high as 59% vs 35% of non LGBT teens. “It is critical that we get to the teens before they become lifelong smokers,” says Duarte.

The American Cancer Society has launched QuitBuddy-a texting tool to help smokers kick the habit. Smokers who feel the need to light up simply send a text to their QuitBuddy and receive a text back with a tip to help them fight the urge to smoke. “Our hope is that together with our partners, we can get this tool out to the community and help lower those statistics. We need to communicate the same way the teens do. By text.” You can sign up here. 

Another challenge for the ACS diversity team is stressing the importance of early detection and screening to the LGBT community. Duarte explains, “ Lesbian and bisexual women often do not have health insurance that covers unmarried partners. Another issue is that gay and bisexual women fear discrimination and insensitivity by healthcare providers.”  With lower screening rates, cancer is often detected at later stages when it is much more difficult to treat. A common misconception by gay women and often their physicians, is the that Human Papillomavirus, HPV, which is one of the causes of cervical cancer, is not a necessary screening test for gay women.  HPV can be spread from woman to woman just as with heterosexual contact.

Many gay  and bisexual men have the same fear of discrimination as lesbians and bisexual women, and therefore they also tend not to seek consistent screening.

Transgender people have the highest incidence of lack of insurance, and therefore screening. The New York City department of health reported in a study done in 1999 that 21% of transgender people had no health insurance of any kind. To make things worse for this population, health insurance does not cover appropriate cancer screening. Transgender people have a high rate of an array of cancers — from Lung to liver cancer. The risk becomes even higher if HIV is in the mix.

American Cancer Society’s mission aims to ensure that nobody is left behind. They offer everything from survivors helping other survivors, treatment transportation funding, wig programs and more. All of these offerings are available to the LGBT community and you can learn more about it at the event, while having a great time. Don’t miss this important way to support the community and give greater meaning to the word “love” this Valentine’s Day.

VC August is the Author of The Healing Hour, a book “about love, hope and healing the heart, soul, and spirit when faced with life-changing struggles,” including Cancer.

Guest Post by Rob Zukowski

On Wednesday, February 1st the Center held its volunteer appreciation event. Kate Shaffer, the Center’s Volunteer Coordinator, organized this amazing gathering as a thank you to the many who give so much of themselves and their time in support of their community.

Having had the privilege, some years ago, to serve as the manager of the Center’s volunteer program myself, I was thrilled to see so many people enjoying the much deserved festivities. More than 100 guests, all hard-working Center volunteers, were in attendance. They enjoyed an assortment of hors d’oeuvres from the buffet table, complimentary cocktails, and danced to music by DJ Dan Darlington. A portion of the delightful delicacies were kindly donated by Los Charritos and the event design was generously provided by Roy Braeger.

Executive Director, Glennda Testone took to the stage to thank the honored guests for their hard work, dedication and commitment to Center stating, “This event is a small token of appreciation, and couldn’t even begin to match our gratitude for the exceptional contributions Center volunteers make every day.” Exceptional is right. Center volunteers make great things happen. In 2011 volunteers donated over 13,500 hours of service to 142 events and raised well over $1 million to support the Center’s programs.

Who staffed the event, you may be wondering? I am happy to say that Center staff members, from every department, volunteered their time to make this event happen and happily gave their time back to those who give so often. Yojani Hernandez, Cultural Programs Officer at the Center, was among the staff turned volunteer that night. “It was really great to support the Volunteer Appreciation event,” she said.  “With all the events and projects that volunteers make possible at the Center it felt fantastic to give a little back. We all know that nothing happens at the Center without volunteer support.”

The room was filled with an array of folks from new volunteers to long time volunteers. Six notable such individuals have been volunteering their time at the Center ranging from 10 to 22 years. I was delighted to run into a volunteer who worked for me on NYC Pride events a number of years ago. He told me, “I love the Center. Even if I can’t give as much time as I used to, I still always give what I can. I think every little bit helps.” And he’s right. Whether you can provide an hour, a week, a month or 22 years, volunteers are the heart of the Center.

