Ruth Ellis Center

The Ruth Ellis Center (REC) is a Detroit area social services agency that serves the needs of runaway, homeless and at-risk lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. REC is named in honor of the life and work of Ruth Ellis, who was one of Detroit's African-American lesbians known for her service to people in need.

Ruth Ellis Center
Founded1999
FocusRunaway, homeless and at-risk LGBT youth
Location
Area served
Southeast Michigan
ServicesDrop-in center, Street Outreach Program, transitional living, and emergency housing shelter
Key people
Mark Erwin, executive director[1][2]
Websitewww.ruthelliscenter.org
Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes has been a public supporter of Ruth Ellis Center since 2010

Wanda Sykes is an outspoken supporter of the organization after the staff sent her a letter asking her to visit during her 2010 tour's stop in Detroit.[3][4][5]

Programs

The Ruth Ellis Center operates five main programs including Youth Programs (Health, Equity, and Outreach-formally Drop-In; Center for Lesbian Queer Women & Girls or CLQ), Supportive Housing, Integrated Health Services, Community-Based Family Support Services, and the Ruth Ellis Institute.

History

A group of community activists - including John Allen, Kofi Adoma,[6] and Courtney Wilson - founded Ruth Ellis Center in 1999,[5] the same year Ruth Ellis was celebrating her 100th birthday. The founders chose to call the program the Ruth Ellis Center in recognition of all the youth Ellis had helped. In September 2000, a 101-year-old Ellis attended the grand opening of the center's first phase, a drop-in center for at-risk youth.[7]

In January 2022 it will open the 44,000-square-foot (4,100 m2) Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center, a center for LGBT people from 13 to 30, including housing and educational facilities. The price tag was $15 million.[8]

See also

References
  1. Welch, Sherri (June 18, 2013). "Ruth Ellis Center names new executive director". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  2. Proxmire, Crystal (June 27, 2013). "Fresh From California: Ruth Ellis Welcomes New Executive Director". Between the Lines. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  3. "Wanda Sykes visits Ruth Ellis Center". Between the Lines. July 8, 2010. Archived from the original on October 25, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  4. Mercer, Monica (September 2012). "Q&A: Wanda Sykes, Ruth Ellis Center Fundraiser Host". Hour Detroit.
  5. Broverman, Neal (October 4, 2012). "Detroit's Invaluable LGBT Youth Center Has a Friend in Wanda". The Advocate. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  6. Michael, Jason (February 17, 2005). "Kofi Adoma: Creating history one organization at a time". Between the Lines. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  7. Michael, Jason (February 3, 2005). "Ruth Ellis: A century worth of history". Between the Lines. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  8. Rahman, Nushrat (2020-11-21). "Ruth Ellis Center breaks ground on housing development and health clinic for LGBTQ youth". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
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