Family Health Centers of San Diego’s Employment Support Project is hosting their fourth annual job and resource fair on Wednesday, May 25, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. at the Balboa Park War Memorial Building. The fair is open to the public, but has an emphasis on serving individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

“This is an opportunity for job seekers with HIV/AIDS to market their skills to some of San Diego’s best public and private companies,” said Jim Quigley, program coordinator for the Employment Support Project. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity and become part of San Diego’s workforce.”

Project staff members recommend applicants bring resumes and come prepared to interview.

Informative presentations from the Social Security Administration, the Department of Rehabilitation (Vocational) and the San Diego Community College District-Continuing education will focus on benefits and resources available to help individuals transition from disability to work.

Admission to the fair is free. Refreshments will be available and local businesses will host giveaways throughout the afternoon.

Call (619) 515-2449 for more information.

The Center’s Latino/a Services Program invites all community members to a town hall meeting to learn more about Latin Pride 2005. The meeting takes place from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, at El Centro Cultural de la Raza, located at 2125 Park Blvd.

“We need input and feedback on plans for the 2005 festival to ensure it is the most inclusive, diverse and fun event possible,” said Carolina Ramos, coordinator of the Latino/a Services Program at The Center. “We would like Latin Pride to represent the international Latin community by featuring a diverse array of arts, culture, food and music. We need community input to ensure the event’s success.”

The community meeting will be facilitated in English and Spanish by Alberto Cortès, executive director of Mama’s Kitchen. Cortès, along with Nicole Murray-Ramirez, Franko Guillen, Teresa Oyos and other leaders of the Latino/a community, will be present to hear comments, take suggestions and answer questions.

Information on volunteer and sponsorship opportunities will be available at the meeting as well.

The new Latino/a Services Program and its meeting and drop-in space is located at The Center. The program hosts the LGBT Latino/a Advisory Council, manages Latin Pride and offers support groups and social programming for LGBT Latino/a San Diegans in a safe, affirming environment.

Comprehensive Health Center and The Center’s Women’s Resource Center host the Women’s Wellness Fair from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, in The Center’s auditorium.

The fair features a healthy-cooking class, low or no-cost mammograms and a variety of workshops focusing on massage, natural skincare, yoga, stress relief and basic exercise techniques. A panel of experts will address women’s wellness issues, and a “Safer Sex in the City” presentation will outline everything lesbian, bisexual and transgender women, as well as female-to-male transgender men, ever wanted to know about safer sex.

Admission is free. Contact Claudia Lucero at (619) 692-2077 ext. 206 or clucero@thecentersd.org to sign up, or to obtain further information.

Renowned scholar and activist Gayle Rubin will be the featured speaker for UCSD’s annual Nicholas Papadopoulos Endowed Lecture in Lesbian and Gay Studies, to be held on Tuesday, May 24, at the Cross Cultural Center (reception at 4:00, talk at 5:00 p.m.). The title of Dr. Rubin’s talk is “State of Panic: Sex Panics and Their Dispossessed.”

The event is free and open to the public. It is co-sponsored by UCSD’s LGBT Resource Center and by UCSD’s Critical Gender Studies Program. For directions to UCSD’s Cross Cultural Center call (858) 534-9689. For even details, contact the UCSD LGBT Resource Center at (858) 822-3493.

The Center’s next Community Coalition Lunch takes place Friday, May 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in The Center’s auditorium.

This month’s topic will be on affordable housing, housing projects and The Center’s new youth housing project. Speakers include Matthew Doherty, Todd Gloria and Sue Reynolds, executive director of Community Housing Works.

Admission charge includes lunch catered by The Abbey Café, networking and an information session.

For the past two years, the meeting has been a monthly staple for members of San Diego’s GLBT leadership, politicians and candidates, and for organizations collaborating with The Center.

The Community Coalition Lunch takes place on the third Friday of every month. ASL interpretation will be provided upon request. Requests must be sent to AJ Davis at adavis@thecentersd.org at least seven working days before the event. Call (619) 692-2077 ext. 212 for more information.

San Diego Human Dignity Foundation’s annual fundraising gala, entitled “Springtime in Paradise” this year, kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, at Shelter Pointe Hotel & Marina. The fun-filled, tropical-themed event is expected to draw up to 500 revelers to dine on a four-course dinner and enjoy nonstop dance music and high-energy entertainment by Wayne Foster – a performance ensemble featuring world-class singers, dancers and musicians.

A silent and live auction will also be held. Auction items include two round-trip tickets on American Airlines, a one-week stay at a villa in Puerto Vallarta, a Jaguar convertible for the weekend, and a yacht cruise on the San Diego bay.

This year’s gala is dedicated to the memory of two San Diego Human Dignity Foundation past board members: John R. McCusker, Jr. and Richard Geyser.

Now in its ninth year, the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation funds programs and projects supporting the equal treatment, tolerance, wellness, well-being and – above all – human dignity of San Diego’s GLBT community. The foundation has raised almost one-half of its initial goal of $1 million to fund an endowment to help meet the long-term and future needs of San Diego’s GLBT community. Proceeds from the gala will fund approximately 50 percent of the foundation’s operating budget.

General admission is $150, and VIP tickets are $300. VIP admission includes a pre-event champagne reception with special entertainment. To buy tickets or for more information, call (619) 291-3383.

On Monday, May 23, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., The Center will host a community-wide forum on crystal methamphetamine.

Dr. Neva Chauppette will give a one-hour presentation, followed by 30 minutes for questions and answers. Chauppette is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Los Angeles who has extensive experience and expertise in developing services for substance users.

Sponsors for the community forum include: The Center, the San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council, Stepping Stone, Dignity San Diego, County of San Diego Public Health Services, UCSD LGBT Resource Center, Special Delivery San Diego, Front Runners, Mama’s Kitchen, AVER, Jewish Family Services, San Diego LGBT Pride, San Diego Democratic Club, PFLAG, Priority Pharmacy, Being Alive and The EDGE Research Project at UCSD.

For more information, call (619) 692-2077 ext. 212.