How sweet it is: The Center celebrates 16 years of Rainbow Alley

By Rex Fuller

The Center’s youth program, Rainbow Alley, started out in 1998 as a crisis pager that young LGBT people and their allies could call when they needed help. Volunteers worked to help teens in crisis find the resources they needed. The program grew over the years to serve more than 10,000 LGBT youth throughout Colorado, and today includes a drug-free and hate-free drop-in space, as well as programming that serves young people and their families.

Additionally, Rainbow Alley provides support services for youth dealing with bullying and acceptance at school and assists homeless and displaced youth who have been kicked out of their homes. It provides positive, youth-led activities such as social events, leadership training, and career exploration. Rainbow Alley also provides free HIV and STD testing, as well as practical and accurate information about sexuality tailored for LGBTQ youth.

“I am honored to become part of The Center,” says Nadine Bridges, who was recently appointed director of youth services and Rainbow Alley. “My passion is, and always will be, to understand youth, diversity, the world we live in, and how these factors affect each and every one of us. I am impressed by the support that Rainbow Alley offers LGBTQ youth and look forward to forming a collaboration with new community partners, building capacity, and advocating for and working with the youth we serve.”

Nadine previously worked at Denver Urban Scholars where she served as engagement manager and clinical case manager. She is a former Peace Corps volunteer, started her own mentoring program, and has taught Spanish. She comes to The Center from the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver where she works as an adjunct professor.

Host Chris Parente of Fox 31’s “Everyday Show” will serve as emcee for the Sweet 16 soiree where several organizations and individuals will be honored. Each year, Rainbow Alley hosts a holiday celebration for young people who may have nowhere else to go. For years, members of the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association have volunteered, helping serve the holiday dinner and making the event happen. The CGRA has also donated generously over the years to support the program. The Mile High Bullseye Dart League also has raised funds for Rainbow Alley through its tournaments in the community. Both organizations are being honored with a Community
Partner Award.

The Jay & Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Colorado is being honored with the Breaking Barriers Award for their outstanding support. The foundation has been deeply committed to LGBT equality ever since the passage of Colorado’s Amendment 2 in 1992. The foundation has provided vital funding to support Rainbow Alley’s growing staff and to develop programs.

Two alumni, Moises Muñoz and Lynette Schweimler, are being honored for their commitment to Rainbow Alley and for their work in the community. Linda Warren will be honored with the first annual Linda Warren Volunteer Award for her outstanding service to the youth of Rainbow Alley.

Guests at the event will have the chance to bid on several exciting auction items, including an amazing entertainment package that includes tickets to many of Denver’s hottest attractions and events, including box seats to “Kinky Boots,” the Cyndi Lauper musical playing at the Buell Theater, and the newly revamped version of “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.” A fabulous food and wine package will be up for auction, as well as a sparkling holiday-entertaining package and a frightful Halloween grab bag.

“We are very proud of all that Rainbow Alley has accomplished over the past 16 years,” says Debra Pollock, CEO of The Center. “I really hope the many community members who have donated their time and money over the years to make this vital resource possible will join us to celebrate the program and the youth of our community.”