As warming fireplaces gave evidence of early fall, Penn’s LGBT Center held a long-standing tradition, now bolstered by a new infusion of support.
Breaking Bread, Building Community
A recent gift will bolster the LGBT Center’s Family Dinner program
Published: October 18, 2023
A $50,000 gift from Dr. Stuart Shapiro, C’74, and his husband Rick Bezdek, will support a monthly community meal program for the next five years. An additional $1 million estate gift, once realized, will endow the program.
At the first dinner of the semester, more than 120 students showed up for Vietnamese food and good conversation. “Generally, we get a large turnout, and tonight was no exception,” says Jake Muscato, Associate Director of Penn’s LGBT Center.
Penn students enjoyed delicious food and made valuable connections at the semester’s first Shapiro-Bezdek Family Dinner. Photo by Kait Privitera.
The Shapiro-Bezdek Program for Family Dinners will sustain a new generation of Penn students and community members who have found comfort and connection at the Center. “Fifty years after my graduation, there are still people at Penn who need a place to be themselves,” says Shapiro. “The family dinners program was always on our radar. We’re so happy to support such a warm and welcoming initiative.”
To kick off the meal, Malik Muhammad, Penn’s Director of Inclusion Initiatives and Social Justice Education, encouraged attendees to sit and speak with someone they hadn’t met, which students took to heart. “These dinners are lively, and I always see new people at these events,” says Miles Soto, ENG’24, a resident assistant and work study student in the LGBT Center. “There’s a real sense of community—I even saw one of my residents, which was nice.”
Juliana Vollmer, C’24, was also in attendance at the September dinner. She is the co-founder and co-president of NeuroQueer at Penn, a group for neurodivergent queer students. “I’ve made close friends through the Center,” she says. “These meals are a fun, social opportunity. And when it gets too loud, there are sensory-free spaces where I can recharge.”
The LGBT Center Shapiro-Bezdek Family Dinners help to build community among Penn students like Haydr Dutta, C’26, and Miles Soto, ENG’24. Photo by Kait Privitera.
Beyond the monthly free meals, the Center has hosted special religious and cultural dinners. These events have included Queer Shabbat, Black Queer Dinner, and Iftar Family Dinner.
The Shapiro-Bezdek program is helping to create a sense of belonging and inclusion across the University. “Where we live, there are limited opportunities to offer this type of support,” says Shapiro. “We’re happy that Penn—which is such a special place for us—can support LGBTQ+ students in this way.”
Header photo by Kait Privitera.
