The Grove Business Spotlight: The LGBT Center of St. Louis
Leon Braxton with the Grove CID
(Community Improvement District) president Brian Phillips
The LGBT Center (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) of St. Louis has recently relocated from the Central West End to the Forest Park Southeast/Grove neighborhood. The goal of The LGBT Center is to provide resources and support to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and allied community of The Gateway City and its surrounding areas through education, empowerment, outreach, and community building.
WUMCRC: Why did the LGBT Center choose to move to the Grove?
Leon Braxton: We were located in the CWE on the 4th Floor of a secured locked building. It was hard for people to get to because it wasn’t accessible or visible. We decided to move to the Grove because many LGBT organizations have already moved down this way and we have a great presence in the Grove. Also, I like it here and I don’t live too far away from the Grove.
W: How long has the LGBT Center been around?
L: We’ve been around since 1976 in various forms. Our current center opened in 2008, and was first located on Euclid until June 2011 when we moved here to the Grove.
W: What would you like the greater FPSE area to know about the LGBT center?
L: We would like the greater FPSE neighborhood to know that we welcome everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are gay, straight, transsexual, or bisexual. We also welcome families, and people with kids of all ages. The LGBT Center is very family friendly. We have a play area with coloring books and toys for the kids.
To find out more about The LGBT Center of St. Louis check out their webiste atwww.lgbtcenterstl.org or email Leon Braxton at: president@lgbtcenterstl.org.
WUMCRC: Why did the LGBT Center choose to move to the Grove?
Leon Braxton: We were located in the CWE on the 4th Floor of a secured locked building. It was hard for people to get to because it wasn’t accessible or visible. We decided to move to the Grove because many LGBT organizations have already moved down this way and we have a great presence in the Grove. Also, I like it here and I don’t live too far away from the Grove.
W: How long has the LGBT Center been around?
L: We’ve been around since 1976 in various forms. Our current center opened in 2008, and was first located on Euclid until June 2011 when we moved here to the Grove.
W: What would you like the greater FPSE area to know about the LGBT center?
L: We would like the greater FPSE neighborhood to know that we welcome everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are gay, straight, transsexual, or bisexual. We also welcome families, and people with kids of all ages. The LGBT Center is very family friendly. We have a play area with coloring books and toys for the kids.
To find out more about The LGBT Center of St. Louis check out their webiste atwww.lgbtcenterstl.org or email Leon Braxton at: president@lgbtcenterstl.org.
Braxton Named New Center E.D.
ST. LOUIS—The Board of Directors of The LGBT Center of St. Louis (The Center) has named Board president, Leon A. Braxton, Jr. its Executive Director effective Wednesday, Sept. 7th. Center co-vice president, Colin Lovett will move into the position of Board president effective immediately.
"Mr. Braxton has shown incredible leadership in our community and has played a key role in its advancement over the last several years,” said Lovett. “With the recent growth of the LGBT Center of St. Louis and the opportunities that lie before us, Leon is a perfect fit for the role of Executive Director. His proven track record of success in fund raising, event coordination and HR management, combined with his connectivity to the St. Louis LGBT community are sure to bring great success to the Center. The Board and I all look forward to working him—I have no doubt we'll soon see results of magnanimous proportions."
Braxton has been active in the St. Louis LGBT community for over 25-years raising countless dollars and having served on the Board of Directors of the St. Louis AIDS Foundation and as a master Guardian with Project Ark since 2004. He serves on the Boards of Pride St. Louis and SAGE Metro St. Louis; was a founding member of and still serves on the Board of St. Louis Effort for AIDS, and is the founder of the I CARE! Campaign. He brings with him a successful background in finance and is also known in entertainment and fundraising circles for his illusion of the incomparable Dieta Pepsi.
The Center was realized following the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s 2004 Creating Change Conference in St. Louis. After 3-years of planning and growing remotely, the third LGBT Center of St. Louis opened its doors in the Central West End (625 North Euclid Avenue #420) in July 2008.
In early 2011, the newly elected Board of Directors, at the request of the community, decided to move The Center to a larger, more prominent
location. The Center officially reopened at 4337 Manchester Ave. in The Grove neighborhood on July 17th, 2011.
