This Friday, July 18, and the third Friday of every month thereafter, The Center will begin hosting the LGBT Community Coalition Breakfast, which seeks to bring various diverse communities — including the GLBT community — together to dialogue.

“The Center strives to provide a variety of opportunities for education and discussion within the LGBT and allied communities,” AJ Davis-Defeo of The Center’s public policy department told the Gay and Lesbian Times. “We are very excited about partnering with Councilmember Atkins and the District Three staff to provide this important community forum.”

Monthly community meetings are not a new concept. For years The Catfish Club has provided a forum for the African-American community and the Latino Community Coalition has brought members of that community together.

“We’re honored to be hosting the Community Coalition Breakfast with Councilmember Toni Atkins,” said Dr. Delores Jacobs, executive director of The Center. “The topic of the first breakfast is especially important to The Center as we continue our collaborative efforts to engage both mainstream populations as well as historically underserved groups.”

Nicole Murray-Ramirez conceived the idea for a monthly GLBT community breakfast after speaking before the Catfish Club in February, and he will offer a brief historical perspective on the importance of bringing the community together and building coalitions at this first breakfast.

“The Community Coalition Breakfast is designed to bring about a casual but substantive exchange of ideas among a diverse range of community members who seek to improve the lives of all San Diegans,” said Councilmember Atkins. “So much can be accomplished by simply coming together on a monthly basis to discuss issues that concern both the LGBT community and those with whom collaboration is the next natural step in our fight for equality and fairness.”

The breakfast meetings will include discussions and guest speakers that will address issues important to our community, such as youth, leadership development, forming collaborative relationships, seniors, health care and diversity.

“These monthly breakfasts are a great opportunity for community members to network, hear about upcoming events and discuss topics important to the LGBT and allied communities,” Davis-DeFeo concluded.

The first LGBT Community Coalition Breakfast starts promptly at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, July 18, and every third Friday of the month thereafter. Cost is $6 per person and includes breakfast, panel presentation, a question and answer period and open networking. The breakfast will be held in the auditorium of The Center at 3909 Center Street in Hillcrest. For more information, contact AJ Davis-DeFeo at (619) 692-2077, ext. 212, or e-mail adavisdefeo@thecentersd.org.