A Benefit for Jerry Sloan sponsored by
Marghe Covino, Patrick Gaffney and Robert Saavedra.
Jerry has been a leading GLBT activist in Sacramento for over 30 years. At the end of August his healthcare client was hospitalized and Jerry has lost 60% of his income. Now age 74, because of his own health problems, he no longer feels he can do such work. Thus,there will be a Groundhog Day benefit at Faces on February 2, 2012 from 5:30 to 7:30. There will be a performances by Gayle Von with Jim “Fingers” Jordan at the piano and magician Richard Kowaleski.
If you cannot attend the benefit but would like to help Jerry you may send a check to him at:
Jerry Sloan
6521 Capital Circle
Sacramento, CA. 95828-1208
Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center Announces New Officers and Board Members
The Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center’s Board of Directors have elected new officers for 2012:
David Heitstuman, President
Rosanna Herber, Vice-President
Rob Wilcox, Secretary
Heitstuman joined the Center’s Board in October and was previously a member of the Center’s search committee for a new Executive Director. David is the Outreach and Event Services Manager for the office of the Speaker of the California State Assembly.
“I am honored to have been chosen as Board President for what promises to be a year of growth and robust activity for the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center. Our community owes a great debt of gratitude to Gail Mancarti for her years of service as the Center’s Board President. Gail led the Center through many challenging circumstances with a calm and steady hand. I am pleased to be continuing a tradition of service to the LGBT community and working with the entire board to develop a new strategic vision for the Center” said Heitstuman.
Rosanna Herber and Kim Tucker joined the Board of Directors in December.
Rosanna Herber is the Speakers Bureau Manager for SMUD. Most recently, she chaired the LGBTQ Redistricting Coalition that successfully lobbied to redraw political boundaries to create gay-friendly districts at both the City Council and County Board of Supervisors.
Kim Tucker is Vice President of Non-Profit Services for Sacramento based 3Fold Communications. From foster care to public radio, Kim has directed grassroots initiatives in 14 states.
“2012 is an incredible year of opportunity for the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center as it begins its 26th year of service to the LGBTQ community. Among our many activities we will unveil the first ever strategic plan for the Center which will set out a bold and ambitious road map for the future,” said Perkins Murphy who was hired as the Center’s Executive Director in October and started full-time in that position this week.
The Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center is the oldest and largest LGBT community Center in California’s Central Valley. The Center serves thousands of people in the community by providing space, diverse programming, advocacy, and awareness in an affirmative and safe environment. The Center produces the annual Sacramento Pride Festival and Parade and the annual Queer Prom. The Center administers the successful Lavender Angels program which provides help and assistance to the public on weekend evenings in the thriving LGBTQ community of Lavender Heights in Mid-Town Sacramento.
The Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center Board of Directors unanimously voted Thursday to hire Shara Perkins Murphy as the Center’s new Executive Director.
Murphy is a Sacramento native and currently works in the Speaker’s Office of Member Services for John A. Perez, the first openly gay leader of the Assembly.
“As a Black woman raised in Sacramento, I’ve seen our city and region change and diversify. The deed for my and my husband’s Tahoe Park home (built in the 1940′s) states that non-Whites cannot occupy the main house on the property. Yet, in 2002, this city was recognized as one of the most racially and ethnically integrated cities in the nation,” said Murphy.
“The Queer movement is making the same strides for equality and justice. And the Center is the place for LGBTQ people and their allies to assemble, centralize information and resources, find safety and services, and develop strategies for progressive change. Over the next few years, the Center will become an even greater catalyst for strengthening of community and social justice in our city and our region.”
The Center currenly provides programs and activities to serve the LGBTQ community including the Lavender Angels, Sacramento Pride festival, free legal consultation, HIV testing, and meeting space for a variety of peer support and education groups.
“Later this year, the Center will complete its strategic plan. Ms. Murphy will be the driving force behind new partnerships and diversifying fundraising efforts,” said Gail Mancarti, current President of the Board of Directors. “The Center is committed to growing and diversifying. We have recently brought expert professionals and passionate community members onto the Board, and continue to have numerous committed volunteers and staff. Collectively, we are working to expand our programs to be more responsive to your young queer people, seniors, and other segments of our community in between.
Murphy has a long history of experience in leadership, organizational management, community outreach and fundraising. In the 2010 election, she was the Northern California Field Director for the Assembly Democrats and was instrumental in helping Richard Pan (D) defeat the author of Proposition 8, in what was traditionally a Republican district. She has also managed campaigns with budgets in excess of $1 million for the Assembly and Congress.
Murphy will spend the next 60 days engaging the community, leading the Center’s strategic planning, working with the Board to grow and diversify fundraising efforts, enhancing current programs, planning new initiatives with community leaders, and integrating herself even more into our community. She will assume the role of Executive Director full-time on January 1, 2012.
“While welcoming Ms. Murphy, we must thank the Center’s Interim Executive Director, Sara Freid, for stepping up during a critical moment in the Center’s history and strengthening our operations and administration. Her leadership for the ‘Open Door’ program has allowed the Center to remain open and accessible to our community from noon to 9pm, Monday through Friday,” remarked Mancarti.
For more information and to find out how you can join the Center’s efforts, visit our website here, or stop by in-person.
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Center’s Strategic Planning Community Outreach Engages Over 350 People CLICK HERE