On April 18 and 19, individuals from the Youth Pride Center ( YPC ) traveled to the State Capitol in Springfield in order to save their center—and got a new facility.
According to an e-mail sent from YPC on April 23, thanks to a foundation and an Illinois state representative, the youths secured a $500,000 plan to get a new center in 2010 on the South Side of Chicago, where most of the individuals reside. The identity of the representative will be revealed at an April 30 rally/press conference to be held at YPC at 7 p.m.
The e-mail also stated that YPC, currently located at 637 S. Dearborn, 'has become one of the largest agencies that dedicates 100 percent of its resources to LGBT youth of color in the Midwest.' Despite what the organization calls 'the smallest budget in the city,' the center routinely attracts about 100 youths each week.
As of April 1, the center also allows Chicago Queer Youth ( CQY ) to use the facility during the weekends.