Center Notes

NEWS&

NOTES

LASTING IMAGE

The striking painting by openly gay renowned artist Roger Brown hanging prominently in the administrative building of the Anita May Rosenstein Campus is a gift from longtime Center donor and volunteer Leon Alexander.

A Sustaining Donor, Circle of Life member, and longtime volunteer for the Center’s Legal Services department, Alexander passed away in October just six weeks before his 96th birthday. “Leon stood out from other volunteer attorneys as being exceedingly practical, always focusing on what was possible,” recalled Roger Coggan, director of Legal Services. “Leon would listen carefully and give advice that not only empowered, but also provided a way forward for our Legal Services clients.” Center CEO Lorri L. Jean visited Alexander, whom she had known for 25 years, during his final months. “He shared the details of his generous estate gift to the Center, and it gave me a chance to thank him while he was alive,” Jean said. “Leon was an interesting, quirky, and complicated man until the end. He didn’t show much emotion, but he felt deeply. It was a privilege to know him.” Produced by a dozen of the Center’s senior clients who served in the military, the short film OurService,Our Stories explores the lives of LGBTQ veterans and has been screened at 10 major LGBTQ film festivals nationwide. The

veterans-turned-filmmakers learned filmmaking from award-winning filmmaker Andrew Putschoegl. A grant from the California Arts Council helped support the production. On Veterans Day the film became available for viewing online at no cost.

To watch, visit the Center’s YouTube channel @lalgbtcenter

VIRTUAL MODELS

Organized by the Center’s Youth Development program, this year’s Models of Pride—the world’s largest free conference for LGBTQ youth and their allies—was presented virtually over two days with workshops and presentations to help them build confidence and self-esteem and develop valuable life skills. With “FIERCE, FABULOUS, FREE” as this year’s theme, the conference began with an electrifying Opening Session and culminated with a special Entertainment Hour.

Learn and watch more from this year’s virtual event at modelsofpride.org

GRAB LIFE BY THE HANDLEBARS TO END AIDS

TogetheRide presented by AIDS/LifeCycle invites cyclists of all ages and abilities to raise critical funds and collectively pedal 1.2 million miles (representing the 1.2 million people in the U.S. living with HIV and AIDS). Riders ranging from longtime AIDS/LifeCycle participants to home exercise bike enthusiasts, road cyclists, mountain bikers, indoor cyclists, bike commuters, and even tricyclists have until June 2021 to fulfill the ambitious challenge at their own pace. Download the TogetheRide app to help track miles, earn fundraising badges, and more!

Register today at togetheride.org

WELCOME TO THE CENTER!

Ricardo DeLeon and Calen D.B. Ouellette joined the Center’s Senior Management Team as the new Chief Financial Officer and Chief Development Officer, respectively. DeLeon most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Ouellette came to the Center after 15 years of fundraising for the University of Southern California’s Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry.