At The Center, our commitment to community has always guided how we serve, listen, and lead. Over our 54-year history, we have regularly evaluated whether our practices and processes are helping us build the strongest possible connections with the people who make this community so vibrant.
Recently, The Center’s Board of Directors approved recommendations about how we can create more meaningful opportunities for community members to connect with Board members, Center leadership, and staff to share perspectives, have a dialogue, and participate in conversations about our future. This recommendation was informed by input from community members, board members, staff, and volunteers who expressed a desire for more opportunities to engage in genuine dialogue.
To create more opportunities for direct dialogue between community members, Board representatives, and Center leadership, The Center is launching Quarterly Community Conversations. As part of this change, the public comment portion of Board meetings will be discontinued and replaced by this new engagement model. This change replaces a one-way communication process with a new opportunity for two-way dialogue, allowing community members to engage directly with Board members and Center leadership in conversation.
We anticipate scheduling the first Quarterly Community Conversation in the coming weeks, so please stay tuned. We remain committed to listening, answering questions, and having open conversations about The Center’s work, priorities, and future.
For many years, public comment has provided an opportunity for individuals to address the Board. While this format has served an important purpose, it is a one-way communication tool. Community members were unable to receive responses to their questions or concerns in the moment, and board members were similarly unable to engage in discussion. This structure did not allow for dialogue, discussion, clarification, or the kind of deeper engagement that often leads to greater understanding and stronger relationships.
As we considered how best to honor community input, the question we kept returning to was, “How do we create opportunities for genuine dialogue about how we can best serve our community, especially in this challenging time?” The answer is creating intentional opportunities to have two-way conversations where community members can hear direct responses to their questions and concerns, and board members and Center leadership are able to engage in meaningful dialogue with our community.
Share your feedback
While the Board has approved this new engagement model, we are seeking community input on how Quarterly Community Conversations should be structured, including format, accessibility, and additional opportunities for engagement. Are you interested in an annual meeting? Do you prefer an in-person or virtual format? Are there other opportunities you would suggest we consider for Center leadership to dialogue with our community? Share your feedback in our survey by September 18.
The Center will continue expanding opportunities for community members to engage directly with Board representatives, senior leadership, and staff through listening sessions, community conversations, and other engagement opportunities throughout the year. These settings allow for dialogue, questions, and shared learning in ways that are difficult to achieve during the formal business of a Board meeting. You can visit our website at https://thecentersd.org/input to find regular opportunities for input.
As a community organization, we know that trust is built through relationships. Those relationships require us to listen openly and engage respectfully. The Center has grown significantly over the years, but our mission remains unchanged. We are proud to be a regional beacon of belonging, support, and hope for LGBTQ+ communities across San Diego and beyond. That role carries with it both a responsibility to lead and a responsibility to listen.
We believe these changes will help us create more opportunities for meaningful engagement while strengthening the connections that have always been at the heart of our work. We look forward to continuing these conversations and finding new ways to connect, collaborate, and build our future together.
On behalf of The Center’s Board of Directors, thank you for being a vital part of our community and for helping shape the next chapter of The Center’s story.
In community,
Shaun Travers, Ed.D. (he/him)
Board of Directors, Chair