Dear Friends,
We have BIG news to share: the BQC Community Center is growing!
We're expanding into the space next door, formerly home to Voxel Gallery, giving us a total of 1,770 square feet—more than twice our current space!
We’re grateful to Voxel Gallery owner Christine for being such a supportive neighbor and continuing to bring art to downtown Bellingham through pop-up experiences. And, we’re excited about the possibilities this new space creates for BQC and the broader community!
Since making our home at 310 W. Champion Street in March 2025, we've been working toward a simple but powerful goal: creating a place where our queer community can gather and connect seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Our 600-square-foot space has become a vibrant hub for affinity groups, drop-in social hours, morning coworking, our lending library, and countless meaningful connections. And the community is growing! We've run out of available evening space for new groups, our library is bursting at the seams, and some affinity groups regularly welcome more than 20 participants. We're ready for more room—and this opportunity couldn't have come at a better time.
So, what does more than twice the space mean? More opportunities to expand programming, host larger gatherings, welcome new groups, showcase queer art, and create experiences centered on arts, wellness, and education. Most importantly, it means more opportunities for LGBTQ+ people to find connection, build friendships, and experience belonging.
We believe belonging is preventative care. In a time when affirming spaces and meaningful connection are more important than ever, this expansion allows us to grow alongside our community and deepen the support we provide.
Growth brings exciting opportunities, along with new responsibilities and challenges for our all-volunteer organization. We’re ready to take them on, and we need our community alongside us.
Help Us Grow Together
More space brings exciting possibilities—and new expenses and responsibilities. As an all-volunteer organization, we need our community's help to make this next chapter sustainable.
Support BQC financially. More than 150 community members already support us through recurring donations, helping cover rent and everyday expenses while keeping our programs free. Gifts of any size make a difference! One-time donations will also help us furnish the expanded space with tables, chairs, library shelving, and storage.
Local businesses, become a BQC sponsor! An annual $1,000 business sponsorship helps sustain the Community Center while giving us an opportunity to recognize and promote your business.
Learn more about giving opportunities at bellinghamqueercollective.org/donate.
Give a few hours of your time. We're looking for volunteers to help with:
Cleaning and keeping our spaces welcoming
Greeting guests at coworking, Fun Fridays, and special events
Supporting affinity groups, wellness activities, and special events
Sharing professional skills in areas like HR, legal support, and social media
We’re also looking ahead to future Board of Directors opportunities!
Start the volunteer application process here.
We know not everyone can contribute financially or volunteer, and that's okay. Being part of this community matters, too. Whether you give your time, talent, or financial support, you're helping build something bigger than a space: a place where LGBTQIA+ adults can find connection, belonging, creativity, and care.
This milestone belongs to all of you—our members, volunteers, donors, partners, and supporters. You helped us build a home—and now we're making that home bigger.
We can't wait to share this next chapter with you! Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping us continue to grow together.
With gratitude,
Michelle Harmeier
Volunteer Executive Director
On behalf of the BQC Board of Directors