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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING THE KENNETH YOUNG LGBTQ+ CENTER
WHEREAS, the LGBTQ+ Center at Kenneth Young "Q Center" offers a litany of different programming aimed at providing spaced devoted to education and creating community for the LGBTQ+ population in the Northwest Suburbs and across Cook County; and
WHEREAS, the Q Center offers youth programming, advocacy opportunities, professional trainings, and community events aimed at the LGBTQ+ community throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, another priority is to provide young adults opportunities for social gatherings, networking, job and career support, and getting involved with the Q Center's North Suburban Community Network for queer professionals; and
WHEREAS, the Q Center features the 'Rainbow Room Youth Advisory Council', a twice monthly group dedicated to LGBTQ+ advocacy, leadership, and community organizing open to LGBTQ+ identified and LGBTQ+ allied high school students in the Northwest Suburbs; and
WHEREAS, the Q Center also offers the biweekly 'High School Community Night', which centers LGBTQ+ teens' interests and opinions in the Northwest Suburbs and provide an opportunity to learn, have fun, and build community; and
WHEREAS, the programming offered also includes the biweekly 'Young Adult Night' for LGBTQ+ young adults age 18-24 in the Northwest Suburbs, which provides a welcoming space to queer people dedicated to building community and learning together; and
WHEREAS, the Q Center also features 'LGBTQ+ SMART Recovery', a peer-led, non-clinical program aimed for participants to achieve a healthy, positive, and balanced lifestyle change while navigating substance use and other addictive behaviors, such as gambling, smoking, sex, self-harm, or social media use, using techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Harm-Reduction techniques, and Motivational Interviewing to address these behaviors and empower individuals to recov...
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