Pacific Center for Human Growth

06/03/2025

LGBTQIA+ QTBIMPOC communities are under attack. The current administration is perpetrating sweeping attacks against our most vulnerable: youth, elders, transgender people across the age spectrum, immigrants, and people of color. Essential funding for Q***r nonprofits everywhere has been drying up since the inauguration, leaving our communities, once again, to fend for ourselves.

Amidst the turmoil and against the odds, we are making history; Berkeley Pride 2025, a program of Pacific Center, will be the first-ever outdoor Pride street festival in the city–and it’s long overdue. For five decades, Pacific Center has been a beacon for Q***r liberation in the East Bay, and now we’re taking that legacy to the streets. But let’s be clear: while essential to community pride and morale, putting on Pride isn’t easy–especially now. Corporate DEI budgets are disappearing, and sponsorships that used to support LGBTQIA+ causes are drying up across the country. While others are scaling back, we’re moving forward–because Berkeley leads. So does Pacific Center.

And the funding rollback is not just happening at the national level. Even here in California, LGBTQIA+ funding is on the chopping block. We’re already facing a $50,000 shortfall next fiscal year due to cuts from at the state level. That means fewer dollars for mental health programs, cultural work, and essential community services. The truth is: it’s not just about surviving–it’s about continuing to lead with pride, purpose, and power right here in Berkeley, as we have done for over 50 years.

At Pacific Center for Human Growth, we must meet the moment – regardless of the challenges and danger–to fight back and support our own with everything we have. As the only LGBTQIA+ community center in Berkeley, we are the only protection between these attacks and our communities. And so, we PROMISE to uplift, honor, and serve our community with radical resistance and life-changing care to support a thriving life for LGBTQIA+ and QTIMPOC communities of Berkeley and Alameda County.

Only with your support, can we continue offering the services our communities need and fulfill our promises:

We promise to continue offering accessible, affirming mental health services for LGBTQIA+ QTBIMPOC individuals onan affordable sliding scale, ensuring low to no-cost care.

We promise to expand our LGBTQIA+ QTBIMPOC-focused cultural competency trainings to better serve and educate providers, allies, and institutions.

We promise to continue to host MHTI, a free annual conference centered on the mental health needs of the LGBTQIA+ QTBIMPOC community, amplifying voices and solutions from within.

We promise to provide scholarships for BIMPOC clinicians in our traineeship programs to invest in the future of culturally responsive care.

We promise to maintain and grow our 20+ peer support groups that speak to the diverse lived experiences within the LGBTQIA+ BIPOC community.

We promise to continue to celebrate and uplift local, East Bay, Q***r and Trans voices by hosting an annual Berkeley Pride.

We promise to meet our community where they are–with humility, flexibility, and respect–because healing should never be out of reach.

Our promises are rooted in love, equity, and justice–but we cannot fulfill them alone.

Your support is essential in helping us fulfill our promises. We need to raise $55,000 by June 30 in order to continue resisting, providing, and thriving. The good news? We have a match challenge of an additional $55,000! That means your donation is doubled, dollar for dollar, and your impact is doubled immediately. With your support, by the end of Pride Month, we’ll have a transformational $110,000 to continue our work! This will help to fund our Pride Efforts, and to continue closing the gaps left behind by the impact of lost funding.

With your partnership, we can continue to make mental health care more inclusive, accessible, and affirming for all.

Support here: https://givebutter.com/Promise2025

With gratitude for your generosity,

Lasara Firefox Allen, MSW (they/them/Mx.)
Center Executive Officer

03/18/2025

Good NEWS! We were able to reactivate our old FB account. Please feel free to follow our old account here:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?viewas=100000686899395&id=100063592093106

Our Mission: To enhance the mental health and well-being of the LGBTQIA+ and QTBIPOC communities by

01/22/2025

From the desk of the Executive Director

Dear Community,

The executive orders spewed yesterday were hard to stomach, to be sure. However, we were all expecting this. Right?

Yes, the rights of the trans community are imperilled. As a trans person myself, I’m not immune to the fear and anxiety which so easily descend. But I also know that we will keep us safe, and I rely on guidance from our q***r ancestors who created the trail we’ve been walking, and the whispers of encouragement from the future generations for whom we engage in the struggle for our existence now

They cannot erase us, and they cannot make us live less authentic lives. In this moment, I choose to stand tall, be loud, and walk with Pride. And I trust you to make the choices in this moment that will serve you best. There’s no “right way” to react, engage, or pull back.

Rest is revolution. Investing in community is revolution. Surviving is revolution. Living your life is revolution.

Yesterday I was out in the Oakland streets with our Beloved Community, witnessing, marching, celebrating, RESISTING. It felt so good to see and participate in the pain and the joy of community in action.

Remember, we were made for this moment. We are the dream of our ancestors of blood and spirit. We have them at our backs. And we have one another's' backs, too.

We’re here for you. Come on in. Get the support, the camaraderie, and the resources you need. Avail yourself of the space we have here to come together and be in community. Attend the community trainings we’re offering. Get into therapy. Attend a peer group. Have a meeting of your affinity group in our library.

See you in the halls, and in the streets.

Yours in community, resistance, and Q***r Joy,

-Lasara.

12/25/2024

👎 The U.S. Senate is changing hands to the Republicans come January 3rd, and with it they will consider the “Nonprofit Killer Bill”(1) – a bill that would grant the Treasury Secretary, and by extension, the President, to unilaterally designate a nonprofit as a “terrorist-supporting organization” and strip them of their 501(c)(3) tax status.

