District 202 began as a non-profit lesbian and gay youth coffee house in 1992 supported by a start-up grant from the Minneapolis Community Foundation. Over the years it evolved into a thriving LGBTQ | Queer youth community center. District 202's first hire was Michael Kaplan in 1992, who served as the center's first executive director until June 1998.[1]
District 202's first home was located at 2524 Nicollet Ave in Minneapolis and included a library, coffee house, art space, and dance space.[2] The drop-in center was open Monday and Wednesdays 3pm to 11pm, Thursdays and Fridays 3pm to 1am and Saturday 12pm to 1am.
In 1997, District 202 moved from its original space to a newly renovated 7,000 square foot warehouse space at 1601 Nicollet Ave. S in Minneapolis. The space included DJ booth, dance floor, espresso bar, and organizing space. In 1997, District 202 received 12,000 visits by 2,000 kids.[3]
In July 2009 District 202 closed the drop-in center[4] and is now focusing on providing programming at places like churches, community centers, and online.[5] The organization became a part of The Family Partnership's GLBT-Kids: Abuse Intervention Program[6] on March 20, 2012.[7]
References
edit- ^ Publishing, Here (1997-08-19). The Advocate. Here Publishing.
- ^ "A profile of District 202, gay and lesbian youth center". archive.mpr.org. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ "Once-thriving Mpls. LGBT center faces identity crisis". MPR News. 2011-01-07. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ Amber Schadewald "Pride On Our Sleeves?," Vita.mn June 25, 2009 http://www.vita.mn/story.php?id=49043456
- ^ Madeleine Baran, "Once-thriving Mpls. LGBT center faces identity crisis," Minnesota Public Radio News January 7, 2011 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/01/07/district-202/
- ^ "District 202 - The Family Partnership". The Family Partnership. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ^ "District 202 Merger News Release" (PDF) (Press release). The Family Partnership. March 20, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 9, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
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