Letter

Hello friends and family!

We are ending this year feeling incredibly grateful for all of the continued love, dedication, and support that the Lansing area community has shown to Salus Center. We feel truly so fortunate to be in community with all of you. From the bottom of our hearts, we want to offer our warmest and most sincere thank you. 

We know that this past year hasn’t exactly been smooth. We recognize the unease and fear that escalating anti-LGBTQ+ policies and rhetoric have unleashed on our community, and  we mourn and remember those we have lost. We continue to stand in solidarity with all who are harmed by these initiatives, and will continue to fight to make this world a more compassionate, kind, and accepting place for everyone. 

2022 was a year of major growth and development for Salus. As we reflect and move into the next year, we are excited to share some updates:

Board of Directors

In September, our Board of Directors welcomed several new members and we are so incredibly excited to see how our board guides Salus toward its prosperous future. Check out our “Who We Are” page for more information about our board. If you are interested in becoming part of our board, see our “Volunteer” page for how to apply and what it means to be a member.

Gathering Opportunities

We have heard feedback from many who would like to see Salus offer more opportunities to gather. We agree! Currently, Salus has many affiliated support groups, interest groups, and partner organizations—see our Programs page for more details. We are excited about our new support group offerings (Transfem Support Group, Neurodivergent & Queer, and Here for You), and we continue to embrace our already established support groups (Nonbinary Support Group and Trans Masc Support Group). Several of these groups have hybrid joining options (virtual or in person), so we encourage you to join using whatever option suits you best!

Currently, we are hosting a limited amount of in-person events. Please refer to the calendar or our social media sites for updates on events. Have an idea for an event or other activity that you would like to see us host? Feel free to tell us! Contact our Program Director at frank@saluscenter.org. 

Gathering During COVID

COVID continues to affect us all, and Salus is committed to prioritizing the safety of our beloved community. We have been continuing to limit in-person events. At this time, our building is open only for specific events or groups. If you are visiting Salus for an event, we encourage you to wear a mask, and we also kindly ask you to refrain from visiting if you or anyone in your household have tested positive for COVID. Thank you for doing your part to keep our community safe!

Fundraising

In the last year, we raised $24,845.22 from individual donors and $70,200 from grants. Because of your generous support, we have been able to expand our program offerings, adding more support group options and community events to our calendar. Salus Center could not exist without the love and support of the Lansing area, and we are humbled and honored for the opportunity to serve our community.

Development Director

We're sending our well wishes to our development director, Mic Valo, as they move on to a position with an arts and humanities nonprofit in Grand Rapids. Congratulations, Mic, and thank you for all you've done for Salus in the last year!

If you or someone you know has experience with fundraising, grant writing, and/or nonprofit funding and grant management, get in touch with us at info@saluscenter.org.

This year, we are looking forward to new projects, connections, and growth as the Salus Center. We are excited to launch an anti-bullying curriculum, expand our support groups, and partner for more community events, from vaccine clinics to poetry workshops to Pride this summer. 

Thank you for reading. We are honored to grow in community with you. Sending love, joy, and hope as we close out this year and step into the next.

Warmly,

Salus Center Board of Directors and Staff