Howard Brown utilizes the talents of many volunteers throughout our organization. Whether it's helping at the Brown Elephant Resale Shops, working at a special event, or administrative work at our main location, the rewards gained by helping us to provide service to our clients is immeasurable.

Check out our current volunteer opportunities listed below or click here to receive our monthly volunteer e-newsletter. 

Thank you! We simply could not do this work without your help.

Clay Hinkle & Andy Witt
Volunteer Coordinators
773-388-8902

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Garden of EVE Silent Auction Committee

Garden of EVE is an exciting new event benefiting the Lesbian Community Care Project. The event, which blends the elegance and dancing of the Coming Out Against Cancer Ball, and the food and wine tasting extravaganza of A Taste for Every Palate, will be held May 16, 2009, at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Volunteers are needed for the silent auction committee. This opportunity requires attending monthly meetings and communicating weekly via e-mail. No experience is necessary and training on soliciting items will be provided. This is a GREAT way to help raise money for Howard Brown Health Center - silent auctions can raise as much as 25% of an event's total revenue. Contact  Jenny Mack , Director of Special Events, at jennym@howardbrown.org or 773.388.8992 for more information.

Help Out with LCCP's Expose Project

Volunteers are needed to have fun while helping the LCCP staff prepare for the Expose Project. Volunteers are needed to help with creating safer sex kits, setting up mass mailings, filing & other paperwork, and making phone calls. Dates and times are flexible so please contact  Christina for more information, or call 773-388-8993.

Opportunities for Students to Earn Service Hours

Are you looking for a non profit to work with and make a difference while you are in school? Look no further than Howard Brown Health Center. We are looking for students who are caring and compassionate and want to make a difference in the community.

If you need serivce hours for a class, our volunteer coordinators would love to try and help find a project that fits your needs. Or get a group of friends together and set up a service day. It is a fun way to get involved!

Make sure to check out our internship opportunities for college and grad school students. If you are interested in getting involved with Howard Brown, contact Andy or Clay to set up a interview/orientation. We will be glad to find a project that fits your needs!

Broadway Youth Center Internship

Howard Brown Health Center's Broadway Youth Center seeks a dynamic person to fill an internship position working with the LGBTQQ Mentor Program, awarded the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago's Most Highly Innovative Program. People of color and transgender individuals highly encouraged to apply. Please send resume along with any internship requirements to Tony Alvarado-Rivera, Mentor Program Associate.  Note: This is a non-paid internship opportunity.

Applicant must be able to work within an anti- oppression/grassroots organizing framework, possess dynamic public speaking skills, ability to creatively think outside the box, and work individually and collaboratively. An ideal candidate would be a college or grad school student looking for a structured internship opportunity with a non-profit organization.

HIV/STD Prevention Evaluation Assistant

Our Prevention team is looking for a committed volunteer to help with data entry for evaluation of prevention activities. We need someone who is familiar with online environments, has the ability to input data into online database and can work 3-8 hours per week, preferably during business hours or in the early evenings.

Commitment to following a set weekly schedule requested but negotiable. Knowledge development and experience with health promotion evaluation a plus. Opportunities for other health promotion experience if desired. Interested? 

Contact Jeff for more information.

Help Out in Our Administration Office

Howard Brown's administration staff is always looking for volunteers to help out with things like filing, data entry, and other projects. Come join our fun atmosphere and help us help the community. We are looking for volunteers anytime Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and can even use help some evenings.

Please contact  Andy to set up an orientation and figure out a time that will work best for you! This opportunity is great for students!

HIV/STD Prevention Evaluation Assistant

Our Prevention team is looking for a committed volunteer to help with data entry for evaluation of prevention activities. We need someone who is familiar with online environments, has the ability to input data into online database and can work 3-8 hours per week, preferably during business hours or in the early evenings.

Commitment to following a set weekly schedule requested but negotiable. Knowledge development and experience with health promotion evaluation a plus. Opportunities for other health promotion experience if desired. 

Interested?  Contact Jeff for more information.

Health Promotion: Smoking Cessation

Our medical and research departments are teaming up to investigate a possible new smoking cessation drug. We need your help reviewing medical records and calling primary care patients who smoke. You'll discuss smoking cessation options, including participating in our study or joining one of our support groups. This is a great way to make an impact in our community! 

Times and days are flexible, but most of the calls will need to be made in the evening hours between 5pm and 8pm. Please contact Daliah for more information.

Brown Elephant Associate

Help us sort it out.  Get involved in the energy and excitement of one of Chicago’s best resale shops by volunteering as a Brown Elephant Associate. Enjoy a vibrant environment as a Brown Elephant volunteer while meeting new people and raising funds for our uninsured/underinsured clients. You’ll serve our customers by assisting with merchandise display, stock help, bag check, donation maintenance, and other tasks as needed. 