LGBT Center of St. Louis Founder, Muriel “Blue” Jones vacated the position of Executive Director on June 1, 2011.
“I am both humbled and honored to be selected as the Executive Director of The Center,” said Braxton. “I will strive to represent not only the LGBT Center, but the LGBT community as a whole.”
The Board of The LGBT Center of St. Louis is comprised of Colin Lovett, President; Dara Strickland, Vice President; Rick Norlin, Treasurer; Colin Murphy, Secretary; Heidi Clark, Advisory Committee Coordinator; Scott Emanuel and Alderman Shane Cohn.
"Mr. Braxton has shown incredible leadership in our community and has played a key role in its advancement over the last several years,” said Lovett. “With the recent growth of the LGBT Center of St. Louis and the opportunities that lie before us, Leon is a perfect fit for the role of Executive Director. His proven track record of success in fund raising, event coordination and HR management, combined with his connectivity to the St. Louis LGBT community are sure to bring great success to the Center. The Board and I all look forward to working him—I have no doubt we'll soon see results of magnanimous proportions."
Braxton has been active in the St. Louis LGBT community for over 25-years raising countless dollars and having served on the Board of Directors of the St. Louis AIDS Foundation and as a master Guardian with Project Ark since 2004. He serves on the Boards of Pride St. Louis and SAGE Metro St. Louis; was a founding member of and still serves on the Board of St. Louis Effort for AIDS, and is the founder of the I CARE! Campaign. He brings with him a successful background in finance and is also known in entertainment and fundraising circles for his illusion of the incomparable Dieta Pepsi.
The Center was realized following the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s 2004 Creating Change Conference in St. Louis. After 3-years of planning and growing remotely, the third LGBT Center of St. Louis opened its doors in the Central West End (625 North Euclid Avenue #420) in July 2008.
In early 2011, the newly elected Board of Directors, at the request of the community, decided to move The Center to a larger, more prominent
location. The Center officially reopened at 4337 Manchester Ave. in The Grove neighborhood on July 17th, 2011.
LGBT Center of St. Louis Founder, Muriel “Blue” Jones vacated the position of Executive Director on June 1, 2011.
“I am both humbled and honored to be selected as the Executive Director of The Center,” said Braxton. “I will strive to represent not only the LGBT Center, but the LGBT community as a whole.”
The Board of The LGBT Center of St. Louis is comprised of Colin Lovett, President; Dara Strickland, Vice President; Rick Norlin, Treasurer; Colin Murphy, Secretary; Heidi Clark, Advisory Committee Coordinator; Scott Emanuel and Alderman Shane Cohn.
Check out the Grand Re-Opening
of the St. Louis LGBT Center
LGBT Center of St. Louis
It's bigger. It's better. And you're invited.
The LGBT Center of St. Louis has moved to new digs on Manchester Avenue in the Grove, and this Sunday is an open house. From 2 to 6 p.m., stop on by the new home of the community resource for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community -- straight allies heartily welcomed.
"We needed to make the center a little more accessible to our community and give them a little more visibility," says the center's board president Leon Braxton. (You may know Braxton for his beyond-fabulous alter ego, the magnificent Dieta Pepsi.) "A lot of people didn't even know we had a center."
The center's new home is really well-placed. It's at 4337 Manchester Avenue, which is in the same general area as a cluster of some of the city's finest LGBT bars and clubs, but far enough away from them that it's peaceful and not in the party zone. It's near restaurants and a family counseling center.
The move was fairly fast, Braxton says -- it took about two months. Their old lease was up, the new building was available, and the board took a leap of faith.
Braxton envisions the space as a gathering place, a space for performances like spoken-word or acoustic music, and a referral resource, as well as hosting community events and programs.
"It's going to be a safe zone, like if a student didn't want to go right home after school," Braxton says. "It'll be like a big community center."
Volunteer staffers will be in the center Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The hope is that more volunteers will step forward and the center can be open seven days a week.
There's a resource library with books, magazines and even albums on vinyl. People can call for referrals on everything from coming out to being new to the city and looking to socialize.
