The Washington, D.C., Jewish Community Center (DCJCC) announced yesterday that its Kurlander Program for GLBT Outreach & Engagement, aka GLOE, has been included in the 2012-2013 ''Slingshot'' guide highlighting the ''50 most innovative nonprofits in North American Jewish life.''
The guide, first published in 2005, is a project of the Slingshot Fund and not only highlights ''those organizations in Jewish life with particular resonance among the next generation,'' but helps those organizations gain access to additional funding.
GLOE, founded in 2006 by Stuart Kurlander, is the only full-time LGBT Jewish community center program in North America, according to the DCJCC. Every year, it offers dozens of events and programs, from speed dating to volunteering to the very popular Queer Purim Party.
''GLOE has been a pioneer in creating a welcoming place for GLBT Jews,'' Carole Zawatsky, CEO of the DCJCC, said in release announcing the ''Slingshot'' distinction for GLOE. ''Its selection by Slingshot for this year's top 50 programs in the country demonstrates the impact we've had here in the D.C. community, as well as how we've modeled a holistic approach to GLBT programming nationally.''
Halley Cohen, director of GLOE was also quoted in the Nov. 8 announcement.
''I love that GLOE connects with such a range of queer Jews: Orthodox gay men, young service-oriented lesbians, interfaith couples, genderqueer college kids, gallery going zaydes, deaf film fans, ritual-focused Jews of color – basically, all of us who want to check more than one box,'' she said, with ''zaydes'' being a respectful Yiddish term for elderly gentlemen. ''It is an honor to be able to work every day to create space for this dynamic community.''
For more information about the Kurlander Program for GLBT Outreach & Engagement, call 202-518-9400 or visit washingtondcjcc.org.
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