Drop in Center

1n10 plans to move its Phoenix youth services to a new location. PLUS: 1n10 unveils a new logo and makes plans to honor Greg Stanton.

By Glenn Gullickson

New 1n10 Building

1n10 makes plans to move programs to new location

1n10 plans to be offering its programs in a new location in central Phoenix by the middle of January, according to Linda Elliott, executive director of the youth services agency.

Elliott said 1n10 signed a lease in early December to rent a 2,900 square foot building at 3660 N. Third St. that will be known as the 1n10 Drop-in Center.

Programs offered at the YEP! House and the weekly 1n10 program meeting that's been held at a church will move to the building. 1n10 will maintain separate staff offices at a nearby office building.

Elliott said that the new space will allow 1n10 to expand programs, including expanding the days and hours the center is open. The center will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays.

The venue will house 1n10's high school education completion program, which Elliott called a "unique new program for LGBT dropouts." The online program, slated to start in February, will use existing staff with the goal of helping 25 youth a year to graduate, she said.

Tools for the educational program were made possible with the gift of 15 Apple computers from Mardi Borrero, who manages a local Apple store, according to Stacey Jay Cavaliere, 1n10 prevention coordinator.

Cavaliere said the new space will also create opportunities to offer HIV and SDT testing, counseling programs and other health services. "Everything is going to be bigger and better," he said.

The current YEP! House, which has been in use for four years, has 900 feet of space and serves from 50 to 70 youth the days it's open, with up to 90 attending special events, Elliott said. "We knew we needed more space," she said.

The goal of securing a new space was announced in February at the 1n10 Fresh Brunch and Elliott said the search for a building proceeded in "fits and starts" that included an earlier deal for another building that fell apart.

The new location is a 1970s-era structure that's sometimes referred to by locals as the "Flintstones building" for a window design that looks like something right out of Bedrock. The space is built above a parking area and accessed by exterior staircases.

The building, which formerly housed an engineering firm, has visibility from a major street, which is the route of the Phoenix Pride parade, and is near the Pride festival grounds.

Renovations to the building include moving some walls to create a more open space and installing a shower, which Elliott said the YEP! House did not provide for clients, who are often homeless. The new location has a larger kitchen than the previous venue, she said.

To help 1n10 meet expenses, the agency recently launched the Legacy Club, with members pledging monthly donations from $25 and up. Elliott said that grants help cover 1n10 programs and staff salaries.

1n10 will continue to offer its weekly programs in Tempe and Phoenix. Elliott said the agency plans to establish a program in Mesa in 2012.

1n10 was established in 1993, offering programs for LGBT youth from ages 14 to 22. It originally was headquartered at the Community Church of Hope. The weekly program, which attracts up to 70 youth, was moved to the First Congregational United Church of Christ last year and the agency rented office space for staffers.

About four years ago, the Youth Empowerment Project, a collaboration with the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS and Native Health, opened the YEP! House. Elliott said that the grant funding that program recently expired. While the other agencies aren't part of the new 1n10 location, Elliott said she expects cooperative efforts with them to continue.

During 2011, 1n10's staff has grown from three full-timers to six full-timers and two part-timers. Elliott joined the organization as executive director in July. -E

one-n-ten Logo

Logo redesign gives 1n10 a new look

A circle in the colors of the gay Pride rainbow flag will serve as the new logo for 1n10.

After working on the project for about three months, the new logo was recently unveiled, according to Linda Elliott.

Elliott said the logo was the work of Lucky Dog Creative, with the goal of creating a symbol that could become recognizable. The logo will appear on the new 1n10 building, as well as the agency's website, letterhead and literature.

The idea was to come up with something that would appeal to the youth the agency serves as well as donors and the corporate world "in a way that was attractive and meaningful," Elliott said.

She said that the logo represents "what we are, what we do and how it impacts people's lives."

Using the rainbow colors, "gives identify to the community that we're dealing with," Elliott said. The circle suggests infinity and energy, she said.

Elliott credited Stacey Jay Cavaliere for coming up with the phrasing used with the logo: Today's Youth. Tomorrow's Future.

The logo was selected from about nine that were developed, Elliott said.

The new logo replaces one that had been in use since 1995, when the agency changed its name from Valley 1n10, originated from a logo design contest in Echo Magazine. -E

Stanton to be honored at 1n10 Fresh Brunch

Greg Stanton, who will become mayor of Phoenix on Jan. 3, will be honored with 1n10's Leadership Award when the LGBT youth services agency stages its Fresh Brunch.

Linda Elliott, 1n10 executive director, said Stanton will be recognized for his work on the issue of homelessness. She noted that many 1n10 clients are homeless LGBT youth. Stanton courted LGBT voters during his campaign.

Elliott said that the mayor-elect's wife, Nicole, has indicated an interest in making school bullying an issue that she will work on during the Stanton administration.

The third annual 1n10 Fresh Brunch will be Feb. 26 at the Phoenician Resort. Tickets are $80. For more information, visit www.freshbrunch.org.