Page 21 - BEQ Magazine Iss 23 FINAL v3

By KJ WARD

The Los Angeles LGBT Center (the Center) is bring over 200 resi-
the world’s largest provider of health, housing, dents to the newest
and advocacy programs specifically for the LGBTQ site in Hollywood.
community. Like many nonprofit social services Contracting with an
organizations, foundation grants, government outside caterer to
contracts, private donations, and program fees feed the residents was
have been the Center’s set of revenue streams. certainly an option,
With the opening of the Center’s seventh facil- but the Center had
ity in 2019, the 53-year-old organization is now other aspirations.
investing in social enterprise as a new model as it Renowned chef and
continues to innovate. restaurateur Susan
In an interview with BEQ Pride Magazine, Feniger serves on
the Center’s Nick Panepinto and Erin Muscatelli the Center’s board
describe the model that is at once a large-scale, of directors, and the
skill-building and professional development Center’s Director of
program for vulnerable members of L.A.’s LGBTQ Culinary Training
community and a breakthrough in organizational and Operations, Nick Liberation Coffee
autonomy and self-sufficiency. Panepinto, credits her House at Santa
with the inspiration for what came next. Monica Blvd . and
HOW A NEW NEED BEGAT A “Susan was always talking about how import- McCadden Pl . in
Hollywood .
GAME-CHANGING INNOVATION ant food was and how kitchens, especially in the
LGBT community, really work to build community
It started with a clear-eyed look at creatively and chosen family. So, she said, ‘Hey, if we’re look-
addressing a new need. The Center’s new Anita ing at how we want to build community on this
May Rosenstein Campus would feature an emer- campus, we need a kitchen,’” Panepinto recalled.
gency overnight shelter and two permanent, “Originally the idea was just to provide food for
supported housing programs: one for youth and everyone living with us. Then Susan suggested
one for seniors. Combined, these programs would that there was an opportunity to start doing voca-

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