Christmas came early for Philadelphia’s William Way LGBT Community Center at 1315 Spruce Street when it received $2.5 million towards improvements and an expansion of its historic headquarters, courtesy Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).
Along with the much-needed funds, the William Penn Foundation granted the William Way – incorporated since 1974, initially under the name the Gay Community Center of Philadelphia – $1 million to assist with architectural planning and design for the Center’s redevelopment.
Publicly during a press conference at William Way with Gov. Tom Wolf and Philadelphia city officials, Chris Bartlett, Executive Director of the Center, William Way board co-chair and Capital Campaign member Kira Kinsman, and others accepted the money with hope and cheer, knowing that such a healthy cash flow will benefit the many health, social and cultural needs of the local LGBTQ+ community.
Through its Build the Way Campaign, the Center has embarked on a “daring and visionary project” to transform and rebuild the existing community center’s space into an “expansive, inclusive, colorful, and unabashedly queer space for all LGBTQIA+ individuals to gather, celebrate, learn, and find life-giving support.”
“At a time when transgender, bisexual, lesbian and gay communities face increasing hostility in the American political arena, more than ever we need William Way as the center of communities in Philadelphia—so that we can come together to offer mutual support, direct services, arts and culture, and community connections,” Bartlett told Metro, adding that William Way is approaching its first half century in service to the Delaware Valley’s LGBTQ+ communities.
“We’re building a container, not only for our current programs, but for programs that will be designed to benefit the communities of the future,” he said. “We’ll have more space for programs, more space for events, more gallery and performance space, and, very importantly, more rental and lease space for those who want to base their community work at the new William Way headquarters. We’re excited that, in 2025, we’ll have the opportunity to open our doors so that both current and new generations of LGBTQ Philadelphians, and our allies, can dream big for our future.”
During Wolf’s visit to William Way, the governor witnessed, firsthand the key components of the renovation plans, which include everything from improving ADA access to the existing building and new fire stair/elevator cores, to the creation of a column-free event space for 300 people, catering kitchen and cafe for job creation and training, a new dedicated art gallery and computer lounge and more.
“The William Way is an anchor of the Philadelphia community, serving more than 15,000 unique visitors each year from all backgrounds and walks of life,” Wolf said in a statement. “Their walls provide a safe, welcoming space for residents to gather, learn, and grow together. My administration is proud to support that legacy and contribute to the next chapter of growth at a time when our nation is experiencing heightened hate speech and violence against the LGBTQIA+ community. Grants like this one improve our neighborhoods and cities by creating spaces that are not just safe, but welcoming and affirming to LGBTQIA+ Pennsylvanians.”
State Rep. Brian Sims, the first openly-gay elected state legislator in Pennsylvania history, was pleased with the influx of much-needed money to the William Way.
“As State Representative for William Way’s district, I personally know the difference the Center makes in people’s lives,” he said in a statement. “I’ve hosted job fairs and other community meetings at the Center because I know that everyone feels welcome and included there. These much-needed renovations will make the Center even more welcoming.”
For more information, visit buildtheway.org.
