After seeing a need for local LGBTQ+ community support, a new nonprofit organization decided to start its own center in Port Huron.
The Blue Water Ally Center was created by the Blue Water Allies, a nonprofit group made up of local LGBTQ+ community members and allies. The center will focus initially on healthcare education, recovery support and social and artistic engagement. The goal of Blue Water Allies is to create a safe place in Port Huron for the local LGBTQ+ community.
The Blue Water Ally Center officially opens in July at 1519 Military St. in the old Atrium Café building.
Blue Water Allies was founded in November last year and recently gained nonprofit status. The group has gone from meeting in the Raven Café to now starting a brick-and-mortar center. The Community Foundation of St. Clair County had approached the group offering support.
Blue Water Allies President Amanda Hurtubise said the Community Foundation has been integral to the center being created.
“The Community Foundation was definitely an ally in wanting us to be in that space,” Hurtubise said.
Hale Walker, Community Foundation Board chair, said in a statement that the foundation believes the Blue Water Ally Center will be a positive addition to downtown Port Huron that will offer an equitable and affirming environment.
“We’re excited to see what the Blue Water Allies do with the 1519 Military St. space and the wonderful opportunity it presents for our community,” Walker said in a statement.
The Blue Water Ally Center will focus its programs on area the board has knowledge in. Some of the board works in the healthcare field, recovery field and education.
“We’re a pretty diverse board that sees a lot of need, and so it’s not just a one-sided program,” Cathy Murray, board secretary said. “We’re looking at this from a broader lense.”
Initial funding for the center came from money donated as part of the Big Give, a 24-hour philanthropy event hosted by the Community Foundation. For the 2021 event, Hurtubise and McLaren Port Huron had created the Ally Project, a program that focused on transgender and queer healthcare. This project raised $34,000 from the Big Give.
However, McLaren had decided to give the money to the Community Foundation because it believed it would allow for broader community usage. Hurtubise said the money was then transferred to be used for the center.
The group said the $34,000 will not sustain all of the programming the Blue Water Ally Center needs. So, they are looking into sponsorships as well as using future events to fund the center.
Port Huron Pride will be the first big event for the Blue Water Ally Center. It will take place June 25 at McMorran Plaza.
Blue Water Allies said they have seen overwhelming support from the community. Businesses downtown can be seen with Pride posters made by the group either on their doors or in windows. Board member Ren Senkmajer said approximately 50 businesses have the posters.
The posters are a way for local businesses to signify they are safe businesses for the LGBTQ+ community as well as supporting Blue Water Allies.
Board member MJ Collins said people they’ve talked to about the center seem very excited.
“It’s something that I’m not necessarily surprised by, but I just think the community has been waiting for someone to take that step forward,” they said. “I think we have a great group of people to do that.”
Blue Water Allies will be using the old Atrium Café as the center. Currently, the group is shifting the inside of the building to accommodate future programs. Senkmajer said the group is working on the common spaces so they can hold classes, seminars and performances.
Additionally, the location is near downtown and bus stops, is a walkable location and has both indoor and outdoor areas. Blue Water Allies also said they felt that the space was an area that was safe for its members.
“It really just checked all of our boxes,” said Alexis Little, a Blue Water Allies board member.
Upcoming soft events for the center include poster making the Saturday before Port Huron Pride and Pride merchandise pick-up.
Blue Water Allies Vice President Laura Hillman said the center allows for local LGBTQ+ people to feel safer and more supported in Port Huron. She said something that has resonated with her is the idea that while someone can internally accept themselves, if they do not feel safe in their community, then it is nearly impossible to express themselves.
“To feel safe enough to have the freedom to express yourself is something that I don’t think the LGBTQ community takes for granted because it’s not guaranteed,” she said. “It really speaks to the importance of having a safe space where you can go in and know you’ll be surrounded by community members and allies.”
Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.
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