Braxton's particularly proud of an upcoming smoking cessation project run out of the center in partnership with the city health department and the University of Missouri. Tobacco companies, he says, target the LGBT population, which has higher smoking rates than the general population.
The center will also be partnering with the St. Louis LGBT History Project, which we profiled back in June. The center will help in the effort to collect and catalog artifacts from the LGBT history of the city.
"Just come by and check it out and let everybody know, not only is it for the LGBT community, it's for allies too!" says Braxton. "Straight people are welcome too."
BY: MELISSA MEINZER, RIVERFRONT TIMES
The LGBT Center of St. Louis has moved to new digs on Manchester Avenue in the Grove, and this Sunday is an open house. From 2 to 6 p.m., stop on by the new home of the community resource for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community -- straight allies heartily welcomed.
"We needed to make the center a little more accessible to our community and give them a little more visibility," says the center's board president Leon Braxton. (You may know Braxton for his beyond-fabulous alter ego, the magnificent Dieta Pepsi.) "A lot of people didn't even know we had a center."
The center's new home is really well-placed. It's at 4337 Manchester Avenue, which is in the same general area as a cluster of some of the city's finest LGBT bars and clubs, but far enough away from them that it's peaceful and not in the party zone. It's near restaurants and a family counseling center.
The move was fairly fast, Braxton says -- it took about two months. Their old lease was up, the new building was available, and the board took a leap of faith.
Braxton envisions the space as a gathering place, a space for performances like spoken-word or acoustic music, and a referral resource, as well as hosting community events and programs.
"It's going to be a safe zone, like if a student didn't want to go right home after school," Braxton says. "It'll be like a big community center."
Volunteer staffers will be in the center Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The hope is that more volunteers will step forward and the center can be open seven days a week.
There's a resource library with books, magazines and even albums on vinyl. People can call for referrals on everything from coming out to being new to the city and looking to socialize.
Braxton's particularly proud of an upcoming smoking cessation project run out of the center in partnership with the city health department and the University of Missouri. Tobacco companies, he says, target the LGBT population, which has higher smoking rates than the general population.
The center will also be partnering with the St. Louis LGBT History Project, which we profiled back in June. The center will help in the effort to collect and catalog artifacts from the LGBT history of the city.
"Just come by and check it out and let everybody know, not only is it for the LGBT community, it's for allies too!" says Braxton. "Straight people are welcome too."
BY: MELISSA MEINZER, RIVERFRONT TIMES
LGBT Center opens, seeks volunteers
LGBT Center of St. Louis Board
Supporters packed St. Louis' new lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community center on Sunday for the facility's grand opening at 4337 Manchester Ave. in the Grove.
The center is a gathering spot for the local LGBT community. It also provides meeting space for related nonprofit organizations, as well as a library and a computer lab. Volunteers are needed to staff the lab and work the main desk; a volunteer orientation will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at the center.
The new space is the fourth such center in St. Louis' LGBT history; the first was located on McPherson in the Central West End. Click here for more information.
BY: NANCY FOWLER, ST. LOUIS BEACON
The center is a gathering spot for the local LGBT community. It also provides meeting space for related nonprofit organizations, as well as a library and a computer lab. Volunteers are needed to staff the lab and work the main desk; a volunteer orientation will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at the center.
The new space is the fourth such center in St. Louis' LGBT history; the first was located on McPherson in the Central West End. Click here for more information.
BY: NANCY FOWLER, ST. LOUIS BEACON
New LGBT Center Opens in Grove
LGBT Center of St. Louis Opens
On July 17th members of the LGBT community, and their allies, came out to celebrate the Grand Re-Opening of the LGBT Center of St. Louis at 4337 Manchester. The Sunday soiree was an overwhelming success: drawing nearly 500 attendees throughout the day! This massive outpouring of support by (and for) the community was an exciting indication of what the future shall surely hold for the Center.
