TCP updates: April 2023

Hi friends and supporters!

Are you loving this spring weather in Mid-Missouri? Aside from a few storms, so are we! As we look ahead to some exciting events in April, it’s fun to look back on all the great community building events from March. See below for all the latest.

Along with our regular programs and resources, here are a few fun things coming up this month …

• Saturday, April 8, 2-6 p.m.: TCP Spring Celebration — food, friends and fun!

• Sunday, April 9, 1-3 p.m.: Rainbow Family Alliance Easter Party and egg hunt

• Friday, April 14, 6-10 p.m.: Game Night / Open Hours

• Sunday, April 16, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Coffee with Queers brunch

• Sunday, April 23, all day: Earth Day at Peace Park

Hope to see you there! Thanks for your partnership and support!

Christi Kelly (she/her)
President, Board of Directors

(Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest on all things TCP!)

Phone Banking with PROMO

Transgender Missourians’ lives are under attack in Missouri like never before. Bills aiming to revoke access to gender-affirming healthcare, keep kids as young as kindergarten from playing team sports, and ban any mention of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools are progressing in the Missouri legislature.

TCP and our friends at PROMO co-hosted a phone bank at the community center on March 23, where volunteers reached out to allies and supporters across our state to ask them to contact their elected officials to VOTE NO on these bills.

It was a great opportunity for the community to come together and let our voices be heard! We had over 25 folks join in. Some had experience with TCP; others had experience with PROMO. But many were new faces to both!

To everyone who participated, new and familiar, thank you for spending your evening with us standing up for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Protest Signs Potluck

On March 27, volunteers made signs for the Protest for Trans Rights held at the Missouri State Capitol on March 29.

Our mission is to provide a safe, affirming space to learn, grow, build community, and access support and resources.

When legislators attack our community through legislation and hateful rhetoric, we stand up for each other and create those safe spaces to process, speak out, fight for our rights — and just be together.

Thanks to all the volunteers who came out to make signs … they looked amazing! We’re so proud of our community and everyone in it.

Supporting LGBTQIA+ Businesses

We were so excited to host our first networking event for LGBTQIA+ business owners on March 30! About 12 people from a variety of businesses attended this fun evening, and we look forward to hosting more! Watch the TCP Facebook for updates.

Did you know we also have business listings on our website? Visit the LGBTQIA Owned Directory Listing to find local queer-owned businesses and services or to add yours to the directory.

Another way we’re highlighting local queer businesses is through an interview series on Facebook Live, hosted by Board Member Camaron Nielsen. Our latest interview with a business owner was on March 31 with Anna from Pet Wellness Alliance.

Check it out on the TCP Facebook page under Videos, where you can find all our previous interviews and catch up on any you might have missed.

Pet Wellness Alliance Facebook Live (recording)

If you have a queer-owned business and would like to be featured, message us on Facebook or reach out to us at info@thecenterproject.org.

Volunteer Opportunities

We’re always looking for more volunteers, and right now we have several specific needs — please let us know if you’re interested!

Here are some of TCP’s current volunteer opportunities:

• Board Members: Join us in this exciting time of growth for TCP! To apply, fill out the board member application and email info@thecenterproject.org letting us know you’re interested. We are looking for board members who are:

  • Passionate about serving the LGBTQIA+ community

  • Interested in increasing outreach and services to underserved groups

  • Committed to building strong partnerships

  • Willing to learn and implement new ideas

  • Committed to accountability, transparency, and collaborative work

  • Dedicated to the long-term sustainability of TCP

  • Energized, engaged, and ready to help!

• Emergency Fund Advisory Committee: As we get closer to launching this resource, we’re putting together a committee to review applications as they come in. As this group should reflect the community, volunteers must identify as LGBTQIA+. We especially welcome Black, indigenous and other people of color; trans individuals; those in rural areas; and people with disabilities.

• Development Committee / Rainbow Ride planning: This group drives fundraising efforts and builds community connections, as well as the annual Rainbow Ride bike ride fundraiser. We’re working on some major projects and welcome any interested volunteers to help with planning, grant research, communicating with donors, brainstorming, planning small events, and anything/everything in between! No experience required.

• The Clothing Closet: We’re still in need of coordinators to oversee this important resource. This is a trans and nonbinary space, so we especially need trans volunteers for these roles. Coordinators help manage donations, volunteers and/or communications.

If you’re interested in volunteering but aren’t sure what you’d like to do, join us for a volunteer orientation to learn more about TCP and the opportunities currently available. To sign up, search for the “TCP Volunteer Group” on FB or email info@thecenterproject.org.

Ways to Support TCP

TCP volunteers with two representatives of Shelter Insurance (far right and far left), who presented a donation at the March board meeting. Thank you Shelter!

