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www.PrideCenterFlorida.orgVOICESpring2013
954.463.9005
www.PrideCenterFlorida.org
Seniors@PrideCenterFlorida.org
2040 North Dixie Highway
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
Celebrate Life at
the Liveliest Spot
in Town!
SENIORS
•Coffee & Conversation Tuesdays @ 10 am
•Daily Enhance Fitness senior exercise classes
•Pot lucks, fun shows, movies and Bingo
•Games Days every other Tuesday afternoon
•Issues, Art, History...Speaker Series on alternate Tuesdays
•Healthy Aging seminars
•Weekly Bridge, Hearts, Pinochle and more
•AARP Driver Safety courses, CarFit and Safe Homes programs
...and a faaabulous annual Senior Health Expo!
“
I
am still working on trying to
figure out the vending machine,”
says Natalia Tapia with a laugh.
“However, I can say that I love
coming here every Monday. I can
only hope that others can sense my
enthusiasm.”
Those that meet Natalia surely can
sense her enthusiasm. Though she only
has volunteered with The Pride Center
for a few months, she’s already made
an impact on the community members,
staff members and other volunteers
with whom she’s worked.
“I provide many smiles and strive to
provide everyone who walks through
the door or calls on the phone whatever
they need during their visit with us,”
she says.
Natalia says she reads The Voice
“religiously” and is “taken aback” by the
growth and development at The Pride
Center since she moved to Oakland
Park in 2006.
“The grants received, the hands-on
work in the community as a whole,
the efforts from the volunteers, the
consistent appreciation that the entire
center shows for each other, the guests
that come and know that they have a
comfortable place to be who they are.
It’s a home environment and it makes
me happy to be a contributing part of
that dynamic,” she says.
Natalia is quick to point out what she
values most about The Pride Center.
“It provides a safe place for the entire
community,” she says. “You don’t have
to be gay to be welcomed and embraced.
I love that we have relationships with
collaborating organizations that are
ready and able to help all our guests
with whatever they need. Many of our
guests have nowhere to turn. But they
can turn to The Pride Center where
many helping hands are available
to them when they may need it the
most. Without questions, prejudice
or judgment. Everyone has a story.
Whether their story is one of triumph
or one of need- The Pride Center is
there.”
She also values the relationships she
has formed with other volunteers and
staff.
“I value working with my front desk
team (Gil and Joe),” she says. “Mr.
Clarence (Facilities Assistant) not only
assures that there are no animals in the
back woods so guests are safe, but walks
around all night with the security guard
Ms. Lisa, assuring our guests and staff
are safe under their watch.”
Natalia admits this is the first time
that she has volunteered regularly on a
weekly basis.
“I have two jobs Monday-Friday,
but I felt a void missing that needed
to be filled,” she says. “I am heavily
involved in my Sorority, Omega Phi
Chi, as an Alumni Member. One
of our organization’s core values is
involvement in community affairs. It
is easier to find ways to contribute to
local communities on an undergraduate
level, but as an adult I found it difficult
to find consistent opportunities that
would enable me to connect with
organizations that support causes I
believe in.
“I am passionate about the
advancement and fostering of the
LGBT community and Breast Cancer
Awareness,” she shares. “I still
volunteer and raise money for the
Susan G. Komen Foundation as well
as the American Cancer Society on a
yearly basis. Once I found out that The
Pride Center welcomed volunteers I
knew I found my fit.”
She was determined to become a
volunteer.
“Mr. Robert Boo (CEO) and Ms.
Samantha McCoy (Customer Service
Coordinator) can attest to my insistence
regarding the processing of my
application,” she laughs.
Volunteer SpotlightNatalia Tapia smiles her way into Pride Center family

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