About CGE

Our mission

Our mission is to provide affirming, inclusive recovery support for 2SLGBTQ+ people — grounded in lived experience, guided by compassion, and rooted in community.

The Center for Growth and Empowerment (CGE) is a community-rooted nonprofit created to support 2SLGBTQ+ people navigating substance use, recovery, and related challenges. Our work is grounded in dignity, respect, and the belief that healing looks different for everyone.

CGE was built in response to a gap many people know well: support systems that feel inaccessible, judgmental, or disconnected from lived experience. We exist to offer something different, care that is affirming, flexible, and shaped by the real lives of the people we serve.

Who we are

CGE is shaped by people who understand recovery not as a single path, but as a deeply personal process. Our team and community include individuals with lived experience, professional training, and a shared commitment to showing up with authenticity and care.

We center 2SLGBTQ+ people in our work, recognizing the unique barriers, strengths, and resilience within these communities. Our approach honors autonomy, consent, and self-determination — meeting people where they are, without pressure or expectation.

Our approach

At CGE, support is relationship-based and person-centered. We believe care should adapt to people’s needs, identities, and readiness, rather than asking people to adapt to rigid systems.

We value:

  • Affirmation of identity and lived experience

  • Flexibility over one-size-fits-all models

  • Community connection alongside clinical support

  • Growth that happens at a pace set by the individual

Recovery, for us, is not about compliance or perfection; it’s about safety, belonging, and coming home to yourself.

Looking ahead

CGE is growing thoughtfully and intentionally, guided by the voices and needs of our community. As we continue to build, we remain committed to creating support that is responsive, ethical, and deeply human.

If you’re curious about what support at CGE looks like, we invite you to explore our services or reach out when you’re ready.