As a small, all-volunteer nonprofit, we depend on the support and generosity of individuals like you! Whether you’re interested in volunteering and/or want to contribute financially or through donations, there are lots of ways to contribute:

• Donate once or set up a recurring donation on TCP’s Paypal

• Venmo @thecenterproject

• Mail a check to The Center Project, PO Box 521, Columbia, MO 65205

If you’re interested in donating clothes to The Clothing Closet, email us at tcpclothingcloset@thecenterproject.org.

If you’d like to donate snacks for Prism or other supplies for the community center, email us at info@thecenterproject.org.

• We welcome individually wrapped snacks (like chips, cheese crackers, Goldfish, and granola bars), frozen snacks (pizza rolls, chicken nuggets), canned drinks, bottled water, and paper supplies (TP, paper towels).

• We also love art supplies (art paper, coloring books, markers, glue, washable paint, craft kits, etc) for our programs and family events.

Of course we’re also grateful for all our volunteers! Check out the volunteer section above for more details and current opportunities.

Remodel Progress

Plans for the garage renovation are moving along, and we expect construction will start this spring! This remodel will give us more usable space, including breakout or overflow space during larger events and room for the youth group to expand.

Huge thanks to all our CoMo Gives donors for helping fund this important project!

Note: With the community center coming along, we’re opening the space to other groups in the community who need a spacious, comfortable, welcoming place to meet or hold an event. If you’re interested in using the space or would like a tour, please email us at info@thecenterproject.org.

News Roundup

• The Rainbow Family Alliance is a social group for LGBTQIA+ parents and their kids. This group meets on the second Sunday of most months, with quarterly parents-only events. Our April meetup will be Sunday, April 9, from 1-3 p.m. for an Easter Party and egg hunt. Email christi.kelly@thecenterproject.org if you have questions or want to volunteer!

• Gender Blender is a community-led social / supportive space for transgender and non-binary adults (18+). A new series of events called “Breakfast at Walmart” features a hot breakfast at TCP, followed by shopping in pairs or groups. The breakfast event is offered on all first, second, and fourth Sundays at 10 a.m. Email blender@thecenterproject.org for details or to join and/or volunteer!

• Building Respect and Inclusion through Training and Education (BRITE) is our inclusivity training offered to any group, organization, or workplace that recognizes the importance of intentionally creating welcoming, safe, and supportive spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community. Our trainings are tailored to each group’s needs, and the information and conversation can range from introductory to advanced. If you’d like to sign up or have questions, email education@thecenterproject.org.

• Parents 4 Parents is a community for parents and adult family members of LGBTQIA+ identified people of all ages. They currently meet in person on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month. Reach out via the P4P Facebook page for details.

• Prism, our youth group for ages 11-18, continues to meet in person at TCP on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month. For more information, email prism@thecenterproject.org.

• The Clothing Closet has Open Hours on Fridays from 12-2:30 p.m. Donations can be dropped off anytime on Fridays before 3 p.m. If you’d like more info, want to set up a time to stop by, or you’re interested in volunteering, email us at tcpclothingcloset@thecenterproject.org.

• Our friends at Mid-Missouri PrideFest are working hard to plan this year’s September event! If you’re interested in volunteering with PrideFest, they meet on 4th Wednesdays from 6-8:30 p.m. @ TCP.

• The 2023 Rainbow Ride will be held at Peace Park in Columbia on Saturday, June 10! We’re excited to bring back this fun Pride month event and fundraiser for TCP. Fun bonus: We’re partnering with Mid-Missouri PrideFest, who will hold their Gayest Pet Contest and Youth Talent Show at the same location in the afternoon! Bike ride from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and entertainment until 3 p.m. Watch TCP Facebook for updates or email christi.kelly@thecenterproject.org to volunteer.

• Scout Troop 626 meets on the 2nd and 3rd Wednesday of every month at Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary in downtown Columbia. Contact Howard Hutton at 573-823-1868 if you have questions or would like to join.

• Check out the Trans-Affirming Healthcare Provider list for an updated list of local providers!

• Interested in learning more about our long-term goals and plans? The TCP 3-Year Strategic Plan is available online!

Our Mission

Our mission at The Center Project is to provide a safe, affirming space to learn, grow, build community, and access support and resources. Historically, our programming has focused on LGBTQIA+ youth, families, and people living in rural areas; as we grow and expand our services and impact, we are committed to equity, justice, inclusion, and representation in our programming and leadership.

TCP is an all-volunteer community center focused on serving the needs of LGBTQIA+ people in Columbia throughout Mid-Missouri. Located at 805 Fairview Ave. in Columbia’s beautiful First Ward, we are within walking distance of the bus line, downtown, The Loop, all 3 college campuses, and local food and shelter resources.