Ruth Ellis Center
{{Short description|Detroit area social services agency}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Ruth Ellis Center
| image = Ruth Ellis Center logo
| caption = Ruth Ellis Center logo
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| founded_date = 1999
| location = Detroit, Michigan
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| key_people = Mark Erwin, executive director{{cite news | url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20130618/NEWS/130619831/ruth-ellis-center-names-new-executive-director | title=Ruth Ellis Center names new executive director | work=Crain's Detroit Business | date=June 18, 2013 | access-date=August 1, 2013 | author=Welch, Sherri}}{{cite news | url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=61011 | title=Fresh From California: Ruth Ellis Welcomes New Executive Director | work=Between the Lines | date=June 27, 2013 | access-date=August 1, 2013 | author=Proxmire, Crystal}}
| area_served = Southeast Michigan
| products =
| services = Drop-in center, street outreach program, transitional living, and emergency housing shelter
| focus = Runaway, homeless and at-risk LGBTQ youth
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| homepage = {{URL|www.ruthelliscenter.org}}
| dissolved =
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}}
File:Wanda Sykes 2010 GLAAD Media Awards.jpg, a public supporter of Ruth Ellis Center since 2010, at the 2010 GLAAD Media Awards.]]
The Ruth Ellis Center (REC) is a social services agency in the Detroit area that serves the needs of runaway, homeless and at-risk lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) youth. REC is named in honor of the life and work of Ruth Ellis, who was an African-American lesbian from Detroit known for her service to people in need.
Programs
The Ruth Ellis Center operates five main programs: Youth Programs (Health, Equity, and Outreach, formally Drop-In; and Center for Lesbian Queer Women & Girls or CLQ), Supportive Housing, Integrated Health Services, Community-Based Family Support Services, and the Ruth Ellis Institute.
History
A group of community activists including John Allen, Kofi Adoma,{{cite news |author=Michael |first=Jason A. |date=May 2, 2017 |title=Kofi Adoma: Creating history one organization at a time |url=https://pridesource.com/article/kofi-adoma-creating-history-one-organization-at-a-time |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050844/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=11797 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=October 15, 2024 |work=Between the Lines}} and Courtney Wilson - founded the Ruth Ellis Center in 1999,{{cite news |author=Broverman, Neal |date=October 4, 2012 |title=Detroit's Invaluable LGBT Youth Center Has a Friend in Wanda |url=http://www.advocate.com/youth/2012/10/04/invaluable-lgbt-youth-center-detroit-has-friend-wanda |access-date=August 1, 2013 |work=The Advocate}} the same year Ruth Ellis celebrated her 100th birthday. In September 2000, the then-101-year-old Ellis attended the grand opening of the center's first phase, a drop-in center for at-risk youth.{{cite news |author=Michael |first=Jason |date=February 3, 2005 |title=Ruth Ellis: A century worth of history |url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=11497 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210181835/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=11497 |archive-date=December 10, 2014 |access-date= |work=Between the Lines |issue=1305}}
Wanda Sykes has been an outspoken supporter of the organization after the staff sent her a letter asking her to visit during her 2010 tour's stop in Detroit.{{cite news |date=July 8, 2010 |title=Wanda Sykes visits Ruth Ellis Center |url=https://pridesource.com/article/wanda-sykes-visits-ruth-ellis-center |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025020937/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=42165 |archive-date=October 25, 2013 |access-date=October 15, 2024 |work=Between the Lines}}{{cite journal |author=Mercer |first=Monica |date=August 28, 2012 |title=Q&A: Wanda Sykes, Ruth Ellis Center Fundraiser Host |url=https://www.hourdetroit.com/community/qa-wanda-sykes-ruth-ellis-center-fundraiser-host/ |journal=Hour Detroit}}
In January 2022, it opened the {{convert|44000|sqft|sqm|adj=on}} Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center, a center for LGBT people aged 13 to 30, including housing and educational facilities. It cost approximately $15 million.{{cite web|last=Rahman|first=Nushrat|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2020/11/21/lgbtq-youth-housing-health-clinic-breaks-ground/6354945002/|title=Ruth Ellis Center breaks ground on housing development and health clinic for LGBTQ youth|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=2020-11-21|access-date=2020-11-21}}{{Cite web |title=Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center |url=https://www.lbba.com/projects/13/ruth-ellis-clairmount-center |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=LBBA |language=en}}
See also
{{Portal|LGBTQ|Michigan}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{LGBT in Michigan}}
Category:Organizations established in 1999
Category:Organizations based in Detroit
Category:1999 establishments in Michigan
Category:LGBTQ youth organizations based in the United States
Category:Homeless shelters in the United States