UPTOWN — The Broadway Youth Center, a youth-focused wellness and drop-in health center, has a new home and a new leader, Howard Brown Health announced Wednesday.
The youth and health services center, which operates out of Wellington United Church of Christ, 615 W. Wellington Ave., plans to transition to its new location, 4009 N. Broadway, by the end of the year, according to a news release.
“The new home for BYC is better suited to fit the needs of the diverse clients that come through our doors," said David Munar, president and CEO of Howard Brown Health. "It’s a larger space and will allow for an expansion of hours, concurrent programming, new service lines, and an increase in the number of young LGBTQ people and allies we can serve.”
The new location, will "include drop-in space, storage lockers, a computer lab, in-house laundry services, showers, classrooms and health promotion and insurance navigation services," according to a press release.
The health center also named Latonya Maley as director of the Broadway Youth Center. She'll take over officially on April 15. Maley has worked with the center for three years, most recently serving as Manager of Youth HIV/STI prevention, the release said.
The center serves as a "safe haven" for more the 1,500 teens and young adults seeking "refuge, medical care, social services," and clothing. The services are free of charge to those ages 12-24, according to its website.
Maley "brings a wealth of direct service experience, a successful history at Howard Brown, and insightful perspectives that are crucial to working with vulnerable young LGBTQ people,” said the center's Chief Operating Officer Kristin Baker.
"BYC has been looking for a permanent home for some time, and I’m confident Latonya will make the transition to the new, permanent space as seamless as possible."
Maley studied anthropology and sociology at Agnes Scott College before receiving her master's of public health from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
"I look forward to working with BYC staff and our community partners to ensure a smooth transition to the new location and to continue to refine our approach to working with any and all young people in Chicago who need BYC’s support," Maley said. “I’m so proud to continue working with the resilient and inspiring young people who come to BYC for services."
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