Craig Beach Picnic...

Yesterday was the Pride Center's annual Craig Beach picnic. It was such a great time with delicious food! We had a good turn out and everyone had a fun day! There were hotdogs, hamburgers, cheesy potatoes, pasta, hummus, tabouli, and a lot more food!

The weather was perfect and warm for swimming and enjoying the beach.

Bees could not stop us from playing games!

After sniffing ever inch of our picnic area Lucy was ready to rest. That puppy energy only lasts so long. 

Here are some people returning from swimming to feast on some lunch!

More games.

And she is out!

One Wall Down... A Few to Go

Early yesterday morning Tom and I met at the the new pride center space to paint. Brian and I picked out a nice neutral color to paint the old wooden paneling. I brought bagels, sweet tea, and water for everyone, but I also forgot to call Laura and Kay who were anxiously waiting at home for my call so they could report for painting duty. OOPS! 

Tom and I made quick work out of painting and finished a little after noon. Have a look. 

I like the color that we picked out it is a nice neutral color that really lightens the atmosphere.

After carefully taping down the drop cloth Tom carefully paints the edging. 

Here is a finished wall.

And another angle.

It is so exciting to see this space come together! Don and his friends have put so much work into making this space ready for us to use that the transformation is amazing. We are excited to start having events here. 

Speaking of events we will be having our first support group meeting here tonight!

Good Old Fashioned Painting Party!

This sunday a few members of the MVPC met up at the new building for a painting party. I (Louis) felt like a lazy beast when next to Kay who was a painting machine! Have a look! We started off by base coating the old paneling with KILZ. KILZ will seal the surface and prep it for a nice neutral color, which Brian and I will go and pick out after work today.  

I had to take Lucy, if she stayed at home then she would have been in her kennel all day long and I just couldn't have that. She quickly made herself at home in the new Pride Center. She was running laps and sniffing everything. I even heard people saying that she should be our mascot!

 

Here is the wall almost completely coated with KILZ. We had a few fans going and it was not warm at all.  

After a pizza break we were ready to go back to work. Okay, I was not ready to go back to work but as I previously mentioned Kay is a painting machine! I was ready for a nap.

 

Lucy had to supervise absolutely everyone and everything that was going on at the new center and as you know an afternoon's worth of supervising can wear a girl out.

Moving Day!!!

Today the Mahoning Valley Pride Center officially moved from the basement of the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Youngstown to our own building in Youngstown. It was an exciting morning moving the packed boxes to the new building here are a few pictures. 

Here is a picture of our old space. It was a good home to the Mahoning Valley Pride Center for quite a few years.

All of the boxes were packed up and ready to be moved. 

All of our belongings are packed in the back of our Trailblazer (Big Ethel) ready to be moved into our new home. 

Tomorrow we are going to go to paint the inside of the new Pride Center I will post new pictures then!

New Pride Center Space

Today Brian, Nicole, and I (Louis) were able to tour the new space that the Pride Center is going to be located. I will say that when I first saw the building I was a bit scared! Don and his team have really worked their magic and have put hours of work into it. It looks amazing compared to when we first saw it.  It was exciting to view the space as a blank canvas and we get to put our personal touches on it with paint colors and furniture. I am so excited that we will get to personalize this space and make it a comfortable and welcoming environment for everyone. 

Here is the side of the building, Nicole is waiting patiently...

This is going to be the common area. We plan on cleaning and painting the walls. The wooden panels on the walls will get a coat of lighter paint to make the space look bigger.

This area is in the back, we plan on making this the office area that will house office supplies, paper and forms, and possibly a kitchen.

Here is one last view of the common area from the other side of the room...

Let us know what you think!!!

Pride Week

Today I was excited to take part in a planning meeting for Mahoning Valley Pride Week.  The meeting consisted of people from several community organizations such as The Mahoning Valley Pride Center, P-Flag, Stonewall Democrats,  and various members of the Unitarian Church.  There were so many great ideas and everyone was full of energy.  The week of October 5-12 will be filled with an array of events at YSU, The Unitarian Church and in the community.  We have such things planned as showings of For the Bible Tells Me So, panel discussions, and candlelight vigil.  We have another meeting in 2 weeks from now on Sunday August 17, 2008 from 1pm-3pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown.  Please email mahoningvalleypridecenter@yahoo.com for more information if you would like to attend.  I'll keep everyone posted on the progress we are making.  Until next time take care everyone.

Nicole Peterson

(Co-Chair of The Mahoning Valley Pride Center)