GIVING BACK

PRIDE PAINTING AT CADENCE KITCHEN AND CO. COURTESY OF MAUREEN CLAFFY.

EDGQ PRIDE Accomplishes Goal

Youth Outlook Drop-In Center to open this Fall

BY MARY BLANCHARD AND REBECCA CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY MILES BOONE

Respect and tolerance are the keys to open-mindedness, but community education, support, and diversity are the building blocks of equity. In early 2017, a group of like-minded Downers Grove residents connected to consider how to do just that and support the LGBTQ+ community in Downers Grove and beyond - and EQuality Downers Grove (EQDG PRIDE) was formed. Their mission is to create an accepting and equitable environment for LGBTQ+ people through education, support, social action, and advocacy. They partner with allies to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community and envision a village where everyone is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

In June, for the first time in the village’s history, Downers Grove celebrated Pride month. EQDG PRIDE, local businesses, and Downers Grove Downtown Management Corporation worked together with local, professional artists who volunteered their time to paint Pride-themed windows in the downtown business district. Cadence, The Foxtail, and Pierce Tavern restaurants offered “Pride Picnics Baskets” that included great food and Pride literature with 100% of the proceeds benefiting EQDG PRIDE and Youth Outlook. Other businesses in town also offered special Pride products and promotions and donated a portion of their proceeds.

EQDG PRIDE has been working since early 2020 to fulfill its goal of bringing a Youth Outlook drop-in center to Downers Grove. Youth Outlook is a nonprofit organization and is the first social service agency in Illinois solely dedicated to the support of LGBTQ+ youth. Youth Outlook offers drop-in centers for youth, parent support, and community education in 6 counties in the Chicago suburbs.

After a year and a half of planning and fundraising, Youth Outlook dropin center will be opening this coming fall and will be located in the Downers Grove First United Methodist Church youth room. The center will host weekly meetings and provide a social setting for youth to meet other LGBTQ young people and their allies, ages 12 - 20. Youth Outlook creates a safe and comforting space for youth to discuss a variety of topics. Dedicated programming relating to healthy relationships, safer sex, and HIV/AIDS prevention is provided. In addition to a safe place to feel community support, this will be a place for LGBTQ+ youth and allies to have fun!

Volunteer training dates are scheduled for September. If you are interested in volunteering or want to learn more, please contact: eqdgpride@gmail.com and follow us on Facebook: EQDG Pride.

To donate to Youth Outlook, please go to https://youth-outlook.org/donate/. In the comments section, enter (in memory of, a tribute to, etc.) “for Downers Grove drop-in” to support this effort directly. ■