A support and services center for LGBTQ+ adults that was born out of a mass shooting at a gay nightclub nearly three years ago in Colorado Springs has become a community staple in the year since it opened, leaders say.

The numbers prove it.

From Jan. 1 through mid-June, more than 1,000 people have come through the doors of Prism Community Collective at 711 S. Tejon St., said John Arcediano, program and outreach manager.

“That’s substantial,” he said. “We’re gaining traction and getting positive feedback and brand recognition.”

To celebrate, Prism is holding a one-year anniversary party for the entire community from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the headquarters of its parent organization, ChangeLine, 601 N. Nevada Ave.

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A drag show and other entertainment will begin at 2 p.m. Food and drink trucks and local vendors with resources also will be available. The event is free and open to the public.

The center initially was set up primarily to benefit survivors of the Nov. 19, 2022, shooting at Club Q that killed five patrons and staff, injured 19 and left hundreds of LGBTQ+ people shaken and seeking help in healing emotionally.

Prism has become known as a “safe space,” where all LGTBQ+ adults ages 18 and older can come to hang out, play games, talk, get counseling and participate in other programs, said Arcediano, who was injured by shrapnel in the Club Q shooting.

Some Prism services are offered in conjunction with other local organizations.

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For example, counseling and therapy sessions are held at Prism with specialists from Diversus Health and Peak Vista Community Health Centers. The Colorado Springs office of the National Alliance on Mental Illness offers two support groups for Prism clients, and free STI and HIV testing is available through Hey719.

Many clients are young adults between ages 18 and 24 years old, and staff have been reaching out to people ages 50+ to build a wider base, Arcediano said.

“We want them to know this is a space and place for them as well,” he said.

The most popular services are activities, such as movie nights, book club, board game nights; resources such as peer-support groups; and therapy.

A federal Anti-Terrorism Emergency Assistance grant of $1.7 million each year for three years funded Prism’s startup. The money will continue through 2026, Arcediano said, but there’s a chance it could be longer.

“We’re working on an extension,” he said, adding that according to the National Mass Violence Center, usage at Prism is high compared with other such resilience centers.

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And it’s looking promising that Prism will meet its goal of securing funding to sustain operations beyond the grant period, Arcediano said. If that happens, services could change and would be tailored to meet community needs, he said.

Many members of the LGBTQ+ population are concerned about changes in laws they see happening at the federal level, he said, which have led to concerns about their general personal safety and well-being. That’s the need Prism is designed to fill.

“We stand out as a beacon of safety and where people can be affirmed, supported, get questions answered, receive clinical assistance, get involved with peer support and build community,” Arcediano said.

“We want to help build bridges and help people feel like they have a place to lean on.”