Are you an individual or group of two or three interested in volunteering?  There’s no need to RSVP- just show up (preferably for a 3 or more hour shift), and the fantastic folks at the Brown Elephant will set you up!

Are you a group of 4 or more interested in volunteering together at the Brown Elephant?  We'd love to have your help!  Please call us at 773-388-8902 or email us at volunteer@howardbrown.org to schedule a time to come volunteer with us. 

We have three stores - two in Chicago and one in Oak Park.  All of our stores are open from 11 am – 6 pm daily, and are always in need of great folks like you. Click here for details regarding hours and locations.

Click here to learn how you can donate your new and used items to the Brown Elephant.

Seeking an Internship Opportunity?

We have a volunteer internship opportunity at Howard Brown Health Center in conjunction with Rush University Senior Care.  This internship offers you the opportunity to assist with the collection of data/interpretation of data from an original study. Assist in data collection, transcription and interpretation from a community needs assessment for a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender elder study that is already underway.

During this internship you will have the opportunity for direct mentorship in the medical field and in the field of public health. Ideal for candidates with an interest in aging, LGBT medicine or underserved communities. Ideal candidate is a self starter with an interest in the above and a desire for mentorship. Hours are flexible and there is no compensation. 

Please send resume and references to: Dr. Magda Houlberg or fax to Attn: Dr. Magda Houlberg 312 563-4212.

Online Outreach: Log on & Reach Out

Are you social network web site savvy? Consider volunteering to be the "digital face of Howard Brown" by offering information and referrals in online sex-seeking environments such as Manhunt, Adam4Adam, Craigslist, and AOL. Volunteers are needed for 3 to 8 hours per week starting in early June. Times are flexible, but are typically during evening hours.

Outreach experience is preferred, but training will be provided by Howard Brown staff. For more information about online outreach, contact Jeff.  

On-the-Street Outreach

We are looking for volunteers to serve as "the face of Howard Brown" in the Chicago MSM (men-who-have-sex-with-men; specifically gay, bisexual, and transgendered) communities. Provide HIV/STD prevention materials, information, and referrals in bars, clubs, and social events. Volunteers are needed for 3 to 8 hours per week starting in early June. Times are flexible, but are typically during evening hours.

Outreach experience is preferred, but training will be provided by Howard Brown staff. Street outreach is held in fun environments such as bars, clubs, and other social venues and will provide you the opportunity to reach out to your peers.

Contact Sam for more information about On-the-Street outreach opportunities in bars, clubs, and other social venues. 

Drive, Drive, Drive!

The Broadway Youth Center offers youth a safe, fun place to hang out and connect with friends and other youth. Computers and phones, a daily snack, hygiene supplies, showers, and safer sex materials are all available to youth when they come by. Health and education workshops, as well as social and support group meetings also occur on a daily basis. The BYC provides a safe haven for youth where individuality and uniqueness are appreciated, not admonished.

Our Broadway Youth Center is always in need of toiletries as well as new socks, bras, and underwear for the youth who utilize services there. These items have such a significant impact for youth who drop in at the BYC.

We encourage you and your club or organization to get involved by organizing a toiletry drive for the BYC. We are always accepting donations and this is a great way to get involved in the community!

Email us for more information on setting up a toiletry drive.

Howard Brown’s Mentoring Program

The Mentor Program promotes healthy relationships between youth and adult members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and/or queer community. This breakthrough program pairs young people (14-20) with adults (25+) who share similar interests to engage in meaningful one-on-one experiences.

Positive role models are always needed, so if you've got the dedication and desire to be a mentor, contact Tony Alvarado-Rivera, our Mentor Program Coordinator. People of color, HIV+ folks, and transgender individuals are highly encouraged to apply.

Cleaning House?

Doing a little house cleaning? Have a lot of stuff you no longer use or need, but someone else might be able to put to good use? Donate your stuff to our Brown Elephant Resale Shops. We have three locations, two in Chicago and one in Oak Park and accept a multitude of items.

Why donate to the Brown Elephant? Our Brown Elephant Resale Shops generate 20 percent of Howard Brown's total revenue each year. All proceeds from our Brown Elephant Resale Shops help us provide healthcare services for our uninsured and underinsured clients. So not only are you decluttering your space, you're contributing to a great cause!

Questions about donations or donation pick ups? Please call 773-549-5943.

Interested?

To begin, check out the opportunities above, then follow the steps provided. To fill out a volunteer application, click here.   

For further questions, please contact Clay Hinkle or Andy Witt, Volunteer Coordinators, at 773-388-8902 or volunteer@howardbrown.org.  

Thank you for your interest!