• Equality
  • Community
    • Health
    • Youth
    • Seniors
  • Voices
    • From the CEO
    • Take Five
    • Why I Give
  • About the Center
  • Galleries
  • Calendar
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Slice, Slice Baby!
  • LGBTQ+ Youth, Seniors, and ‘Drag Race’ Queens Celebrate Chosen Family at Inaugural Intergenerational Thanksgiving Dinner
  • Dispensing Culturally Competent Care: The Center’s Patient-Centric Pharmacy Does Much More Than Fill Prescriptions
  • Get to Know the Center’s New Leadership Team
  • The Center Looks Back on 25 Years of Senior Services
  • Center CEO Joe Hollendoner: “Our Work Is Never Done”
  • Trixie Mattel Inspires LGBTQ+ Youth to Be Their Best Selves at Models of Pride: “You Are All the Main Character”
  • From Poetry to Tap Dance, Seniors Flaunt Their Talents at Fall Showcase 
Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube
LGBT News Now
Learn about career opportunities at the Center
  • Equality
  • Community
    • Health
    • Youth
    • Seniors
  • Voices
    • From the CEO
    • Take Five
    • Why I Give
  • About the Center
  • Galleries
  • Calendar
LGBT News Now
You are at:Home»Featured»The Center’s New Executive Director Joe Hollendoner Takes Our Questions
Joe Hollendoner

The Center’s New Executive Director Joe Hollendoner Takes Our Questions

0
By on October 22, 2021 Featured, Voices

Since assuming the role as the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Executive Director in early July, Joe Hollendoner has quietly made his presence known among the Center’s nearly 800 employees.

Hollendoner, who will succeed Lorri L. Jean as Chief Executive Officer upon her retirement in July 2022, has invested the last several months visiting the Center’s various locations to familiarize himself with the multitude of vital programs and services that our organization provides to the community.

Hollendoner, formerly the CEO of San Francisco AIDS Foundation, took some time out of his onboarding process to answer a handful of questions.

What do you think makes the Center so special?

It’s a source of hope. I first became aware of the Center while I was watching an episode of Ellen that aired shortly after she “came out.” Her character attended a support group at the McDonald/Wright Building. As a teenager who was watching from my home in the suburbs of Chicago, I remember thinking, ‘I can’t believe that such a place exists’ and, knowing that it did, gave me hope for my future. Since joining the team at the Center, I see the hope the Center continues to instill within so many LGBTQ+ people who are struggling.

As you have embedded yourself in various programs, what are some of the more memorable moments?

One experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life was spending an evening volunteering in our youth shelter. I spent time not only speaking with some of the residents as we hung out in the drop-in space, but I also met with staff who shared why they’re so passionate about their work and what motivates them to show up for our community. I will forever remember that experience and will look back at it whenever I need to be inspired!  That night truly showed me how fortunate I am to be leading an organization that’s so dynamic and impactful.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I’m a collaborative leader. I like to develop deep, authentic partnerships with the people with whom I work, whether internally or externally. I also think of myself as someone who is not only strategic and visionary but who also has the ability to execute on that vision. I seek to use my positional influence and privilege to advance justice for all. And, I try to incorporate joy and laughter into the work whenever possible.

You’ve been part of the LGBTQ movement since coming out as gay at the age of 16. What inspired you to become involved so young?

When I came out I was attending an all-boys Catholic high school in the suburbs of Chicago. Neither my school nor my community was very LGBT-friendly, which caused me to struggle. I remember one day in particular when I experienced a pretty significant physical attack at school. I ended up going to the principal’s office and telling him how unsafe I felt at school, and I asked that he do something to protect me. He took a pause and said that all he could do was pray for me. That resulted in me seeking support from a local LGBT drop-in center and getting involved with my local chapter of GLSEN—a national organization that works to end discrimination, harassment and bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Through that, I discovered my passion for community work and advocacy. I wanted to give back to the LGBT community the support I had been given and make sure other young people didn’t have to experience the intolerance that I did.

Lorri L. Jean is one of the longest-tenured leaders in the LGBTQ movement. How do you feel about following in her footsteps?

Lorri is an icon in our movement who I have long admired and who I am so delighted that I got to know through my previous role at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation when our organizations collaborated on AIDS/LifeCycle. While it’s incredibly intimidating to follow in her footsteps, the support she and the Board have offered me throughout this transition makes me certain that I can continue the tremendous success the Center experienced under Lorri’s leadership. I deeply respect Lorri and want to make her proud.  

