Executive Director: Joe Halsch

“No matter where you are on your journey, you are welcome here. You don’t have to navigate this alone—there’s a place for you at the Jim Toy Community Center.”

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For Joe Halsch, the call to serve the Jim Toy Community Center came in the wake of tragedy. The Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando was a devastating reminder of the urgent need for safe spaces where LGBTQ+ individuals can gather, support one another, and thrive. That moment galvanized Joe’s commitment to local advocacy, leading him to get more involved with the center in 2016.

He joined the board in 2019 and assumed the board presidency in early 2020. He has helped guide the center through pivotal transitions, including the difficult but necessary decision to close its physical space in Braun Court during the pandemic. Now, with a newly reopened home on Main Street in Ann Arbor, Joe envisions a lasting and evolving resource that will continue to meet community needs for generations.

“What stands out to me isn’t just the big events or major initiatives—it’s the small moments of connection,” Joe shares. “When someone walks into our space and realizes they are not alone, that they belong, that’s what truly makes a difference.” He hopes to see programming that fosters those connections across all generations, ensuring that everyone—whether they come for resources, support, or simply to exist without fear—finds a sense of home. Expanding peer support groups and social gatherings is key to creating an environment where people receive support and discover new ways to uplift one another.

Joe believes that community centers don’t thrive because of one person, but because of the collective energy of the people they serve. “A strong and healthy community center is built by the community itself,” he says. Whether through donating, volunteering, attending events, or simply spreading the word, he urges everyone to find their own way to contribute. “Even the smallest action—sharing a post, bringing a friend to an event, introducing us to someone in your network—helps sustain and grow this space.”

Despite the challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community, Joe remains hopeful. “We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us—those who fought, resisted, and paved the way for the rights we have today. Queer people have survival baked into our very existence; resilience is at the core of who we are.” He encourages those who are unsure where to begin to simply start somewhere. “No matter where you are on your journey, you are welcome here. You don’t have to navigate this alone—there’s a place for you at the Jim Toy Community Center.”