Congresswoman Madeleine Dean speaks to Resilience Resource Center board members during a recent visit to the center.
Since opening its doors in October 2023, the Resilience Resource Center has grown astronomically, nearly quadrupling its safe space in Lower Moreland Township, while expanding its community through fun and educational programs, continually strengthening its foundation by partnering with like-minded organizations, securing grants and even participating in a roundtable with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
The nonprofit organization that formed in June 2023 to serve the greater Philadelphia LGBTQ community through resilience-building skills delivered via mental health services, career counseling, support groups, youth programming, and more, has had a whirlwind two years. Run by an all-volunteer board – with insight and guidance from the community – Resilience Resource Center has become the hub for LGBTQ individuals and allies in Montgomery and Bucks counties, Philadelphia, as well as community members who travel more than an hour for the safe space the center provides.
In July, several youth, as well as Resilience Resource Center board members, participated in a roundtable discussion with Gov. Shapiro focused on safety in schools and how he could help.
More recently, the center received grant awards that will further its mission of growing its audience for programs and services in tandem with its fall 2024 space expansion.
The Gender Justice Fund provided Resilience Resource Center with a $20,000 grant through the Trans Resilience Fund which will enable the center to provide integrated programming combining mental health, career coaching, personal styling and intervention support resources specifically designed for trans and gender-expansive individuals.
“We want to remove the barriers to care,” Resilience Resource Center Communication Director Dana Newman said. “And make sure new people are aware of us.”
To that end, as part of the grant, the center will provide SEPTA transit cards to assist folks who need transportation to a job, or the center – which is located a five-minute walk from the Bethayres train station.
Farrah Parkes, Gender Justice Fund executive director, said the committee was “very excited” about the center’s location in the Montgomery County suburbs.
“There’s an awareness that while there are gaps everywhere, trans folks outside of Philly are having a particularly hard time accessing services,” she said.
In addition, the committee appreciated the fact that Resilience Resource Center’s leadership includes trans individuals.
“The fact that they had also been able to build up so much work in a relatively short period of time” was another positive attribute, she said.
Gender Justice Fund began as the New Century Guild in 1882 and focused its efforts on supporting women in the workforce. In 2020 the organization changed its name to coincide with its mission supporting gender justice. Since 2021 Gender Justice Fund has distributed more than $800,000 in grants through the Trans Resilience Fund.
Resilience Resource Center also received a grant from Tigris Foundation to support its Art for Resilience youth program, which features six guided art workshops and culminates with an art showcase in November.
About the Resilience Resource Center
The Resilience Resource Center provides accessible mental health support, safe educational spaces, and career skills training to empower LGBTQ individuals to thrive in community and reclaim their resilience. Learn more at www.resiliencerc.org.
About Gender Justice Fund
Gender Justice Fund fights to end all forms of gender-based oppression through trust-based philanthropy and by amplifying community-led systems change.
About Tigris Foundation
The Tigris Foundation invests in locally informed initiatives, with a special focus on supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.