This is the third incarnation of the LGBT Center of St. Louis—and the progenitors of this organization have learned much from their previous endeavors. As they say, “The third time is the charm,” and this rendition of the Center is definitely charming. 4337 Manchester is not a slicked down, stoic, and sterile office space. Nor is it some beige and navy blue corporate sitting room. The new LGBT Center is set up in a refurbished, and re-purposed, home which lies in the heart of the Grove. The walls are painted with deep, warm, and earthy tones which imbue a solid and welcoming cohesion to each room in the house. Vivid reddish orange rooms glow gaily alongside soothing rooms of hardy forest green. The heavy wooden trim boards, sturdy hard-wood floors, and the over-all rich color pallet work together to create a stable, sincere and warmhearted environment. Elegantly framed photographs and posters selected from the St. Louis LGBT History Project hang all throughout the home to further enrich the experience of visitors.
The main room culminates at one end with a modest stage for performers of any sort. The floor space of this room contains homey leather couches and seats, which can be moved aside to accommodate large crowds during packed shows. This comfortable space will surely facilitate many intimate and enchanting performances by members of our community.
The upstairs rooms contain an expansive resource library of books, movies, recordings, and magazines which relate to LGBT issues, culture, and history. Visitors are encouraged curl up with a cup of coffee and read in any of the cozy nooks and crannies which permeate the house. A handful of these upstairs rooms also house computer stations, where one can surf the web, watch movies or listen to recordings from the library. One of these rooms is a child-friendly space, where parents can utilize the computer station, for work or leisure, while their youngsters play with blocks and toys.
The Center is now open 5 days a week (Wednesday thru Sunday 9a.m. til 9p.m.), and is staffed with caring volunteers from the community who are always willing to offer conversation, advice or help. The volunteers at the Center can also serve as a referral service: helping those in need get in touch with qualified professionals when the circumstances are dire.
The location, the ambiance, the voluminous resources, and the strong mission of all the dedicated individuals who are involved with the LGBT Center of St. Louis will without a doubt ensure its success. The Center will inevitably stand the test of time, and become a cornerstone of our community. I myself am very excited to spend time casually reading, relaxing, and meeting interesting people (and subsequently challenging them to Chess matches) in the new LGBT Center of St. Louis.
Visit their website: http://www.lgbtcenterstl.org
And like them on facebook!: http://www.facebook.com/lgbtcenterstl
BY: DERICK ALLISON, VITAL VOICE
This is the third incarnation of the LGBT Center of St. Louis—and the progenitors of this organization have learned much from their previous endeavors. As they say, “The third time is the charm,” and this rendition of the Center is definitely charming. 4337 Manchester is not a slicked down, stoic, and sterile office space. Nor is it some beige and navy blue corporate sitting room. The new LGBT Center is set up in a refurbished, and re-purposed, home which lies in the heart of the Grove. The walls are painted with deep, warm, and earthy tones which imbue a solid and welcoming cohesion to each room in the house. Vivid reddish orange rooms glow gaily alongside soothing rooms of hardy forest green. The heavy wooden trim boards, sturdy hard-wood floors, and the over-all rich color pallet work together to create a stable, sincere and warmhearted environment. Elegantly framed photographs and posters selected from the St. Louis LGBT History Project hang all throughout the home to further enrich the experience of visitors.
The main room culminates at one end with a modest stage for performers of any sort. The floor space of this room contains homey leather couches and seats, which can be moved aside to accommodate large crowds during packed shows. This comfortable space will surely facilitate many intimate and enchanting performances by members of our community.
The upstairs rooms contain an expansive resource library of books, movies, recordings, and magazines which relate to LGBT issues, culture, and history. Visitors are encouraged curl up with a cup of coffee and read in any of the cozy nooks and crannies which permeate the house. A handful of these upstairs rooms also house computer stations, where one can surf the web, watch movies or listen to recordings from the library. One of these rooms is a child-friendly space, where parents can utilize the computer station, for work or leisure, while their youngsters play with blocks and toys.
The Center is now open 5 days a week (Wednesday thru Sunday 9a.m. til 9p.m.), and is staffed with caring volunteers from the community who are always willing to offer conversation, advice or help. The volunteers at the Center can also serve as a referral service: helping those in need get in touch with qualified professionals when the circumstances are dire.
The location, the ambiance, the voluminous resources, and the strong mission of all the dedicated individuals who are involved with the LGBT Center of St. Louis will without a doubt ensure its success. The Center will inevitably stand the test of time, and become a cornerstone of our community. I myself am very excited to spend time casually reading, relaxing, and meeting interesting people (and subsequently challenging them to Chess matches) in the new LGBT Center of St. Louis.
