The LGBTQ Resource Center is a place where everyone is welcome no matter your orientation, religious views, socioeconomic status, education level and race. The center provides a safe and comforting environment with cheerful, smiling greetings to everyone who walks through the door. The LGBTQ Resource Center is a place where you can meet new people, get actively involved on campus, become more knowledgeable about sexuality, activism and gender expressions as well as have the opportunity to participate in LGBTQ community events. The center is located in room C225, adjacent to Student Programs. This summer, the center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Fridays.
Ali Collucci, the coordinator for the LGBTQ Resource Center recently was rehired for the position after she exhibited leadership and determination to make the center a more involved place on campus. When asked about being rehired as coordinator, she said, “It’s amazing and really surreal. I get to do the best job in the world for another year. The center is like a baby. It needs love, nurturing, patience and money, but it’s a baby worth feeding and it’s my baby for another year.”
Collucci plans on making the center a more well-known place on campus by advertising and spreading the word about the activities that the center sponsors. Collucci and her leadership team want to create colorful and eye-catching pamphlets about the hours of the center, information about the resources that are given and a list of events planned for the year.
In order to spread the word about the LGBTQ Resource Center, Collucci encourages everyone to talk to their friends about the center and to take a few extra seconds to read the posters and pamphlets around campus.
During this summer quarter, the center is moving to a new room in Student Programs. The move is scheduled to be finalized by the end of this quarter. Members plan on ordering new furniture, computers and a smart board to make the new environment of the center welcoming and inviting to anyone that wishes to take advantage of the many resources that are provided.
There is going to be a grand re-opening of the center in the fall quarter with new members, new expectations, plans and events.
One idea that Collucci and others have been working on is the Spoken Word Movement. The Spoken Word Movement is going to be a branch of the LGBTQ Resource Center that allows people to express themselves in a written way and be heard with performances and group gatherings.
The goal is to educate people about spoken word and to teach writing techniques and abstract thoughts. Many students who want to take elective classes but can’t afford them, or don’t have enough room for those classes in their degree program, are able to have a free opportunity for help with writing, and personal growth. Eventually, the Spoken Word Movement might become a program at BC.
The LGBTQ Resource Center provides opportunities for involvement not only on campus, but also in the community. About 15 Bellevue College students, and active members of the LGBTQ Resource Center, participated in the 2012 Seattle Pride Parade on June 24.
According to Collucci, she and the other members received a lot of recognition from other schools and organizations about their pride and spirit during the parade. For next year’s Pride Parade, members want to represent the center and BC with a professionally made banner, even more cheerful and enthusiastic participants and more faculty involvement.
“Overall, it was a great turn out,” said Collucci. The center also plans on coordinating another prom for next spring because of this year’s success.