OUTMemphis, the LGBTQ community center that has long called Cooper-Young home, announced in September that it would be expanding with the recent donation of 4,500 square facility from Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi sold its facility at 832 Virginia Run Cove off of Summer Avenue near I-240, to OUTMemphis for $1. The complex includes a renovated office space and a warehouse.
In January, OUTMemphis plans to move its main offices, including its staff of 10, to the new location. The move will give OUTMemphis much needed elbow room as well as allow it to expand its outreach to the growing Latinx community. Planned Parenthood will continue to run a health clinic nearby.
“Both Planned Parenthood and OUTMemphis will be doing work serving the community, particularly the Latinx community that is on Summer and around Summer in the next few months,” OUTMemphis Executive Director Molly Quinn told the Commercial Appeal. “There will be a lot of expanded services and collaboration around the two organizations.”
The new offices will expand OUTMemphis’ footprint to three locations, including the Youth Emergency Center at 2055 Southern. The old headquarters at 892 S. Cooper will continue as a community center and programming space for classes, meetings, and more.
“Today we are a tiny house that needs a lot of improvements and is full of 10 staffers on Cooper Street,” Quinn said. “On the first of January, we will be operating three facilities that are each sophisticated in their own way, each updated and each able to provide very impactful services to the community.” — Mark Jordan
