MISSION
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Rainbow Cafe has served the LGBTQ+ community in Southern Illinois for over 25 years. We provide a safe and welcoming environment for those in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as their friends and families, by creating a space in which they are affirmed and offered non-judgemental support and access to personal, community, spiritual, and health resources. We actualize our mission by opening our doors every week to a variety of programs such as Drop In, Transformations, Queer Coffee Hour, and more, as well as hosting community events like Pride Prom and The HoliGAY Party, which provide the LGBTQ+ community of Southern Illinois space to explore within an affirming community. Rainbow Cafe is also committed to partnerships and professional relationships across the region which provide access for other needs, like Equality Illinois, The Survivor Empowerment Center, Jackson County Health Department, and CHOICES to provide reproductive care, advocacy, and other resources. |
Our History - Origins:
Rainbow Cafe's Original Logo
In early 2000, Tim Rice, a community member and passionate youth advocate, saw a need for a supportive organization like Rainbow Cafe. He assembled a group of like-minded youth and adults to brainstorm what such support might look like. After months of brainstorming and research, Rainbow Cafe was founded. Originally, we were hosted by the Unitarian Fellowship of Carbondale in collaboration with the Church of the Good Shepherd, both are open and affirming congregations.
The original mission of the program was to “provide a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ youth and their friends, by creating a space in which they are affirmed and offered non-judgemental support and access to personal, community, and spiritual resources.
Our target community was the LGBTQ+ youth of Southern Illinois, as well as the friends and allies of these youth. We had determined that the high-school age range was particularly critical since other support programs existed in the area for college-age and adult LGBTQ+ individuals.
Our History - Renaissance:
Rainbow Cafe's Current Logo
2018 was the beginning of Rainbow Cafe greatly expanding its programming beyond youth, though youth remained a focal point. Groups such as Transitions (for high school aged trans and gender diverse youth), Transformations (for 18+ trans and gender diverse adults), Drop In (for high school aged LGBTQ+ youth and friends), Elevate (for LGBTQ+ young adults ages 18-25 and friends), ARC (for middle school ages LGBTQ+ youth and friends), and GRIS (for LGBTQ+ adults ages 50+ and friends) had formed in response to the growing needs and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community in Southern Illinois.
In April 2019, Rainbow Cafe officially became an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and opened its original community center on Giant City Rd. During the COVID-19 pandemic Rainbow Cafe continued to hold virtual programming, and reopened its doors for in-person programming in July 2021. It was clear that Rainbow Cafe needed more space to grow, so we moved into the current community center location on N Illinois Ave in 2022. Through tireless work from volunteers and staff, a versatile new space was created where we could hold programming, events, and meetings, while offering a community gathering space with a LGBTQ+ library, computer workstations, art workshops, and so much more!
oUR hISTORY - expansion
As we grew our team and entered the realm of community health work, it was clear we were evolving once again. In 2023, we developed the clinical extension of Rainbow Cafe: Rainbow Community Health & Wellness (RCHW). Located right next door to the community center on N Illinois Ave, RCHW began operations in 2024. Through RCHW, we were able to begin offering integrative health and wellness services, including case management, HIV/STI testing, behavioral health services, recovery services, smoking cessation support, and more!
Our Present and Beyond:Present day Rainbow Cafe, located on N Illinois Ave, offers a wide variety of support groups, community events, and a continued safe and affirming gathering space for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as their friends, families, and allies. We have a team of dedicated staff, hardworking volunteers, and a passionate community supporting our mission. We continue to actualize our mission by expanding programming and resources while intentionally creating a safer space for all marginalized identities. Rainbow Cafe aims to be a safe, affirming, and welcoming space for all marginalized identities. Rainbow Cafe as a 501(c)3 non profit organization is purely grant and donation funded. In addition to conventional word-of-mouth, we also rely heavily on social media and local media to increase the visibility of our programming, events, and advocacy efforts. We network with local schools, supportive organizations, and other non profits. We work to identify and foster good working relationships with other LGBTQ+ friendly contacts. 
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