The Pride Community Center of North Central Florida (PCCNCF) is a safe space for the LGBTQ+ Community in North Central Florida.
We are an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization serving Alachua, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee and Union Counties with PRIDE!
The Pride Center has found a new home!
Dear Community Members,
The Board of Directors of the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida (PCCNCF) is happy to announce that the Pride Center has found our next home!
Why the move?
We had the great fortune of serving our community in our current space in Liberty Plaza rent-free for many years; however, in February, the owners of our building decided to sell the property to the group that owns the rest of the real estate in the plaza.
We gratefully accepted the new owner’s offer of a 60-day, rent-free grace period, then signed a new lease to continue using this space with rent payments beginning April 14. Although we had previously been responsible for maintenance, repairs, cleaning services, utilities, and property taxes, the current monthly rent greatly exceeds those facility expenses, so we knew renting here was not a viable long-term solution.
Where to?
After a thorough search, we determined the best option in terms of rent, accessibility, and meeting our community’s needs for both confidential and communal spaces was to move into a shared commercial space with other like-minded non-profit organizations.
This shared space is at 3850 NW 83rd Street, Suite 201 in the Springhill Professional Center, near Santa Fe College. Located on the second floor of the building, the suite is accessible by elevator and has ADA-compliant restrooms.
Within close proximity to a bus stop and just off the interstate, the new location is reachable for our members coming from Alachua, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee, and Union counties.
Who shares the space?
The primary leaseholder of the Springhill suite is Gainesville Community Counseling Center (GCCC), an LGBTQIA+ affirming nonprofit mental health agency with queer and allied providers, led by Executive Director Larry Green.
GCCC has been thoughtfully bringing other progressive organizations into the space, including our friends at Unspoken Treasure Society. Organizations interested in joining us are welcome to contact GCCC.
We are excited about the connection and collaboration that we envision taking place here!
How will it work?
The Pride Center will lease two office spaces in the suite – one for the Pride Center office, and the other to serve as a flex space, where community members can drop in and pick up information, stay and connect with others over coffee or board games, or use the space for something new and creative!
All the organizations in the suite will be able to reserve time for meetings and events in a sizable conference room (where our library will be housed) as well as a very large room that can be partitioned in two. The suite also has a small, shared breakroom where we will be able to store food and drinks for events.
What about GAAP?
The Gainesville Area AIDS Project (GAAP) is a vital program of the Pride Center, providing weekly lunches, personal hygiene products, and household supplies for our HIV/AIDS clients, who are often housing insecure and/or have limited transportation. While considering options for our new location, it was important to ensure that we could continue serving our GAAP clients well.
Although GAAP and PCCNCF leadership believed the Springhill location could meet clients’ needs, we found an even better option thanks to Beth Snarr, Lead Pastor at First United Methodist Church (FUMC). Located in downtown Gainesville (419 NE 1st Street), FUMC provides easy access for most of our clients. FUMC also offers ample space to store the program’s pantry items, personal hygiene products, and household supplies, and to prepare and host the weekly lunches.
While GAAP serves clients beyond the LGBTQIA+ community, we prioritize hosting all our programs and events in spaces that are inclusive. FUMC welcomes and affirms “those of every race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic condition, family structure, and mental or physical ability.”
FUMC also has a Community Outreach Ministry that works directly with individuals and families in crisis in the local community to provide assistance with needs such as gas cards, bus passes, eviction relief, utilities disconnection, and a variety of other needs. So, we believe there is a wonderful opportunity here for our GAAP clients to access even more resources!
When is the move?
We hope to move GAAP in mid-June and will work to minimize disruption of services. We will be moving the Pride Center in mid-July, so all meetings will be on hiatus for July, resuming in August.
How can I help?
We will have several work parties in June and July to pack, move, and unpack. Sign up here to volunteer!
In addition to reoccurring donations to help pay ongoing expenses such as rent, storage, and programming, it would also be helpful to receive larger one-time donations to cover moving expenses. Donate here!
We are excited to begin a new chapter of the Pride Center – and we can’t do it without YOU! Thank you!
Sincerely,
Tamára Perry-Lunardo
President
On behalf of the PCCNCF Board of Directors
Our Mission
The mission of the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida is to foster and enhance the well being and visibility of transgender, bisexual, lesbian, gay, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQ+) persons, and to promote public understanding and affirmation of people of all gender expressions and sexual orientations, inclusive of race, ethnic background, nationality, economic stability, spirituality, age, and ability. Recognizing the importance of intersectionality, we work with other marginalized groups for social justice. We are committed to providing education and resources in an open and supportive environment to eliminate prejudice and discrimination in our neighborhoods and community.
Hours
Hours: Mondays from 5 to 7 PM, Saturdays from 2 to 4 PM, and by appointment. (Masks are currently optional.)
Please email the Pride Center at pccncf@gainesvillepride.org to reserve space for your group or event.
Stay Informed!
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