OutCenter Announces New Office Location, New Era For The Organization

Dowagiac, MI — OutCenter Southwest Michigan is proud to announce its new office location in downtown Dowagiac, Michigan. For nearly 15 years, the OutCenter has made its home in the Arts District in Benton Harbor, providing a welcoming and visible presence for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. In this time the OutCenter has celebrated historic wins, built support and advocacy networks across the tri-county area, and stood together during times of struggle. 

The work of the OutCenter is as important as it has ever been. In an era where many organizations across the region, the state, and the country are contracting, the OutCenter is committed to expanding its work and deepening its impact. Over the last year and a half, the OutCenter staff and board have worked collaboratively on what meeting this moment entails, and how we can best achieve that goal. “We are working to build on the foundation of OutCenter’s more than 20 years of work in Southwest Michigan,” Interim Executive Director Gerik Maverick said. “We are spending more and more time out in the community, so finding a new space that meets the needs of our growing organization became paramount.”

This change in location comes alongside a refreshed vision of the OutCenter’s work, defined by five new pillars: LGBTQ+ Safety and Inclusion, Progressive Human Rights, Rural Social Cohesion, Effective and Competent Local Communities, and Civic Literacy and Engagement. “When we talk about meeting the moment, we are not just talking about reacting to the news of the day, we are talking about building infrastructure for sustained change alongside a robust community of advocates,” said Maverick. 

The OutCenter is grateful to everyone who helped make their Benton Harbor location a welcoming and affirming space for nearly 15 years. As the OutCenter enters its next chapter, it is excited to continue its work with both old faces and new. OutCenter’s new office will be located at 143 S Front St. Dowagiac, MI, with a grand opening event planned for October 2nd. For more information on the OutCenter, or to support their work, visit their website at outcenter.org