Set for June 25 is the second annual OutCenter Harbor Country Hearts Party in Three Oaks. The OutCenter’s Mary Jo Schnell tells us it’s a big fundraiser for the Benton Harbor center, and they’ll give out their first ever Leadership in Education Ambassador Awards. The guest speaker will be Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Pete Buttigieg.
“Chasten has a history as an educator and is a phenomenal spokesperson and ally regarding schools and the schools that are LGBTQ safe,” Schnell said.
Schnell says the awards are for a school board member, educator, and Gay Straight Alliance Club sponsor that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to fostering equitable teaching practices and safety for LGBTQ youth.
“We know that there’s a lot of phenomenal board members, teachers, school counselors out and doing amazing work in the districts across the tri-county area. These three folks are great representatives of all the folks doing work as school board members, teachers, and school counselors.”
The awards are going to Rachel Wade, Chris Beushausen, and Emily Burge. Wade is the president of the Lakeshore Public Schools Board of Education, Beushausen is a teacher at New Buffalo Area Schools, and Burge is a permanent substitute at Brandywine Community Schools. Tickets to the party at Froehlich’s event space are $100 and you can still get them. Schnell notes all who attend will receive a signed copy of Buttigieg’s book, I Have Something to Tell You. You can get tickets at OutCenter.org.