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Related Posts

Get to Know the Center’s New Leadership Team

Center CEO Joe Hollendoner: “Our Work Is Never Done”

Center CEO Joe Hollendoner: It’s Time to Start Treating Human Monkeypox Like the Emergency It Is

Comments are closed.

Upcoming Events

Feb 4
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

The Future is Black 2023: Renaissance

Feb 9
February 9 - March 4

Cock

Feb 10
February 10 - February 11

The MisMatch Game: Crazy Little Thing Called Love Edition

Mar 16
March 16 - April 16

Menstruation: A Period Piece

Apr 29
April 29 - June 24

A New Brain

View Calendar
About Us

LGBT News Now

LGBT News Now is a publication of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, the Center is the largest LGBT organization in the world, dedicated to building a world where LGBT thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society. Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org.

Follow Us on Instagram

lalgbtcenter

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

Los Angeles LGBT Center
Last call for RSVPs: We have just a handful of ope Last call for RSVPs: We have just a handful of open seats left before we officially reach capacity! See the link in bio to register— and we cannot wait to see each of you this Saturday, Feb. 4! The question is now: what will you wear? #BHM #LAFabulous
This is not a drill: There are active legislative This is not a drill: There are active legislative threats against our freedoms going up for vote across the country. We know most of these fights are not happening in California—but that’s precisely why our Center community can be of help. Join the Resistance Squad today by texting ‘RESIST’ to 33339 to help win this fight, and swipe through the slides to understand what’s happening. —>
Did you know that the Center hosts a Senior Prom f Did you know that the Center hosts a Senior Prom for our #LGBTQ+ #elders each year? A few years ago, we were visited by filmmakers who wanted to document the event in all its glory—and now their film is airing tonight on @PBS at 10PM PT. Please tune in to celebrate the amazing work of our Senior Services team and our real heroes, our incredible clients! And stay tuned later this year for more from our next installment of the Prom.
Our community at the Los Angeles LGBT Center exten Our community at the Los Angeles LGBT Center extends our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those we lost in the tragic mass shooting in #MontereyPark, and our well wishes to the survivors who are recovering. We remain committed to our hope for a peaceful and prosperous Los Angeles—without guns and hate.
We’re honored to join the @academymuseum as a Co We’re honored to join the @academymuseum as a Community Partner for the upcoming screening of Pat Rocco's Signs of Queer Life on January 26 at 7:30pm.

The trailblazing LA-based filmmaker and gay rights advocate, #PatRocco, captured seminal moments of LGBTQ history, joy and upsets. Check out a preview of his film #WeWereThere. Use discount code LGBTQ+ to get $2 off tickets to the screening! Link in our bio. 
 
#AcademyMuseum #LGBTQstories
The Center is proud to announce our inaugural thea The Center is proud to announce our inaugural theatre season! This year, we are partnering with local theatre companies to present nearly 100 showings of four remarkable plays to lift the depth and diversity of LGBTQ+ narratives. The line-up includes world premieres, an award-winning comedy, and a radically reimagined musical. Performances begin Feb. 9—Get your tickets now at lalgbtcenter.org/theatre, or at the link in our bio! 🎭 🎟️
SHE DID NOT COME TO PLAY! The one and only @bigfre SHE DID NOT COME TO PLAY! The one and only @bigfreedia, Queen of Bounce, is coming to the Los Angeles LGBT Center for #TheFutureIsBlack — our #BlackHistoryMonth event — and tickets are FREE to the public at the #linkinbio. Hear from Freedia and a dynamic roster of other Black talent, then dance the night away in our Renaissance-themed afterparty. Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 4th and get on that list at the link in bio before it closes.
Today we commemorate one of our nation’s most pr Today we commemorate one of our nation’s most preeminent civil rights leaders— the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.— who left us a transformative legacy rooted in service and community. His noble actions blueprinted monuments of unity across the country, and especially, here at home in Los Angeles. On this #MLKDayofService, we are reminded of our ability to champion equity and justice for all.
 
#DrKing #MLKDay
We at the Los Angeles LGBT Center are deeply distu We at the Los Angeles LGBT Center are deeply disturbed by the videos depicting the tragic deaths of three Angelenos, and join the Mayor in calling for urgent police reform and accountability. Swipe through for our full statement.

#TakarSmith #KeenanAnderson #OscarSanchez
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Stay Connected
Subscribe
Copyright © 2022 Los Angeles LGBT Center
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.