Visit their website: http://www.lgbtcenterstl.org
And like them on facebook!: http://www.facebook.com/lgbtcenterstl
BY: DERICK ALLISON, VITAL VOICE
Shane Cohn Joins LGBT Center of St. Louis Board
Shane Cohn
ST. LOUIS – The LGBT Center of St. Louis announced, May 27 the addition of St. Louis Alderman Shane Cohn to its Board of Directors.
Cohn was elected in 2009 and represents the city's 25th ward. He is the city's first openly gay elected official.
"I am very pleased and honored to have such a wonderful public figure on the Board of The LGBT Center of St. Louis," said Center Board President, Leon Braxton. "Alderman Cohn's addition to our board only makes our community Center stronger."
In May 2010 Cohn sponsored and won unanimous approval of a bill to add "gender identity" to the list of characteristics protected by municipal law against discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and employment.
"As we continue to journey toward equal rights, I'm happy to join the Board of this organization which is striving to provide much needed resources to the St. Louis LGBT community," said Cohn.
The LGBT Center of St. Louis was realized following the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s 2004 Creating Change Conference in St. Louis. Last month The Center was temporarily shuttered to prepare for its move to 4337 Manchester Avenue in the heart of The Grove neighborhood. The Center will reopen in June before PrideFest.
Cohn will join LGBT Center of St. Louis Board members Leon Braxton, Dara Strickland, Colin Lovett, Rick Norlin, Colin Murphy, Heidi Clark, Scott Emanuel, and Cindy Walker.
-VITAL VOICE
Cohn was elected in 2009 and represents the city's 25th ward. He is the city's first openly gay elected official.
"I am very pleased and honored to have such a wonderful public figure on the Board of The LGBT Center of St. Louis," said Center Board President, Leon Braxton. "Alderman Cohn's addition to our board only makes our community Center stronger."
In May 2010 Cohn sponsored and won unanimous approval of a bill to add "gender identity" to the list of characteristics protected by municipal law against discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and employment.
"As we continue to journey toward equal rights, I'm happy to join the Board of this organization which is striving to provide much needed resources to the St. Louis LGBT community," said Cohn.
The LGBT Center of St. Louis was realized following the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s 2004 Creating Change Conference in St. Louis. Last month The Center was temporarily shuttered to prepare for its move to 4337 Manchester Avenue in the heart of The Grove neighborhood. The Center will reopen in June before PrideFest.
Cohn will join LGBT Center of St. Louis Board members Leon Braxton, Dara Strickland, Colin Lovett, Rick Norlin, Colin Murphy, Heidi Clark, Scott Emanuel, and Cindy Walker.
-VITAL VOICE
Changes Happening at Center
ST. LOUIS – The Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender Community Center of Metropolitan St. Louisannounced, April 15 that LGBT Center of St. Louis Founder, Muriel “Blue” Jones will vacate the position of Executive Director on June 1, 2011. The LGBT Center of St. Louis Board will step in to assume all Executive Director duties and has subsequently formed an E.D. Search Committee.
"We are sad to see Blue leave her position as Executive Director of The Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender Community Center of Metropolitan St. Louis,” said Leon Braxton, LGBT Center of St. Louis Board President. “She has done an amazing job taking The Center from a virtual community center to its current physical location. The St. Louis LGBT community owes her a huge "thank you" for her 6-years of undying service and dedication. She will be greatly missed.”
The LGBT Center of St. Louis Board also voted on April 13 not to renew the lease at the community center’s current location (625 N. Euclid Ave., Ste. 420). The Board will shutter the offices throughout the month of May to prepare for a move to a larger, more accessible location. A Manchester property in The Grove is under consideration.
“The Board felt that it was time for a change,” explained Braxton. “Hopefully by moving to a Manchester location The Center will become more visible, viable and accessible to our community. We truly want our community—both young and old—to think of The LGBT Center of St. Louis as “A Place to Call Home.””
The LGBT Center of St. Louis Board hopes to move into its new location to kick off LGBT Pride month, June 1.
