Five years ago on June 1, Center on Halsted opened its doors to the public. The Center, which was founded in the 1970s as Gay Horizons, has grown to become a model for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community centers across the nation. The Center on Halsted will host its annual Human First gala May 12, featuring a performance by k.d. lang and The Siss Boom Bang. The event is in Harris Theater in Millennium Park and will be hosted by Bravo's Andy Cohen, host of "Watch What Happens Live."
In recognition of the 5-year anniversary, Windy City Times photographer Hal Baim took this photo of the staff.
Front row, from left:
Veronica Lozano, Health Educator; Jason Yamashita, Finance and Benefits Manager; Brian Richardson, Director, Public Affairs; Lewis Warrick, Director, Finance; Jim Klein, Chief Operating Officer; Julie Walther, Sr. Director, Programs; Barb Vicory, Chief Development Officer; Modesto Tico Valle, Chief Executive Officer; Maura Ross, Community and Cultural Program Coordinator; Britta Larson, Director of Senior Services; Brian Minka, Community Technology Center Director; Gayle Thompson, Community Technology Center Instructor; Philonise Keithley, Senior Services Coordinator; Lex Lawson, Homeless Youth Case Manager.
2nd row:
Jill Dispenza, Director HIV Services; Matthew Frahm, Health Educator; David Hunt, Graphic Designer; John Garver, Anti-Violence Project Therapist & Training Delivery Manager; Lisa Gilmore, Director of Education and Victim Advocacy; Anne Huffman, Manager, Anti-Violence Project; Kristine Chapman, Program Administration Intern; Kyle Kaufman, Culinary Arts Vocational Specialist; Megan Sieberg, Culinary Arts Vocational Specialist; Iu-Luen Jeng, Youth Program Clinician; Reri Barrett, Career Training Specialist; Rayna Moore, Youth Advocacy Manager; Kevin Strowder, Youth Program Public Ally.
3rd row:
Kimberly Fisher, Health Educator; Robert Mitchell, Health Educator; John Gerschutz, Operations Coordinator/Health Educator; Zack Freedman, Director, Operations and Rentals; Michael Chikko, Receptionist; Julian Romano, Receptionist; Leia Butler, Intern, Mental Health; Scott Harms Rose, Director, Mental Health & Clinical Training; Caleb Collins, Intern, Mental Health; David Klein, Director, Youth Leadership; Lynnea Karlic, Youth Program Vocational Manager.
4th row:
Kevin Nichols, Health Educator; Melvin Laureano, Health Educator; Sawyer Lahr, Receptionist; Juan Valle, Operations Coordinator; Vicky Stein, Grants Director; Kyle Hennings, Program Administration Intern; Lucas Swenink, Client Services Coordinator; Stacy Agosto, Intern, Mental Health; Nicole Lappin, Intern, Mental Health; Nathan "Precious" Davis, Youth Outreach Coordinator; Tim'm West, Manager, Youth Empowerment; James Mason, Health Educator.
5th row
Jorge Gonzalez, Health Educator; Patrick Gehrlich, Health Educator; Mark Petroelje, Health Educator; Ron Wittman, Director of Individual Giving and Corporate Partnerships; Michael Will, Manager, Development Services; Jacob Kosior, Director of Special Events and Volunteers; William Campbell, Project Manager; Ashley Molin, Intern, Mental Health; Rachel Gershenson-Gates, Post-Doctoral Fellow; Enrique Zaragoza, Intern, Mental Health; Candice Moran, Intern, Mental Health; Edwin Corbin-Gutierrez, Director, Youth Empowerment; Anthony Singleton, Health Educator.
For more information on the event and honorees, please visit www.centeronhalsted.org .
