LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Building the Community Center - An Opportunity to Create a Legacy |
by Dan Goren |
In the last issue of Letters, a number of questions were answered about the Community Center Project and CAMP Rehoboth's recent acquisition of property on Baltimore Avenue.
After providing the latest information about potential plans to build-out the site and the financial goals of the Founder's Circle Capital Campaign, it is now nice to hear additional questions being asked. Interestingly enough, many of the recent questions have a very similar theme to them and speak to the essence of the project. A number of questions were asked relating to: "If the Community Center were already built, why would I be drawn to it?" Of course, it is hard to determine the specific reasons why individuals would be drawn to the Center, but the answer is probably no more complicated than why individuals are being drawn to the Rehoboth area. The development and reputation of this area extends beyond the beauty of a seashore resort. It's an environment becoming known for diverse groups of people learning to live in harmony with each other while cherishing their freedom to be who they are. Building the Commu-nity Center will provide a focal point for people. For many people visiting Rehoboth it will be the center of the gay and lesbian community-the place to join in on activities and to connect with other gay people. Of equal importance to the individuals living in the Rehoboth and the surrounding areas of Sussex County, the center will be a safe meeting place, bringing people together, sharing ideas and partaking in programs. In conjunction with the above question, many are asking: "If the Community Center were already built, what would it look like and what would it be used for?" First of all, it would probably look like a multi-story building that houses a public lounge area, a lending library, meeting rooms and facilities that allow for groups to meet for a variety of purposes. The Center is being built as a safe environment for the GLBT community, to provide and sponsor programs for men and women. But it will also be a Center that goes beyond meeting the important needs of support groups and health organizations. The CAMP Rehoboth Community Center will serve more than the GLBT individuals in the area-it will be our contribution to the City of Rehoboth and the surrounding areas. As in many other cities, the Center will be used as a gathering place for listening to and discussing community-wide issues of importance to everyone-a place you can come hear many viewpoints, ranging from political candidacies to neighborhood and environmental concerns. As the Rehoboth area continues to thrive as a community that welcomes everyone, it will be just as important for the Community Center to embrace the civic spirit as it will be to embrace the spirit of human rights. Probably the most compelling question being asked is one that speaks to the heart of the project and to the spirit of making a contribution and being supportive. In Rehoboth, as in other areas, there are many organizations and activities that require support. So it is natural that many gay and lesbian individuals ask: "If I don't need the Community Center for myself, or want to take part in its functions, then why should I support it and why do we need it?" It is true that there will be many gay and lesbian people who will not use the Community Center. Like any segment of the population, everyone is not the same. Many gay men and women grew up in an environment of being very private about their lives, while others grew up being very expressive and open. One way of being is not better than the other-they are just different. But it is not an accident that so many gay men and women from all walks of life ended up coming to and living in the Rehoboth area, where the differences are welcomed and valued. Whether you choose to or not, Rehoboth is a place where two men or two women can walk down the street hand in hand and not be afraid of what others may think or do. Perhaps this is not the case in Laurel, Selbyville or Seaford. There are other cities in this country and around the world where gays and lesbians can feel free to be who they are, but there are not that many. In too many places there are many people who have to live their lives in hiding and fear. For them, the choice is not of being private or expressive, but one of how to survive in an oppressive environment. The Rehoboth gay and lesbian community is fortunate to have such a wonderful place to live and to be visited by others. This good fortune generates a responsibility to provide a supportive environment for others as well as ourselves. The Community Center will create the opportunity for others throughout the area and throughout Delaware to feel free, safe and most importantly, to feel welcomed. An opportunity to create a legacy Many of us are involved in a multitude of supportive environments. These activities run the gamut from gay and lesbian causes through civic responsibilities. They include participation in AIDS support, lesbian health concerns, breast cancer research, as well as focusing on making Rehoboth a better place to live by contributing to the Art League, assisting the Film Society and helping build the Rehoboth Public Library. All are worthy causes and environments deserving support. As gay men and women, we have the opportunity to create a legacy to ensure that a safe future is secure and available to those who live in oppressive places and to those who will come here after us. The CAMP Rehoboth Community Center will do just that, and will be our legacy. We all continue to enjoy our environment and we all need to participate in creating this opportunity. Coupled with this opportunity comes a responsibility to contribute and support the realization of the Community Center. And perhaps those who support it the most could be those who do not plan to use it. History has shown that people who create a legacy find a way to view life beyond what is important only to them. Dan Goren is a member of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project and the CAMP Rehoboth Board of Directors. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 12, No. 06, May 31, 2002. |