The Board of the Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender Community Center of Metropolitan St. Louis is comprised ofLeon Braxton, President; Colin Lovett, Vice President; Dara Strickland, Vice President; Rick Norlin, Treasurer; Colin Murphy, Secretary; Heidi Clark, Advisory Committee Coordinator; Scott Emanuel andCindy Walker.
-VITAL VOICE
"We are sad to see Blue leave her position as Executive Director of The Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender Community Center of Metropolitan St. Louis,” said Leon Braxton, LGBT Center of St. Louis Board President. “She has done an amazing job taking The Center from a virtual community center to its current physical location. The St. Louis LGBT community owes her a huge "thank you" for her 6-years of undying service and dedication. She will be greatly missed.”
The LGBT Center of St. Louis Board also voted on April 13 not to renew the lease at the community center’s current location (625 N. Euclid Ave., Ste. 420). The Board will shutter the offices throughout the month of May to prepare for a move to a larger, more accessible location. A Manchester property in The Grove is under consideration.
“The Board felt that it was time for a change,” explained Braxton. “Hopefully by moving to a Manchester location The Center will become more visible, viable and accessible to our community. We truly want our community—both young and old—to think of The LGBT Center of St. Louis as “A Place to Call Home.””
The LGBT Center of St. Louis Board hopes to move into its new location to kick off LGBT Pride month, June 1.
The Board of the Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender Community Center of Metropolitan St. Louis is comprised ofLeon Braxton, President; Colin Lovett, Vice President; Dara Strickland, Vice President; Rick Norlin, Treasurer; Colin Murphy, Secretary; Heidi Clark, Advisory Committee Coordinator; Scott Emanuel andCindy Walker.
-VITAL VOICE
LGBT Center of St. Louis Announces New Board of Directors
ST. LOUIS - The Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender Community Center of Metropolitan St. Louis has announced its new Board of Directors, appointed to revitalize its plan to grow and develop into the nucleus of LGBT organizations in St. Louis. Through service, outreach, and education, the goal of The Center is to become the heart beat of the community.
The new Board of Directors offers The Center additional expertise as it executes its business plan. The Board of Directors includes:
Leon A. Braxton – President: Leon has been active in the St. Louis LGBT community for over 25-years raising countless dollars and having served on the Board of Directors of the St. Louis AIDS Foundation and as a master Guardian with Project Ark since 2004. In addition to the Center, he serves on the Boards ofPride St. Louis and SAGE Metro St. Louis, was a founding member of and still serves on the Board of St. Louis Effort for Aids, and is the founder of the I CARE! Campaign. Leon is a successful Mortgage Broker by day but is best known for his illusion of the incomparable Dieta Pepsi. Dieta can be found on drag and theatrical stages across St. Louis or at the Vital VOICE where she entertains audiences across the globe with her on-air antics as the On-Air Hostess.
Colin Lovett – Vice President: Colin is a teacher, entrepreneur, activist, writer and salesman. Actively involved in uniting the St. Louis LGBT Community, he serves on the board of directors for Pride St. Louis, writes for the Vital VOICE, and uses almost all of his free time trying to make a difference for oppressed members of society. Teaching youth with developmental disabilities during the day, Colin also co-owns a school of self defense for adults with developmental disabilities. He was recently selected by the Regional Arts Council as a 2011 Community Arts Training Fellow, where he will further his training in community empowerment. Addicted to Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and the Romantics, Colin plays double bass with the St. Louis Civic Orchestra, of which he used to serve as the President of the Board.
Dara Strickland – Vice President: Dara is a partner at Strickland Jansen, PC, a law firm dedicated to offering sterling representation to families in the St. Louis area for their family law and estate planning needs. She graduated from Washington University School of Law in 2007 and opened the firm in 2010 with one idea: family law is for every family. Through her professional work, public speaking, media appearances and now serving proudly on the board of the LGBT Community Center, Dara hopes to make the law a shield for the community, not the barrier it is often perceived to be.