😡 We all know what the incoming Republican administration thinks of the LGBTQIA+ and QTBIPOC communities…

👏 Pacific Center provides critical life-saving and life-sustaining programs and services to these communities in Berkeley and the Bay. Without us, they have nothing.

😭 Without you, we have nothing.

🎁 During the last 12 days of the year, we are unwrapping a gift from our generous supporters every day. Today, we unwrap another gift of $1,000! Because we know that…

🌈 Q***r Joy is access to affirming and safe mental health support.

❤️ Only with your support today, we can match the gift of $1,000 and continue providing the critical programs and services that allow the LGBTQIA+ and QTBIPOC communities of Berkeley and the Bay to receive the support they need to thrive.

🔗 Say “Yes, I want to support a future where everyone has access to affirming and safe mental health support" by going to PacificCenter.org/donate

***rJoy

(1) source: https://www.nonprofitvote.org/whats-the-nonprofit-killer-bill/

12/24/2024

💯 As we near the end of the year, we know that Q***r Joy needs to be in every part of life.

⬆️ So far, we have raised a transformational $43,000 toward our doubled goal of $60,000 by December 31st! Only with you by our side, whether you have already given generously, or support us in other ways, we can go above and beyond for our communities, even in the workplace.

🌈 Q***r Joy is equitable and inclusive workplaces for all.

🎁 During the last 12 days of the year, we are unwrapping a gift from our generous supporters every day. Today, we unwrap a gift of $1,000!

❤️ With your support today, we can match the gift of $1,000 and continue providing the essential trainings to establish LGBTQIA+ inclusive workplaces, and reach our $60,000 goal.

🔗 Say “Yes, I want to support a future where there is equitable and inclusive workplaces for all" by going to PacificCenter.org/donate

***rJoy

12/23/2024

🏳️‍🌈 Perhaps the most vulnerable among our communities is our youth. Protecting our youth means protecting our future.

❤️ During the last 12 days of the year, we are unwrapping a gift from our generous supporters every day. Today, we unwrap a gift of $600!

🌈 Q***r Joy is Q***r youth growing old and living full lives.

🎁 With your support today, we can match the gift of $600 and continue providing the life-saving programs our youth need to build long and healthy lives.

🔗 Say “Yes, I want to support a future where Q***r youth grow old and live full lives" by going to PacificCenter.org/donate

***rJoy

12/22/2024

🏳️‍🌈 Our path today was a path paved by LGBT Seniors who fought for our human rights when the only places they were accepted were bars with no windows.

🎁 During these last 12 days, we have been unwrapping a gift from our generous supporters every day. Today, we unwrap a gift of $650

🌈 Q***r Joy is when LGBT seniors thrive and share their stories.

❤️ With your support today, we can match the gift of $650 and honor the LGBT change makers and trailblazers; because of them, we are here today living authentically and with joy.

🔗 Say “Yes, I want to support a future where LGBT seniors thrive and share their stories” by going to PacificCenter.org/donate

***rJoy

12/21/2024

💯 The truth is, we can't succeed in growing and sustaining our programs for the LGBTQIA+ and QTBIPOC communities of Berkeley and the Bay without our allies.

📈 So far, we've raised $41,165 toward Q***r Joy, and we are on our way to doubling our goal to $60,000 total be December 31st!

🎁 During these last 12 days, we will be unwrapping a gift from our generous supporters every day. Today, we unwrap a gift of $500.

🌈 Q***r Joy is educated allies who show up every day.

❤️ With your support today, we can match the gift of $500 and continue providing trainings to our allies, so they are equipped with the knowledge and resources they need to show up for us today and every day, no matter what.

🔗 Say “Yes, I want to support a future where educated allies show up every day" by going to PacificCenter.org/donate

***rJoy

12/20/2024

The countdown to Q***r Joy has begun! We have just 12 days left to ensure that we grow and sustain our programs to provide Q***r Joy to the LGBTQIA+ and QTBIPOC communities of the Bay!!

We have officially exceeded our $30,000 goal, and so it’s time to go above and beyond for our community. We are stretching our goal to $60,000 by December 31st because our community deserves the very best.

During these last 12 days, we will be unwrapping a gift from our generous supporters every day. Today, we unwrap a gift of $5,000!

🌈 Q***r Joy is a community that lives authentically.

With your support today, we can match the gift of $5,000 and continue providing the critical programs and services that allow the LGBTQIA+ and QTBIPOC communities of Berkeley and the Bay to live authentically, today and every day.

🔗Say "Yes, I want to support a future where everyone lives authentically" by donating at PacificCenter.org/donate

***rJoy

12/06/2024

🗣️ We won’t keep silent – Q***r Joy is on everyone’s mind!

📅 Every Tuesday at 10a PT on Instagram Live , we’ll be chatting with our program team members on how our services provide Q***r Joy to the LGBTQIA+ and QTBIPOC communities of the Bay.

🧠 Our next conversation is with Jordan Williams (she/her), Community Programs Support and Evaluation Specialist. Join us for a 10 minute conversation about the impact of our community programs, and how you can support Q***r Joy today!

🤑 We are raising $30,000 by December 31st in order to grow and sustain our programs for a happy and impactful 2025.

🔗 Donate to Q***r Joy across the Bay at PacificCenter.org/donate

***rJoy

05/01/2024

Donate to our Pride Campaign today!

Pacific Center Pride Campaign; a legacy of Pride, a future of empowerment

04/30/2024

A Legacy of Pride, A Future of Empowerment