The Center enriches the lives of the LGBT community in the Coachella Valley. Serving seniors is the foundation on which this organization was built and there is a fierce commitment – amongst the board, amongst the staff and amongst our volunteers –  to carry on the legacy of serving seniors.

History
The Prime Timers Foundation was created in 2001 with the purpose of serving the needs of gay seniors, who are often isolated and living at or below the poverty level.  Many in this generation have lived through rejection, outright discrimination and fear for their safety for just being who they are.  They were the trail blazers who in spite of being ostracized by society, stood up for our rights and created the environment today where we can live openly as LGBT people. 

Many of the learned fears still exist in this generation and as they age they become isolated and self-protective.  Recognizing this, in 2005 the Foundation created the Golden Rainbow Senior Center, a one-room center that offered a few programs for seniors and a friendly and accepting place to gather.  In October, 2011, the board expanded the scope of The Center’s operation and changed its name to reflect that expanded mission of serving community members of all ages.  We proudly move forward as a place for our entire the community as The Center.
 
 

The Golden Rainbow Club
The Center is launching The Golden Rainbow Club!  As Center programs and services expand to serve the community at large, seniors remain a special group.  No programs have been eliminated and The Center remains a place explicitly welcoming of seniors.  Our members who are 60+ will receive lifetime pricing on the annual membership of $25 (guaranteed not to go up), special Golden Rainbow T-shirts upon membership renewal and periodic special benefits.  It is part of the vision for The Center to find a permanent home of its own within a few years.  The Center is dedicated to creating a designated senior drop-in space, The Golden Rainbow Room, when that dream becomes a reality.

Counseling
The counseling program at The Center operates with a core competency in treating depression among seniors.  Under the current expansion, individual, group, addictions counseling are offered as well as recovery and bereavement support groups.  These programs are heavily grant-funded and available on a sliding scale.  The Center also operates one program for seniors who qualify, completely free of charge.

SAGE Affiliation
In 2010, The Center became affiliated with Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE).  SAGE is the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults. SAGE has pioneered programs and services for the aging LGBT community, provided technical assistance and training to expand opportunities for LGBT older people across the country, and provided a national voice on LGBT aging issues.

In Fall 2011, The Center has undertaken an effort to strengthen its programmatic connection with SAGE so as to better leverage their resources.  There are two key areas for growth in the partnership currently in the works:

Coming Soon
SAGEWorks
The mission of SAGEWorks is to improve the capacity of LGBT older adults to remain productive, vital and contributing members of the nation's work force.  The Center will offer this innovative program designed to provide employment seeking assistance for older adults with the help of AARP's WorkSearch.

Coming Soon
The National Resource Center training partnership
The Center, in its expansion, is mastering a new curriculum and training from the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging.  This training and information resource will allow The Center to expand its Out & About program for providing LGBT older adult cultural competency curriculum and training to senior care providers in the region.  The objective of expanding this program is to reduce the number of LBGT seniors residing in facilities who are not being cared for as well as they could be.

Sustenance for Seniors
Our weekly distribution of food for seniors (55+) and people with disabilities happens every Thursday from 6pm - 8pm at 610 S. Belardo.  Produce, meat and dairy products as well as canned and dried foods are available to LGBT Riverside County residents If this is your first visit, bring a photo ID showing your Riverside County residency or a photo ID and some proof of Riverside County Residency.  This program was started to serve our senior community members.  The program was expanded to serve people with disabilities as well years ago, but we always serve our seniors clients first, before we open up to everyone else

 
© The LGBT Community Center of the Desert - 611 S. Palm Canyon Dr, Ste 201 Palm Springs, CA 92264 - www.thecenterps.org - 760-416-7790