Colin Murphy – Secretary: Celebrating 20-years in LGBT media, Colin Murphy is Senior Writer and Web Editor for the Vital VOICE. He has written for numerous community publications since 1991 and his op-ed, “1 Out of 10 Ain’t Bad!” is one of the longest running columns in St. Louis. An avid gay history buff, Colin is a member of the St. Louis Gay History Project and has collaborated with the LGBT Archives at UMSL. He is a member of the Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and Vital VOICE Advisory Board. Colin is a former Vice President of The Late Knights of Pythias and currently serves as Secretary of the Pride St. Louis Scholarship Committee and as Vice President of Metro East Pride. In 2010 he was honored as a St. Louis Pride Parade Grand Marshal and is the recipient of the 2010 Missouri Award.
Richard Norlin – Treasurer: After receiving a bachelors degree in Zoology, Rick earned his Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine from Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in 1979 and has been practicing foot and ankle orthopedics ever since. In addition to serving as active podiatric staff at Des Peres and Forest Park Hospitals, Rick practices privately at Crestwood Foot Care Center. Naturally being quick with his feet, Rick is an avid tennis player and distance runner, competing in marathons such as the Chicago Marathon and the world famous Bix 7.
Heidi Clark – Advisory Board Chair: Heidi is the Director of Consulting, a writer, trainer, and editor for Leader Resources, a national Episcopal publishing company. In 1997 she co-founded Oasis Missouri, the LGBT welcoming program in the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, and was the Diocesan Staff Officer for LGBT Ministries. Heidi is on the National Task Force in the Episcopal Church seeking to provide resources for "same-gender rites of blessing" for the church. Heidi is married to Mike Clark. They have a son in 5th grade, and live in Kirkwood with their three cats - Storm, Trooper and Chewbacca.
Scott Emanuel – Scott has been an active community organizer in the St. Louis LGBT community for the last twenty years. He is the Lead Adviser for Growing American Youth, a social support organization for LGBTQ youth in the St. Louis area. Scott is the Development Associate at the ACLU of Eastern Missouri. He and his husband, Ed Reggi, organize the Show Me Marriage Equality Bus taking same-sex couples to Iowa to be legally married. Their bus efforts are documented in the short film, Heartland Transport, currently playing in festivals across the country as well as on The Documentary Channel.
Cindy Walker - Cindy is a St. Louis native and a founding member of QFest.
About the LGBT Center of Metropolitan St. Louis
After The National Lesbian and Gay Task Force held their annual Creating Change Conference in St. Louis in 2004, the Creating Change St. Louis Host Committee and the St. Louis LGBT community met and determined one of its largest needs was a community center. Thus, in 2006, paperwork was filed for a 501c3 and a virtual center was established. Two years later, the Center was opened at 625 N. Euclid Avenue (Suite 420) in the Central West End.
The mission of The Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender Community Center of Metropolitan St. Louis is to provide service to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and ally community of St. Louis and its surrounding areas through education, outreach, healthy living and community building.
"I am honored to be President of the Board of the LGBT Center of Metropolitan St. Louis,” said Braxton. “We as a board have some new and exciting ideas to enhance the visibility of the center and make it accessible to everyone. We want the entire community to think of the center as "A Place To Call Home."
-VITAL VOICE
The new Board of Directors offers The Center additional expertise as it executes its business plan. The Board of Directors includes:
Leon A. Braxton – President: Leon has been active in the St. Louis LGBT community for over 25-years raising countless dollars and having served on the Board of Directors of the St. Louis AIDS Foundation and as a master Guardian with Project Ark since 2004. In addition to the Center, he serves on the Boards ofPride St. Louis and SAGE Metro St. Louis, was a founding member of and still serves on the Board of St. Louis Effort for Aids, and is the founder of the I CARE! Campaign. Leon is a successful Mortgage Broker by day but is best known for his illusion of the incomparable Dieta Pepsi. Dieta can be found on drag and theatrical stages across St. Louis or at the Vital VOICE where she entertains audiences across the globe with her on-air antics as the On-Air Hostess.
Colin Lovett – Vice President: Colin is a teacher, entrepreneur, activist, writer and salesman. Actively involved in uniting the St. Louis LGBT Community, he serves on the board of directors for Pride St. Louis, writes for the Vital VOICE, and uses almost all of his free time trying to make a difference for oppressed members of society. Teaching youth with developmental disabilities during the day, Colin also co-owns a school of self defense for adults with developmental disabilities. He was recently selected by the Regional Arts Council as a 2011 Community Arts Training Fellow, where he will further his training in community empowerment. Addicted to Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and the Romantics, Colin plays double bass with the St. Louis Civic Orchestra, of which he used to serve as the President of the Board.
Dara Strickland – Vice President: Dara is a partner at Strickland Jansen, PC, a law firm dedicated to offering sterling representation to families in the St. Louis area for their family law and estate planning needs. She graduated from Washington University School of Law in 2007 and opened the firm in 2010 with one idea: family law is for every family. Through her professional work, public speaking, media appearances and now serving proudly on the board of the LGBT Community Center, Dara hopes to make the law a shield for the community, not the barrier it is often perceived to be.
Colin Murphy – Secretary: Celebrating 20-years in LGBT media, Colin Murphy is Senior Writer and Web Editor for the Vital VOICE. He has written for numerous community publications since 1991 and his op-ed, “1 Out of 10 Ain’t Bad!” is one of the longest running columns in St. Louis. An avid gay history buff, Colin is a member of the St. Louis Gay History Project and has collaborated with the LGBT Archives at UMSL. He is a member of the Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and Vital VOICE Advisory Board. Colin is a former Vice President of The Late Knights of Pythias and currently serves as Secretary of the Pride St. Louis Scholarship Committee and as Vice President of Metro East Pride. In 2010 he was honored as a St. Louis Pride Parade Grand Marshal and is the recipient of the 2010 Missouri Award.
Richard Norlin – Treasurer: After receiving a bachelors degree in Zoology, Rick earned his Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine from Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in 1979 and has been practicing foot and ankle orthopedics ever since. In addition to serving as active podiatric staff at Des Peres and Forest Park Hospitals, Rick practices privately at Crestwood Foot Care Center. Naturally being quick with his feet, Rick is an avid tennis player and distance runner, competing in marathons such as the Chicago Marathon and the world famous Bix 7.
Heidi Clark – Advisory Board Chair: Heidi is the Director of Consulting, a writer, trainer, and editor for Leader Resources, a national Episcopal publishing company. In 1997 she co-founded Oasis Missouri, the LGBT welcoming program in the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, and was the Diocesan Staff Officer for LGBT Ministries. Heidi is on the National Task Force in the Episcopal Church seeking to provide resources for "same-gender rites of blessing" for the church. Heidi is married to Mike Clark. They have a son in 5th grade, and live in Kirkwood with their three cats - Storm, Trooper and Chewbacca.
Scott Emanuel – Scott has been an active community organizer in the St. Louis LGBT community for the last twenty years. He is the Lead Adviser for Growing American Youth, a social support organization for LGBTQ youth in the St. Louis area. Scott is the Development Associate at the ACLU of Eastern Missouri. He and his husband, Ed Reggi, organize the Show Me Marriage Equality Bus taking same-sex couples to Iowa to be legally married. Their bus efforts are documented in the short film, Heartland Transport, currently playing in festivals across the country as well as on The Documentary Channel.
Cindy Walker - Cindy is a St. Louis native and a founding member of QFest.
About the LGBT Center of Metropolitan St. Louis
After The National Lesbian and Gay Task Force held their annual Creating Change Conference in St. Louis in 2004, the Creating Change St. Louis Host Committee and the St. Louis LGBT community met and determined one of its largest needs was a community center. Thus, in 2006, paperwork was filed for a 501c3 and a virtual center was established. Two years later, the Center was opened at 625 N. Euclid Avenue (Suite 420) in the Central West End.
The mission of The Lesbian Gay Bi Transgender Community Center of Metropolitan St. Louis is to provide service to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and ally community of St. Louis and its surrounding areas through education, outreach, healthy living and community building.
"I am honored to be President of the Board of the LGBT Center of Metropolitan St. Louis,” said Braxton. “We as a board have some new and exciting ideas to enhance the visibility of the center and make it accessible to everyone. We want the entire community to think of the center as "A Place To Call Home."
-VITAL VOICE
