surprises that you'll see when you get there. In the silent auction, we have a few local getaways and other trips, as well as a plethora of other great items.
The Morean Center is a familiar gala venue for Metro. How will its ambience complement the gala?
We're creating the feel of a gymnasium inside the space. We're going as far as bringing in bleachers and a dance floor...you'll see that we will have transformed the space completely, into a 1950s-style gymnasium. We're thankful that we had such a great space to work with.
Metro is the one who organizes those. If I had to pick one thing, people may not know about our youth programs, which run four times weekly whether it's happening in Tampa, in St. Petersburg at the flagship, or in St. Petersburg at the LGBT Welcome Center. There's also our primary care health service, which Metro provides, and has recently expanded to include women's wellness.
You're trying to cultivate involvement from a number of
How will the money raised at the gala continue to expand upon the programs that you already offer?
We continue to expand and our programming evolves based on community needs. Across-the-board, we see great response to all of our programs. We can further develop and expand all the services we offer for LGBT programs based on the money we receive at the gala.
People know Metro very well for the various services the organization provides. What do you find that people know the least about when it comes to Metro?
Those who know of us have a great understanding of what we offer. I find it's the ones who don't know us well are the ones who know the least. They may see HIV testing services around, or they may have participated in our transgender political town hall meetings and not realize that
You recently received a grant from the Minority Health office at the Department of Health and Human Services to support re-entry programs. Can you tell us about that?
"Re-Link" directly benefits inmates in Pinellas County who were incarcerated and are now re-entering society after their jail sentences expire. We're very fortunate to be the only charity to receive this grant money, which came to $375,000. With this grant, we work with the former inmates to get them ready for a thriving life as they re-enter the community once more. This will allow us to have a case manager on-site at the jail, which in turn allows us to better connect folks to our services for them to use.
How can people access the programs that Metro does offer, and how can they volunteer their time and effort with Metro?
niche groups, such as youth. How is Metro doing that?
With our youth groups, we communicate and connect with GSAs at schools in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties, and we also work in tandem with local churches, such as with MCC and Unitarian Universalist denominations. With our transgender programs, we work heavily with the Trans Support Network.
Our website is the best place to check out, comprehensively, what services and programs we offer. Click around, and if there's something you don't see, reach out to us for further understanding. We also have a volunteer portal on our homepage; go there and find out how you can help Metro and your community!
For more information on Metro Wellness and Community Centers, call (727) 321-3854 or visit metrotampabay.org or facebook.com/metrowellness. Metro has locations in St. Petersburg, Tampa, New Port Richey and Clearwater. Hotspots Central Florida
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