The Diversity Center Santa Cruz County

The Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County

HISTORY
The Diversity Center was founded in 1989 as the Santa Cruz Lesbian and Gay Community Center to advance the causes and priorities of the lesbian and gay community in Santa Cruz County. Over the years, the Center has grown in scope, budget, and staff, and now serves the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) community of Santa Cruz County. Since our merger in 2008 with Triangle Speakers, we are now the chief agency in the county promoting social justice, enhancing the health and well-being, and building a sense of community for LGBTQ people. Our five paid staff members work with nearly 500 volunteers to produce our community programs, as well as Pride Santa Cruz. We operate a welcoming community center with a lending library, cyber center, and many other resources. We are also the fiscal agent for several LGBTQ groups, giving them the benefits and protections of our non-profit status.

The Diversity Center is the only LGBTQ Community Center on the Central Coast of California, and while our services are directed at Santa Cruz County residents, we have people from all over Northern California — from San Francisco to San Luis Obispo — who benefit from our services and attend our events.

THE IMPACT OF OUR WORK

Each year, The Diversity Center reaches approximately 10,000 individuals, including those who attend our Pride celebration, as well as the 3,500 we serve directly through our onsite programs, outreach and education events, our work with school-based Gay/Straight Alliances, and our Triangle Speakers program. We fulfill our mission to enhance the lives and promote fairness for LGBTQ people by:

- Developing LGBTQ youth leaders in local middle and high schools, who help teach acceptance and promote positive LGBTQ messages to their peers

- Creating connections, building community, and reducing isolation among LGBTQ seniors, veterans, youth, and the Latino/a community

- Teaching acceptance and providing support for transgender individuals

- Educating the community at-large about key legislative issues that impact LGBTQ rights and equality

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

The Diversity Center works to build a diverse community, promote health and well-being, and advance social justice for the LGBTQ community in Santa Cruz County. We have programs for youth ages 12 – 18, veterans, the transgender and senior communities, as well as Triangle Speakers, our educational speakers bureau. The following outlines each of The Diversity Center’s key programs:

Triangle Speakers:
An LGBTQ educational speakers bureau that works to eliminate the fear, prejudice, and hatred of LGBTQ individuals and their allies.

Youth and Young Adult Programs:
A safe space for LGBTQ youth and their allies. Program activities build community, provide support and resources to Gay Straight Alliances at middle and high schools across the county, and promote youth development and leadership through three support groups each week, and community activities. Program activities take place at local schools, at the Diversity Center, and in the greater community.

60Plus Senior Program:
Includes monthly socials for seniors as well as education, training and outreach to mainstream senior service providers.

Conexiones:
The Conexiones program is committed to further expanding the Diversity Center's accessibility, inclusivity, and outreach to the LGBTQ Latina/o and Spanish speaking community and their allies.

Transgender Program:
A program providing access to resources and peer support groups for transgender people and their partners including 18 support groups each month and community activities.

LGBTQ Community Directory:
A community guide to LGBTQ–friendly businesses and resources in Santa Cruz County.

Administrative Support Program:
A support program extending the benefits and protections of our non-profit status to our affiliate programs, including the Queer Youth Task Force, LezCruz, Santa Cruz Pride, and the Radical Faeries.

Contact Information
Sharon Papo, LCSW, Executive Director
Phone - (831) 425-5422 x101