U.D.T.J.

Community Center

Addressing the needs of Delaware County’s marginalized communities:

BIPOC

LGBTQQIA+

Underserved Youth

Get Involved & Donate.

U.D.T.J. is working around the clock and we have secured grants and long-term funding from our supporters across the region. However, we need your help bridging our gap till when our grants come in. Help us reach our goal of $5,000.00 and be part of launching Delaware County’s first LGBTQQIA+ focused, BIPOC, and underserved youth center.

“Break Barriers, Build Bridges” Fundraising Campaign

U.D.T.J. is fiscally sponsored by Amistad Law Project which is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Our EIN is 47-2112376.

Download a copy of our informational flyer!

Bridging the gap.

The U.D.T.J. Community Center will be located in Eastern Delaware County readily accessible to public transit. The location of the new center will act as bridge for organizations bringing resources and services directly to our community members.

We hope to invite you to our grand opening in Upper Darby in January, 2024!

Why do we need a center?

Limited Access to Community Building Spaces:

Many members of the LGBTQQIA+, BIPOC, and underserved youth communities in Delaware County lack access to safe and inclusive spaces for community building. Existing community centers may not fully address their unique needs, leaving individuals feeling isolated and underserved. Furthermore, U.D.T.J. has built extensive trust with many of our most marginalized communities improving networking and outreach opportunities. The absence of a dedicated center that specifically caters to these populations hampers the development of a strong and supportive community network.

Inaccessibility of Services/Resources:

Marginalized communities often face disparities in accessing essential services and resources, including counseling, mental health support, crisis intervention,  recovery services,  legal services, disability services, immigrant services, housing, educational resources, job placement assistance, hygiene products, and health and wellness. Existing services may not be culturally competent or may lack sensitivity to the unique challenges faced by LGBTQQIA+, BIPOC, and underserved youth populations. A community center that consolidates these services with a focus on inclusivity and intersectionality is crucial to address these gaps and promote overall well-being.

Lack of Empowerment and Advocacy Opportunities:

LGBTQQIA+, BIPOC, and underserved youth populations in Delaware County often encounter limited opportunities for skill development, leadership training, and empowerment initiatives. The lack of resources and mentorship programs, specifically in impacted communities, contribute to higher rates of unemployment, lower educational attainment, and diminished self-esteem within these communities. Establishing a community center dedicated to empowerment will address these gaps and enable individuals to reach their full potential.

Addressing Intersectionality:

The intersectionality of identities within the LGBTQQIA+, BIPOC, and underserved youth communities necessitates a nuanced and multifaceted approach. Current initiatives may not sufficiently consider the unique challenges faced by individuals at the intersections of these identities, resulting in a gap in services and support. A community center that explicitly recognizes and addresses intersectionality will ensure a more comprehensive and tailored approach to empowerment.

What does our center do?

Community Building

  • The Center will facilitate peer support groups for different age groups, promoting mental health awareness, self-care, and county related issues affecting marginalized communities.

    The support groups are unique due to their focus on intersectionality, and U.D.T.J.’s long term involvement in these marginalized communities has built a relationship of trust that will encourage more participation from our focus communities.

  • Our center will host inclusive events that bring together individuals with shared interests, fostering the formation of social and community groups within the LGBTQQIA+ and BIPOC communities. The formation of community social groups will help aid in reducing social isolation and improving community resilience to outside factors. Some examples include sports leagues, civic organizations, after school clubs, etc.

  • The Center will organize educational workshops, social groups, and cultural events tailored to address the specific needs of the LGBTQQIA+, BIPOC, and youth communities, celebrating their culture, history, and contributions while creating a safe space.

    Delaware County Pride: The Center will continue to maintain Delaware County’s largest LGBTQQIA+ Pride celebration, providing an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate.

  • The U.D.T.J. Community Center will be a hub for community involvement, action, and civic participation. The center will serve as a space for the most marginalized communities to learn, grow, and become advocates for more inclusivity in Delaware County.

Resources & Services

  • The Center will include the establishment of hygiene closets in collaboration with schools and other centers. The Center will distribute personal hygiene kits to those in need and host workshops to empower and educate marginalized communities on hygiene and wellness.

    The Center will ensure the availability of such essential items on-site for the underserved LGBTQQIA+, Trans, BIPOC, and youth populations.

  • U.D.T.J. provides outreach for the unhoused at 69th Street Terminal. In partnership with other local organizations, the Center will work to keep our community’s unhoused fed and warm throughout the year. This direct service would expand and the Center would become a place to collect supplies and resources for those in need.

  • The Center will have an extensive referral network for various challenges faced by the LGBTQQIA+, BIPOC, and underserved youth communities. Also, our Serving Delco program will allow our partnering organizations to provide services to Delaware County residents once or twice a month. The mission of the programs is to improve accessibility to vital resources.

    Categories of referral network services:

    • Counseling

    • Crisis Intervention

    • Disability

    • Immigrant Services

    • Legal Services

    • Mental Health

    • Physical Health

    • Recovery Services

    • Unhoused

  • U.D.T.J. will continue to provide direct support to families in-need during the holiday season through donations of holiday gifts, winter clothes, food items, and essentials for newborns and toddlers to families.

Youth Empowerment

  • This comprehensive initiative addresses the multifaceted needs of marginalized youth by combining leadership development opportunities, advocacy training workshops, financial literacy courses, and diversion programs through creative arts. The leadership development and advocacy training aspect focus on skill-building, self-esteem, and community engagement, complemented by workshops covering communication, teamwork, and discussions. The financial literacy courses target marginalized youth, offering tailored instruction on budgeting, saving, investing, and debt management, with community workshops and technological integration for broad accessibility. Finally, the creative arts and diversion programs emphasize collaboration with community members and professionals, fostering positive relationships, life skill development, and self-confidence. These initiatives will empower marginalized youth to become advocates for positive change and providing them with essential life skills for a brighter future.

  • The Center’s violence prevention program will address key areas such as conflict resolution, anger management, and non-violent communication. The program will leverage workshops, training sessions, and peer support groups to achieve this goal. In addition, our violence prevention initiatives will encompass de-escalation trainings.

  • Our workshops will support the LGBTQQIA+, BIPOC, and underserved youth to become advocates. The workshops will create internships and volunteer opportunities that will cover a range of activities, including our existing programs and initiatives.

  • The Center’s mentorship and internship programs will provide opportunities for individuals to assist in the operation of the center, planning of events, conducting activities and social events, and fostering leadership and personal growth.