Over the past year, The Center on Colfax has developed its latest Strategic Plan, with input from staff, the Board, and our community. This plan defines our vision for the future and identifies our goals and objectives for the next three years. Our process involved reviewing results from the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan and gathering data from community members through focus groups, surveys, and conversations with key stakeholders to ensure The Center understands what our community needs from us.
What was crafted through this process is an ambitious plan that will aid The Center in achieving our mission to engage, empower, enrich, and advance Colorado’s LGBTQ+ community for the next three years and beyond. We here at The Center on Colfax are invigorated by the contents of the plan, and we're excited for the opportunity to share it with you!
The 2024-2027 Strategic Plan will be unveiled to the public at a Community Update Meeting on February 22, 2024. We would love to see you there! Hosted by The Center Staff and our CEO, Rex Fuller, this meeting will be an opportunity share our goals for the upcoming years, strengthen partnerships and build bridges with fellow community organizations and donors, and recognize and celebrate our volunteers.
We sat down with Rex Fuller (he/him) for a sneak peek at the Strategic Plan, and about what’s to come at the February 22 Community Update Meeting.
Q: Hi Rex! What are the main objectives for the new strategic plan?
A: We have six main goals for the plan: to maintain The Center as a collaborative and community-minded organization, to serve the community as a one-stop resource hub, to create inclusive and innovative programs and events, and to focus on inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in all our programming. We also want to effectively communicate about this work to the community through impactful marketing and collaborative partnerships. Additionally, we want to ensure the financial viability of The Center on Colfax in the long term so that we can serve future generations of LGBTQ+ Coloradans.
Q: What do you think is at the heart of those objectives and how are they best serving the community?
A: Our primary goal was to fully understand what the needs and priorities of our community are, and to find ways to make an impact in ways that address those needs. The Center will celebrate our 50th anniversary in a couple of years – we have a long legacy of serving our community in a variety of ways. Creating the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan has been a way to recommit to our values and chart a course for expanding that legacy.
Q: How can community members expect to see and feel the impact of the new plan over the next several years?
A: I think we are already seeing some positive impacts. In 2023, we launched the Saga program for young adults and Glass Lawler Mental Health. Both programs are reaching new audiences and bringing folks into The Center’s community in meaningful ways. We have also seen the revitalization of our library and we will see more work done by our Colorado LGBTQ+ History Project. As we move through the next few years, I think community members will see additional growth in both existing programs and the creation of new programs. The Transgender Program has seen amazing growth with the hiring of a Support Group Coordinator and expanded program offerings. RANGE Consulting is finding new ways to deliver trainings to create more inclusive workplaces. We hope to expand the number of days that we offer programming in the coming year. We are also working to create more engagement opportunities for a broader spectrum of community members.
Q: What parts of the plan most excite you?
A: The LGBTQ+ community has grown so much, and there are so many organizations and individuals doing important and creative work. It can be difficult to keep track of all the incredible activity out there. I am very excited about expanding and upgrading our efforts to be the best one-stop shop for information about partner organizations and resources in the community. I think that by sharing and promoting this information, we make our community healthier and stronger. A rising tide lifts all boats.
Q: What parts of the plan do you think are going to be the most work?
A: While I am excited about redeveloping our resource directory, keeping abreast of everything and effectively communicating about it will be a major challenge. And as always, funding will be a challenge. We are fortunate to be in good financial health but as we expand our services, our costs will rise. Will we be able to support this expansion? I feel it compels us to make the case for our value to community so that they continue to generously support our work.
Q: If you had to create a warning label for this plan, what would it be? Why?
A: “Be careful what you wish for.” I anticipate that while there are many exciting goals and aspirations outlined in our new strategic plan, they will come with unexpected challenges. It will be exciting to see how we adapt.
Q: What can the community expect to see The Center do to keep the community informed of its progress on this plan?
A: Since I started in the CEO role, I have wanted to create an annual community update meeting. The Center did similar updates in the past and I think it will be valuable to form accountability to the community we serve. Our first step in that direction is to hold a Community Update Meeting about the new strategic plan on February 22 at Town Hall Collaborative. I’m excited to continue hosting this meeting in years to come to further understanding in the community about what The Center offers, where we’re headed, and how we can all support this important work.
As a community member of The Center, your support directly impacts The Center’s ability to set ambitious goals for the coming years and to expand our programming to better serve you and the Colorado LGBTQ+ community. Thank you for your support!
To learn more about the impact of your support and how your input has influenced our plans for the coming years, we invite you to attend our Community Update Meeting on February 22. Click the button below to learn more and RSVP for this free community event.