Jennifer Owens – Resource Center Dallas Contestant

I am representing the Resource Center Dallas in this wonderful competition. I have been volunteering with the Center for over 4 years. The Center operates the Nelson-Tebedo Community Clinic, the Nutrition Center (food pantry), and the John Thomas Community Center. Through these the Center helps to provide hot meals, groceries, and health care including dental services to people living with HIV/AIDS, medical care to the transgender community, and programs to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. They also have the one of the largest LGBT and HIV/AIDS libraries in the state of Texas. There is something at the Center for everyone in the LGBT community and I encourage you to check out http://www.rcddallas.org/ for more information. I know that through my volunteering the Center has become a second family and home to me.

Five years ago I wanted so much to be a part of a LGBT community and meet other women like me, I moved to Dallas where I didn’t know anyone and had no idea how to meet other people. I was here for two days when I went to my first Gay Bingo and knew that I had found my new home. Over the next two years, I started performing with Gay Bingo, answering phones at the front desk (the Center hotline is a great way to get any information you need about the GLBT community by the way), served on the steering committees of GEAR, the Center’s transgender program, and JEWEL, the Center’s women’s program. Now a days, I still perform with Gay Bingo and I coordinate JEWEL. 

GayBingo is a fundraiser for the Center, every third Saturday that if you’ve never been to you have to try. There is nothing more fun than 15 rounds of bingo led by two drag queens with microphones. Not to mention the performance during intermission by Something Fabulous. JEWEL has several monthly events including the Lesbian Fiction Book Club, Writing Discussion and Exchange, Wine and Dine, and Socialite Event.

I am excited about this competition and will give it my all both for my pride for all the good that the Center does and because I would love to see myself made over.