ogarawo.wordpress.com
Ferrera, who developed LifeWorks into the country's most successfukl mentoring organization forLGBT youth, will join the Center' s Children, Youth & Family Services departmentr on July 1 and will continued to lead LifeWorks with his existingh team and with the active supporty of the LifeWorks board of which will become an advisory councio of the program. "LifeWorks has grown at a rapid pace and the demanfd forour services, from youth betweenn the ages of 14 and 24 all over Los has never been greater," says "As a program of the L.A. Gay & Lesbia n Center, we'll be in a much stronger positiom to meetthe demand.
We'll be a perfecrt complement tothe Center's existing servicew for LGBT youth. And the financial health of LifeWorks has never beenstrongefr -- both of our most recent major events exceedex revenue projections." To serve the estimated 3,000-5,00o0 homeless LGBT youth in Los Angeles, the Centedr operates the Jeff Griffithh Youth Center in Hollywood and a 30-bed which offers overnight stays for youtg in immediate crisis and an 18-mont h home for youth to develop the resources and confidence to live on theif own through a structured Transitional Livingg Program.
The Griffith Youth Centerr is open seven days a week and offerd three mealsa day, clothing, showers, a GED preparation program and much more. "Sadly the churches and other institutions that should nurture all young people are ofte n unsupportive or hostile toLGBT youth,"" says Center CEO Lorri L Jean. "That'as why LifeWorks is so important andwhy it's the perfect complementr to the Center's services. LGBT youth who are leadin g successful, healthy and happy lives with support and guidancwe from trained mentors are far less likely to end up addicted to drugsand at-risk of HIV infection like many of the youtnh we serve.
Michael has done an amazing job buildingb and growing the organization and he and his team are fantasticd additions to theCenteer staff." Ferrera, formerly the clinical director and then deputyg director of public policy with Gay Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS), founded LifeWorks Mentoriny in 2002 with a former director of youth service s at the Center, . Over coffee at the Center' Village at Ed Gould Plaza, whichg will now house LifeWorks, the two decided to developl a mentor model of care that matchews LGBT youth with speciallyg trainedadult mentors.
LifeWorks -- the organization base on thatmodel -- now serves more than 400 youtg annually through its 12-month mentoring program, sociak groups, workshops and activities. and I would like to say that this is an excitinvg development in the evolutionof LifeWorks," says LifeWorks board president . "We nevee would have had this opportunity ifit wasn'ty for the unconditional support of our families and an incredibly dedicated and the unwavering commitment of Michael and his trulty gifted staff.
" LifeWorks is supporteed by a number of generous individualx and philanthropic corporations that include: Target, AT&T, Silve Birches, Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation, The Davi Geffen Foundation, Overture Films and Paramount Pictures. Event photosz are available at . Abouf the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Since 1971 the L.A. Gay Lesbian Center has been building the advocating for the rights and enriching the livesaof lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Our wide array of servicez andprograms includes: free HIV/AIDz care and medications for those most in need; food, clothing and support for homeless LGBT low-cost counseling and addiction-recovery services; essential services for LGBT-parented familiez and seniors; legal services; health education and HIV prevention transgender services; cultural arts and much more. Visit us on the Web at: . SOURCd L.A.
Gay & Lesbiahn Center