The next time you drop by the Center, look around you – no matter where you go or what time of day or night it may be, it’s guaranteed that you will run into someone who is unselfishly giving their time. Volunteers work recurring shifts every day of the week and support every department at the Center.

Following news today that California’s Prop 8 has been ruled unconstitutional, the Center issued this reaction:

The Center is thrilled to hear that loving committed same-sex couples in California are one step closer to having the same opportunity for marriage equality that we enjoy here in New York.

Our Center Families team works hard every day to support more than a thousand LGBT people a year in the tri-state area who use our services to build, grow and strengthen their families.

We send a heartfelt congratulations to all those who helped make today’s Prop 8 ruling a reality and send best wishes to all LGBT families in California as they move towards gaining equality under the law.

Learn more about our Center Families Program here, and like us on facebook here.

Breaking equality news from California today.  As reported by Metro Weekly’s Chris Geidner:

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit today affirmed the August 2010 decision by U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker that California’s 2008 amendment banning same-sex couples from marriage is unconstitutional, deciding the case on narrow grounds relating to the facts of the amendment’s impact, which the court notes was to “eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California..

The case, Perry v. Brown, was brought by the American Foundation for Equal Rights and featured a contrasting team of lawyers — the conservative Ted Olson and liberal David Boies — who waged a high-stakes trial in January 2010 and a high-profile public campaign to advance the cause of marriage equality.In today’s decision, Judge Stephen Reinhardt writes for the court:

“We consider whether that amendment violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. We conclude that it does.”

You can read more about this historic ruling in favor of full equality for same-sex couples by linking to The American Foundation for Equal Rights.  The Center congratulates all of the people who worked tirelessly to make this a reality and looks forward to further efforts to keep this ruling in place!

This blog is crosss posted with permission from It’s Conceivable

Guest Post By Diana Adams, Esq, Attorney and Mediator

Adams is a trusted Center partner and supporter of our Center Families Program.

Many families today seek artificial insemination from a sperm donor, including lesbian couples, single women, and heterosexual couples in which the male does not have viable sperm. Despite the availability of sperm banks, many women prefer to collaborate with a male friend. In this situation of ‘informal sperm donation’, a Sperm Donor Agreement is essential.

A Sperm Donor Agreement is a contract between the sperm donor and the person seeking to use that donor’s sperm for insemination purposes, without using a sperm bank as intermediary. The primary purpose of this document is to clearly identify that although the sperm donor is the biological father, he intends to sever all legal rights and responsibilities of fatherhood, including visitation access, all decisions about the child’s health, religion, schooling, or anything else, responsibilities for child support, and any other care or support of the child.

Swept up in the excitement of planning parenthood, potential parents and a potential donor may not speak in detail about their expectations of the donor’s role. As with a romance, people often rush past important stages of trust-building and negotiation. The discussion and reflection involved in crafting a well-meditated agreement will help prevent future misunderstandings and disappointments.

For instance, everyone must be in agreement about the role of the sperm donor in the child’s life, if any. A lesbian couple may choose a sperm donor who is a relative of the woman not intended to give birth, so that the child will be related by blood to both women. In other instances, a trusted friend may be invited to be a donor. In either case, it is likely that the donor and the child will come into contact, and it is in the best interest of the child that the donor and potential mother (or couple) come to agreement about the expected level of contact, if any. In some families, the donor may be treated like a special uncle, always present at birthday parties and family gatherings. The child may know from a young age that this man is his donor, and that they have a special connection. Other families choose for the child and donor to have little or no contact. There is not one right way to handle this issue, conflicting expectations lead to conflict.

What issues should be discussed between a potential sperm donor and birth parent?

I recommend that a potential sperm donor and potential birth mother or couple sit down and discuss the following:

• Do both sides agree that the sperm donor will never have financial responsibility of any kind?
• Do both sides agree that the sperm donor will relinquish all legal parenting rights, including decision-making about the welfare of the child, or formal visitation rights?
• Will the donor have a relationship with the child? If so, how often will the donor visit the child? (Occasionally is not specific enough. Once a week? Several times per year?)
• What will the child call the donor?
• When will the child be told that this person is his or her donor?

Since in some states, a Sperm Donor Agreement has tenuous or no legal standing, it is essential that both sides feel significant mutual trust.

