| The summer of 2006 saw a
number of transitions in The LOFT’s staff. In May 2006, Tanisha Simpson
was added to the payroll, filling the position of part-time Program
Director for Silver Connections, The LOFT’s program for LGBT people 55
and over. The position, which had been vacant since the last quarter of
2005, is a part-time (14 hours a week) position funded by a grant from
the Westchester County Dept. of Senior Programs and Services. Tanisha
joins Scott Havelka on the Silver Connections program. Scott’s position
of full-time Program Director for Silver Connections is funded by a
grant from the New York State Dept. of Health.
LOFT Staff, August 2006 (left to right):
Tanisha Simpson, Nic Calabro, Diana Wilkins, Yvette
Christofilis, Scott Havelka |
|
Joining the staff in August
2006 was Diana Wilkins. Diana is the incoming Regional Field Organizer
for The LOFT’s Freedom to Marry Project. This project seeks marriage
equality for same-sex couples in New York State, and having a full-time
Field Organizer on staff, places The LOFT at the forefront of the
movement for marriage equality in the state. The full-time Regional
Field Organizer position is funded by a grant from the Empire State
Pride Agenda Foundation.Diana takes the place of Nic Calabro, the
outgoing Regional Field Organizer, who began the project and built the
marriage equality program at The LOFT. Nic, a Master’s candidate, left
the full-time position to pursue a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW).
With four staff members—three full-time and one part
time—The LOFT is certainly moving into the twenty-first century in a
strong position. But The LOFT is still very much volunteer-driven.
Without volunteers, The LOFT’s many programs and services could not even
exist, let alone be as successful as they are.
The staff of The LOFT would like to take this
opportunity to thank the many dedicated volunteers who work hard to make
sure that the LGBT community center of the lower Hudson Valley is strong
and vital, ready to advocate for the rights of LGBT people—for marriage
equality, the end of discrimination, and full acceptance wherever
possible. The volunteers assure that The LOFT will be here not only for
those who need it today, but for those who will need it tomorrow.
|
