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The MISTER Center (M.I.S.T.E.R.: Men’s Information Services: Testing Empowerment Resources) is a drop-in community center for gay and bisexual men, located at 60 Eleventh Street NE, and operated as part of a wide range of programs and services through Positive Impact, Inc. While the majority of services are focused on the needs of gay and bisexual men due to the nature of funding that supports MISTER and the mission of the program, gay and bisexual women may also access many of the services offered at MISTER, including HIV testing, information and resources, workshops, and space use.
Everyone at the Center has the right to be treated with courtesy and respect, and Guests have the obligation to behave in a manner that is respect¬ful and courteous and that does not disrupt the opera¬tion of the Center in any way. Organizations and groups that host meetings and events at the Center are responsible for monitoring and controlling the behavior of all Guests attending their events to ensure a safe and enjoyable time for everyone at the Center.
All events and activities offered during regular operating hours at the Center are openly available to gay and bisexual men. Special groups may host specific events during drop-in hours (e.g., Bears Do Yoga on Tuesdays from 5 to 7) but must be open to any gay or bisexual man (e.g., NON bear type guys must be permitted to attend yoga should they desire, even if the group primarily is for Bear types). The Center is open to all gay and bisexual men without regard to race, ethnicity, HIV status, relationship status, group membership, religious or political beliefs, gender identity, fetish, or community special interests.
A variety of programs and services are offered. In addition to HIV testing and STD screening (follow links to the left for more information on those services), programs for health and wellness (such as healing hands, energy work, yoga and meditation), socialization (such as potluck dinners, speed dating and single mixers), and education (HIV 101 and STD 101 classes, career building, and GED classes) are available.
There are also a variety of volunteer opportunities for persons wanting to support MISTER. (1) Community Center Concierge – attends to visitors and responds to inquiries on the phone and face-to-face; supplies guests with information regarding the organization, services available, and community-wide information; (2) Peer Advocates—reaches out to immediate and extended social groups to share role model stories, education peers and promote safer sex practices in the community; (3) Outreach Associates—offers information, free safer sex kits and collects general demographic information while in social settings such as bars, nightclubs and special events such as Atlanta Gay Pride; and (4) Group Facilitators—offers educational workshops and support groups based on knowledge and/or experience related to the subject matter. To volunteer for one of these opportunities, please contact the Community Outreach Specialist, Chandler Bearden, at 404-589-9040 or chandler.bearden@positiveimpact-atl.org.
Each month, on a rotating basis, MISTER serves as an art gallery for local Atlanta artists from the gay and bisexual community who get to use the space to display their artistic creations (paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture, etc.). Every month is a new artist to keep the space fresh and constantly updated, so be sure to drop by at least once a month to see the Artist of the Month on display at the Center.
Finally, each month a raffle is held for a variety of items (tickets to movies, bar entry coupons, hair salons, restaurants, hotels, etc.). To enter, simply visit the Center during regular business hours, check out the artwork and services available, and register for the raffle. One winner is drawn each month; there is no cost to enter, and you can enter as many times as you like by stopping by the Center one or more times (only one entry per visit, but you can make multiple visits per month!).
The MISTER Community Center Hours of Operation are: Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM, Fridays from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM. In addition to these hours that are open regularly each week for drop-in guests, the Center is open at other times during the week and on weekends for events and activities of the Center. Please check the MISTER Community Calendar for all upcoming events for the month. You can get a copy of the calendar at MISTER.
If you have any questions about MISTER, or to stay up to date on events, workshops, art exhibits and volunteer opportunities, please subscribe to our newsletter or call Chandler Bearden at 404-589-9040.
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