Lambda Family Circle Events
Center Families Ice Cream Social
Join other GLBT families at an Ice Cream Social at the Capital District Gay & Lesbian Community Center on Sunday, August 15. This will be a casual opportunity for families with children of all ages to get together, meet, talk and play. And of course eat ice cream! See the flyer above for details – we hope to see you there!
Tips for LGBTQ People Seeking to Become Foster/Adoptive Parents in New York State
Meeting Description
The New York State child welfare system is in constant need of foster/adoptive families for the approximately 23,000 children in its care. More than ever, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) communities are taking their places as temporary or permanent parents to some of these children/youth.
In this webinar, Consultant Fred Elia will acquaint participants with the public/ private agency process to becoming a foster/adoptive parent and how best to navigate that process. We will explore the parenting possibilities of fostering and/or adopting and help participants identify LGBTQ-welcoming agencies. Participants will leave with an understanding of the criteria for selection and the steps of the certification process.
The webinar is sponsored by the Lesbian and Gay Family Building Project. The Project is dedicated to helping LGBTQ people in upstate New York achieve their goals of building and sustaining healthy families. Pride and Joy, its network of LGBTQ-led families, provides support, educational programs and a sense of community to the adults and children in these families. Visit us at www.PrideAndJoyFamilies.org.
Date & Time
Date: Mon, Jul 19, 2010
Time: 12:00 PM EDT
Duration: 1 hour
Host(s): Claudia Stallman
Presenter Information
Frederick Elia
Fred Elia is a child welfare trainer/consultant with over 30 years professional experience, concentrating in the recruitment, training and support of foster/adoptive parents. He is also president of “A Thousand Moms,” a statewide community organization project in support of LGBT/Q youth in New York’s foster/adoptive system. Fred grew up in foster care with a younger brother in Schenectady, NY. He began working with the child welfare community in NYS to recruit LGBT foster/adoptive parents about 20 years ago. Ten years ago he organized the founding of the NYC LGBT Foster Care Coalition to bring together the LGBT community with the child welfare community in order to better serve children/youth in the foster care/adoption system. He now shares his foster family homestead (including The Foster Care Garden — a welcoming space for all connected to the Child Welfare System), with his partner, Dave.
Lambda Pride 2010 Update
We’re looking forward to seeing all of you and your families at this weekend’s Pride celebrations. Saturday’s Family Fun Day is shaping up to be a terrific event, with music, kid’s activities, and refreshments provided by CDGLCC and Lambda Family Circle (note that we will be at the Main Stage, not the Lake House). On Sunday, we’ll be representing our community in the annual Pride Parade.
In addition to being a weekend of great family fun, we hope these Pride events will give families a chance to get together and to let us know your ideas about the future directions of our group and the Capital District’s parenting community. If you have ideas for future events, ways you’d like to get involved, or just suggestions for our “Reboot”, we’d love to hear from you. I’ll be there all day Saturday in my “United Republic of Fatherhood” t-shirt, so flag me down and let me know what you think.
Brian Frank
For Lambda Family Circle
info@lambdafamilycircle.org
Pride Family Fun Day/Field Day
Washington Park Main Stage (note: NOT at the Lake House)
Washington Park in Albany
Saturday, June 12th
Noon to 4 pm
Bring the family and kids of all ages (sorry, no pets allowed) for a relaxing day in the park featuring an acoustic stage with local favorites, kid’s games and activities, and refreshments provided by CDGLCC and Lambda. Pack a picnic and come on out and meet other families and make new friends!
This is planned to be a lower-key Pride event that is especially friendly to our families, and a good alternative to the Pride Festival on Sunday for families who have little ones and would enjoy a quieter venue.
For those members on Facebook, you can learn more by friending CDGLCC Albany and searching their events for Capital Pride Family Fun and Field Day or going to:
Capital Pride Parade
Washington Park in Albany
Sunday, June 13th
Noon step off
We will meet at the Playground in Washington Park at 11:30, and then proceed over to take our place in the line-up and march behind the Lambda Families banner. Sunday is expected to be hot and humid, so be sure to pack your sunscreen and water. Come march with us and show that families are part of the GLBTQ community too!
Lambda Pride 2010
Hello, Lambda families! It’s been a long while since you’ve heard from us, but I’m glad to say that – after a bit of a hiatus – we’re back and looking forward to working together to build a strong community for our families. You’ll be hearing more about our “Reboot” in the weeks to come, but one new direction that I’m already pleased to tell you about is that we’ve begun working in close collaboration with the Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community Council through their Center Families initiative to help leverage the strengths of both groups. To kick things off, this year’s Capital District Pride Celebration offers three great special opportunities for our families to participate:
Pride Family Fun Day/Field Day
Washington Park in Albany
Lake House
Saturday, June 12th
Noon to 4 pm
Bring the family and kids of all ages (sorry, no pets allowed) for a relaxing day in the park featuring an acoustic stage with local favorites, field day games, and a softball tournament (CDGLCC vs Two Rivers). Pack a picnic and come on out and meet other families and new friends!
This is planned to be a lower-key Pride event that is especially friendly to our families, and a good alternative to the Pride Festival on Sunday for families who have little ones and would enjoy a quieter venue.
Lambda Families will be providing refreshments, and we’re looking for volunteers to help with the event. If you’re willing to organize a field day activity or even to just spend a little time helping out during the event, please drop us a line at info@lambdafamilycircle.org and let us know.
For those members on Facebook, you can learn more by friending CDGLCC Albany and searching their events for Capital Pride Family Fun and Field Day or going to:
Capital Pride Parade
Washington Park in Albany
Sunday, June 13th
Noon step off
We will meet at the Playground in Washington Park at 11:30, and then proceed over to take our place in the line-up and march behind the Lambda Families banner. The weather for the Parade has been a bit hot in recent years, so be sure to pack your sunscreen and water. Come march with us and show that families are part of the GLBTQ community too!
Black & Latino Gay Pride Celebration
Albany Riverfront Park
Saturday, June 5th
Noon to 6 pm
This family-friendly Pride event includes a Kid’s Corner with activities, and is welcoming to all transracial/interracial/multiracial families as well. Lambda Families is not officially participating in this event, but it’s a great place to go and meet other families. If you’re planning on attending and would like to organize an informal meet-up, drop us a line at info@lambdafamilycircle.org and we’ll help make the arrangements.
Reminder: Lambda Family Circle Holiday Party This Sunday!
When: Sunday, December 20 from 3 pm to 6 pm
Where: Channing Hall, First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany
405 Washington Ave, Albany, directions at: http://albanyuu.org/directions.html
Don’t forget that you’re invited this Sunday to join Lambda Family Circle for a family-friendly holiday celebration! Please bring a dish to share, and come prepared for fun! Lambda will be supplying drinks and a cake, and Jeff Sterling will be providing a magic show and balloon animals for the children. No need to RSVP and, as always, Lambda events are open to families of all kinds, including prospective parents. We’re still in need of some holiday decorations, and if you can help with setup please contact Brian at info@lambdafamilycircle.org or 432-1247.
