The Phillip Rush Center is named for noted community advocate and philanthropist Phillip Rush in honor of his long-standing commitment to bring diverse people and organizations together in an effort to foster partnerships and understanding. With initial funding from the Lloyd Russell Foundation, the Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Fund and a host of individual donors, the Phillip Rush Center houses office space, meeting and training rooms to be used by organizations whose mission or activities advance LGBT rights and understanding.
The vision of the Rush Center was developed in the Fall of 2008 with the decision of the Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative (the Health Initiative) and Georgia Equality to establish a shared office space by doubling the office suite that has housed the Health Initiative’s offices at 1530 DeKalb Avenue (from 1200 sq ft to 2400 sq ft). The benefits of the location include being directly adjacent to a MARTA train-station, ample free parking and LGBT owned businesses in the same building.
In an effort to create a shared space that goes beyond the identity of any one particular group, the Health Initiative and Georgia Equality decided to name this new facility the Phillip Rush Center. In the year since it’s founding, the Rush Center has become the home for Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative, Georgia Equality, MEGA Family Project and Circle of Grace Community Church.
The Rush Center is also the regular meeting place for two Weight Watchers groups, two domestic violence support groups, and a cancer-survivors support group for African American lesbians and groups such as the Atlanta Macintosh Users Group, the Atlanta Pride Committee, Human Rights Atlanta, Charis Circle and Georgia Shares.
The events and trainings held here include regular parenting and coming out workshops, sensitivity training for social service providers who work with transgender individuals, public health fairs that have included cancer screenings and HIV testing and a series of strategy sessions for healthcare, youth and social justice advocates. A handful of political and social events have also been held here.
Plans are now underway for the continued expansion of The Rush Center. To support the effort, please click here:
For rental rates and information on reserving the space, please contact info@rushcenteratl.org or call Jeff Graham at 404-523-3070 or Linda Ellis at 404-688-2524
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