GALAEI: A Queer Latin@ Social Justice Organization announced this week that it is moving its headquarters to North Philadelphia next month.
In late April, GALAEI will move from its current location, 1207 Chestnut St., to take over the building that used to house the Norris Square Civic Association, at 149 W. Susquehanna Ave.
“This has been 20 years in the making,” GALAEI executive director Elicia Gonzales told PGN.
Gonzales said the move will put the organization in closer proximity to the communities it serves.
“This is a dream come true for me personally and for our staff and board,” she said. “We have envisioned a space for our own that can be quite literally a home for queer Latinos. It’s going to be a very welcoming space for communities, families and individuals.”
Located right on Norris Square Park, the three-story building’s square footage isn’t significantly greater than that at GALAEI’s current space, Gonzales said, but the layout offers much more opportunities.
“It isn’t technically that much bigger but it feels giant compared,” she said. “It’s an old, historic beautiful rowhome, with beautiful woodwork and original tilework throughout. It’s a gorgeous space and much more open than what we have now. Now, we often have to cram into a conference room and it’s not really conducive to the community-center vibe we hope for. But in the new space, we’re already anticipating having gatherings, workshops, community events, dance classes for kids. There’s a lot more opportunities with the space itself.”
While the organization is moving to North Philadelphia, it will continue to expand partnerships such as with JUNTOS and other agencies to serve Mexican communities in South Philadelphia, as well as its citywide campaign POSITIVO, a multimedia effort to affirm LGBT and HIV-positive Latinos.
The North Philadelphia move, Gonzales said, will mark the first time an LGBT organization will be housed in a neighborhood with such HIV prevalence.
“We knew we wanted to be in an area that is primarily Latino and know that this area in particular has rates across the board of under-employment, difficulties with education, poverty and other social determinates that really are so connected to HIV,” Gonzales said. “Our work around social justice is working to help people see the intersections between all of these issues and their influence on HIV. So in this neighborhood we’ll be working shoulder to shoulder with people on issues about education, employment, housing, access to health care, all of which is connected to HIV prevention and creating healthy and whole communities. We know we’re going to have an amazing opportunity really make a big impact on Latino queer communities being house in North Philadelphia.”