MISSION & VISSION
Our Mission
The mission of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center is to further develop our vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in the greater Milwaukee area, thus improving the quality of life for all of us. The mission is supported by the Center’s leadership in community building, health promotion, advocacy, and communications.
Our Values
The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center believes in the goodness of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. As an organization, the Center seeks to foster community development and agency partnerships. The Center values leadership, both formal and informal, and it supports responsibility and accountability among individuals and organizations. To achieve its mission, the Center acknowledges the value of diversity and inclusion and of proactive and responsive communications. The Center understands that the LGBT community’s long-term quality of life requires the Center to prosper financially and develop organizationally to meet community needs.
Service Statement
The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center delivers educational, health promotion and community-building services that meet the needs of LGBT youth, adults and their allies in the Greater Milwaukee area from its primary facility and other sites. The Center programs are developed with a consideration of community need, diversity and inclusivity, community development, availability of resources and the Center’s mission and vision.
Confidentiality Statement
We have a commitment to protect its client’s rights and privacy. All employees — paid staff, non-paid staff, volunteers and those compensated by other sources are bound by law (Wisconsin State Mental Health Act, ss. 51.00) as well as the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center’s policy to protect the privacy of Center clients. In addition, professional persons are bound by their code of ethics to develop and exercise sound professional judgment in protecting client confidentiality. The Center’s policy dictates that client information is released only with the written consent of the client and/or legal guardian. The State Mental Health Act enumerates certain special circumstances in which the Center may release records to third parties without the client’s written consent (e.g., management and financial audits, research purposes, accreditation and/or approval surveys.) Third parties granted access to records for legitimate purposes are not excused from the obligation of confidentiality in regard to client information and will be expected to verify their intention to protect client privacy by their signature on the Center’s Confidentiality Statement form.
Community Member Stories
Whatever your age, whatever your interests, whatever your identity and orientation, there’s a place for you at the Center. The testimonies below prove that and we couldn’t be more proud.
“After I came out in high school, there were times when I was homeless. The people at Project Q helped me find housing and feel safe. Now I’m going to college because of the help from the staff and volunteers there who supported me.”
“As a gay senior, the Center is the perfect place to expand my network of friends. It’s also great to be at a place where we’re connecting with kids who are still sorting things out. I find it energizing and I think it’s good for the young people to interact with older folks who have struggled with the same issues many of them are experiencing…and then some…but have managed to build happy lives.”
“My coming out process happened relatively late in my life, and I was worried about how it would affect my family. Through the Center, I got to know other people in the same situation who had made successful transitions. Their support helped me tremendously. Today I’m at the Center because I want to help other people who are facing challenges.”
“When I was coming out, Project Q was a tremendous resource for me. Having a safe space and supportive community helped me overcome persona challenges and build confidence. The Center helped me become the person I am today.”
“What originally brought me to the Center was my need for a social and support group to help me and my then spouse to develop an understanding of my gender identity issues and work through our feelings…The Center provides a safe space to meet that is affordable to the transgender community, many of whom have underpaying jobs or none whatsoever. It also affords a place for other LGBT community groups that I work with such as Lesbian Alliance, Forges, and Women Out to Brunch, to meet and connect.”
“As someone who cares about LGBT people who need help, I think supporting the Center is essential. And besides that, the TGIF parties are a blast! They bring together a very diverse mix of LGBT professionals – people I would probably have never met otherwise who are now my friends. ”