Current Beneficiary
The 519 Church Street Commuity Centre
2011 – 2012
Mission Statement
The 519 is a meeting place and focal point for its diverse downtown communities. Within a supportive environment, it responds to the needs of the local neighbourhood and the broader Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTTQ) communities by supplying resources and opportunities to foster self-determination, civic engagement and community participation.
Role of the 519
The 519 Community Centre is a meeting place and focal point for the creative enhancement of a vibrant healthy downtown community. We respond creatively and passionately to the needs of the local neighbourhood and the broader LGBTTQ communities by providing resources and opportunities to foster self-determination, civic engagement, and community enrichment through social recreation, volunteerism, arts and culture, and community participation.
Vision Statement
The 519 commitment to the Community strives to:
- Provide effective programs that meet the needs of the local and broader LGBTTQ communities
Create an equitable, supportive, welcoming environment for the community, staff, volunteers and the board - Promote a positive public profile and provides leadership to enhance our communities
- Successfully advocate on issues that are relevant to our community
- Establish a broad stable resource base in order to be able to effectively support the community
Governing Framework
The 519 Church Street Community Centre is a non-profit Board of Management of the City of Toronto. Generally, as an organization we have been created to(1):
(a) Provide a broad range of community, social, educational and recreational services and programs;
(b) Support community capacity building and community development through programs, volunteerism and community engagement;
(c) Be responsive to the community through identifying evolving community, social, educational and recreational needs and developing ways of meeting them;
(d) Support community participation, through membership and the election of Board nominees, to direct and control the administration and programming at the community centre; and
(e) Work in partnership with community organizations, local businesses, community groups and community members to provide accessible services that improve community well being.
[1] Association of Community Centres – Relationship Framework as approved by the City of Toronto Council on September 25, 26 and 27, 2006.
Values Statement
The 519 believes they must:
- Recognize and celebrate our diversity and our history
- Respect and value the principles of equity, inclusion and the dignity of all
- Provide programs and services within an anti-oppression social justice framework
- Ensure we are secular and non-partisan
- Fearlessly act with integrity, creativity and vision
