HOMECOMING: Celebrating One Year in the Neighborhood and Twenty Years in the Community

On Saturday April 12, The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada (The Center) celebrates one year in the Robert L. Forbuss building in Downtown Las Vegas with an open house event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Called HOMECOMING, the celebration will feature an expo showcasing The Center’s ongoing programs, peer-led groups and community organizations; a children’s activity area; tours of the facility; raffle prizes; food trucks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; a State of The Center address from Chief Executive Officer Bob Elkins at 1 p.m.; a panel discussion with community members whose lives have been impacted by The Center at 1:30 p.m.; and more. Free HIV / STD testing will also be available throughout the day, and those who get tested will receive a special incentive. HOMECOMING is free and open to the public. HOMECOMING also commemorates the 20 years that The Center has been active in the Southern Nevada community. Opened on April 6, 2013, The Robert L. Forbuss building is 16,000 square feet on 1.1 acres of land on Maryland Parkway in Downtown Las Vegas. The building has helped The Center extend its outreach as the nonprofit reached nearly 18,000 more individuals in 2013 than in 2012. More specifically, group meeting attendees grew by nearly 3,000; community resource referrals increased by over 6,400; the number of people who utilized the Cyber Center more than doubled; and an additional 1,500 young people participated in youth programming. The contemporary space is energy efficient and includes an inviting 4,000-square foot courtyard with a basketball court, expansive library and cyber center, modern and comfortable furniture, delicious and affordable Bronze Café, multipurpose event hall and conference rooms, spacious youth room complete with a 75-inch 3D-capable television, pool table and computer area, and much more. About The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada: In 2014, The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada (The Center) celebrates 20 years as a community-based organization supporting and promoting activities directed at furthering the well-being, positive image, and human rights of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer community, its allies, and low to moderate income residents in Southern Nevada. In 2013, nearly 54,000 people utilized the programs and services of The Center; 82 groups, boards and organizations met at The Center; and the nonprofit distributed more than 123,000 HIV prevention materials, condoms and safer sex kits into the community.