Whether to prevent litigation or interpersonal strife, it is crucial to find a donor you are sure will not change his mind in the future, even if he ends up not having other children or if he disagrees with your parenting choices.

Similarly, a donor should be confident that the birth mother is emotionally stable and capable of parenting without financial or other assistance. If the potential donor is merely a friend of a friend you have only met a few times, it may be better to just use a sperm bank.

The process of insemination: Is a turkey baster enough?

A Sperm Donor Agreement will be most legally viable if a licensed physician is used in the insemination process. This may involve a several month waiting period in which the semen is ‘washed’ and tested by the medical facility, and then several months of insemination attempts during ovulation. Families often balk at the time and expense of this process, but if you have concerns about the legal status of the agreement, this effort may be very worthwhile. I recommend using a physician in New York State, or consulting with an LGBT family law attorney in your state for advice tailored to your situation.

Will a Sperm Donor Agreement be enforced in court?

This field of law is shifting with the increased acceptance of artificial insemination and alternate routes to parenting.

As of January 2012, Sperm Donor Agreements precluding the parental rights of sperm donors have been enforced in California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington, DC, particularly if done via a licensed physician and where there is no involvement in the child’s life by the donor. Keep in mind that these challenges were raised because one party to the agreement later tried to contradict the agreement in court, either with a sperm donor seeking visitation rights or a mother seeking child support (or the state seeking it for her if she is on public assistance). These challenges are very rare, but still cause anxiety and present a slight risk to those entering into Sperm Donor Agreements.

In New York courts, donor agreements have been enforced between a donor and married couple, in which case the couples is assumed to be the legal parents, including in same-sex marriages; in New York, donor agreements are also enforced when the partner of the woman being inseminated adopts the child in a second-parent adoption. In this case the legal rights of the donor are severed. I strongly recommend second-parent adoption for same-sex female couples; their marriage may not be accepted in other states as evidence of parental relationship to the child, but a second-parent adoption is strongly legally enforceable nationwide.

It is worthwhile to create a Sperm Donor Agreement even its enforceability is legally uncertain. The process of negotiating the agreement and memorializing shared intentions in writing agreement will make it very unlikely that the parties will later disagree and bring the matter before a court. In the unlikely event that you do go to court, even if the agreement is not binding in your state, the court may look to it for guidance in what you intended and often uses it as a factor in making its decision. Furthermore, we need strong Sperm Donor Agreements challenged in courts so that they may be ruled legally binding. If a strong agreement is presented in a New York court, we will have the chance to change New York state law to make Sperm Donor Agreements enforceable and help future parents protect their rights.

Diana Adams is an attorney mediator who assists families to create stable family agreements, including Sperm Donor Agreements, second-parent adoptions, marital contracts. Her practice is based in New York and often serves the LGBT community. www.dianaadamslaw.net

I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Brian C. Offutt as the Center’s new Board President. He replaces Mario J. Palumbo, Jr., who served in the role for the past two years.

Brian C. Offutt, Center Board President

Brian Offutt is the Senior Vice President of Creative Operations for Nickelodeon.  Except for two year stints in Boston and Los Angeles, he has been a resident of New York City since 1987. He previously served on New York City-based not-for-profit boards including The Visiting Nurse Service of NYC, The Kitchen and Urban Bush Women.  He received a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in history from Harvard University.

Brian joined the Center Board initially in 2003 serving until 2005, when his job required him to move to Los Angeles. He rejoined the Center Board in 2008, after his return to NYC.   In 2009, he served as the Co-Chair of the Executive Director Search Committee that identified and recruited me to serve as the Center’s Executive Director.  During 2010 and 2011, he served as the Center’s Treasurer and Finance & Audit Committee Chair.

Brian brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our board, as well as a sincere dedication to preserving and growing our life-changing programs and services.  I am extremely excited to work side by side with him to guide the Center’s vital work.

Brian joins fellow members of the Executive Committee including: Board Co-Chair’s, H. Gwen Marcus and Paul Gruber along with Board Treasurer, Tim Chow and At-Large Members, Tom Kirdahy and Jim Anderson.