LGBTQ Center in South Bend facing crucial changes

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The South Bend LGBTQ Center announced on Tuesday that Executive Director H.R. Jung is no longer with the organization, and they will be pausing all programming for the month of September.

The organization said in a statement that they will resume services, "as it becomes possible to do so responsibly and sustainably." 

Full statement:

Last year, in response to an increased community need and a capacity-building grant, The LGBTQ Center grew to an extent that has proven to be unsustainable. We are now in a position where we must draw down our capacity to match our resources. Our Executive Director is no longer with the organization and, for the foreseeable future, we will be operating on an entirely volunteer-run basis led by increased time commitments from our Board of Directors.

The board is conducting a comprehensive review of its finances and policies in concert with professional advisors to identify and remedy any gaps in oversight and governance that brought us to this point. To focus on those efforts, we will be pausing programming and events through the end of September, with the intention to resume services as it becomes possible to do so responsibly and sustainably. We will contact community members who lead programming at the center to determine ways we can support them in continuing to meet during this time.

We remain committed to supporting LGBTQ people in the greater Michiana area. We recognize the need for consistent, reliable support of this community, and deeply regret the impact of this reduction in services.

As we approach the center's 20th Anniversary and consider its future, we are centering stewardship, sustainability, and—as we always have—community. We look forward to sharing our revitalized vision with you in the near future, and returning to service stronger than ever.