Volunteer Spotlight
Given the hundreds of volunteers that OPALGA counts on annually to do the amazing work that we do, we decided that everyone should get to know each other a little better.
This month, we are highlighting volunteer member Andrea Kemp.
Q: How did you hear about OPALGA?
A: I got hooked on OPALGA through Women Like Me. (Women Like Me is a drop-in group for women who are involved in a heterosexual marriage or who are separated, divorced, or coming out later in life. The group meets on the fourth Sunday of each month from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The OPALGA Center.) I felt an immediate connection with the group facilitator, Bobbi Allen. She nurtured me out of my nervous shell and into the OPALGA community. Thank you, Bobbi!
Q: How long have you volunteered with OPALGA?
A: February will make two years since I have been an OPALGA member and volunteer. My first volunteer task was working on the drag show two years ago at Temptations. It was a blast, and I felt so welcomed into the OPALGA community—I was sold! Now, my volunteer work is primarily centered on planning events with the Programming Committee, and my solo task is coordinating the OPALGA book club. This job is made easy by the wonderful book club members we have who keep the choices interesting and keep our meetings lively! (The book club meets on the third Sunday of each month from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The OPALGA Center. Upcoming book titles are available on the calendar on the OPALGA Web site, www.opalga.org, and are announced each month in Empower.)
Q: Are you involved with other LGBT organizations?
A: Not in a volunteer capacity, but I remain a supporter of groups such as Amigas Latinas and the LCCP.
Q: What about you?
A: I am originally from Belize, and I currently live in Oak Park with the love of my life, my 11-year-old son, Ryan. He’s my favorite sidekick, for as long as he’ll allow me to be—his friends seem to be cooler! I am a physician, subspecialized in Maternal Fetal Medicine, high-risk pregnancies, at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago. I also have 28 other children at work—I’m the assistant residency director in Obstetrics and Gynecology at UIC. My work and teaching role with the residents is just as, if not more, important to me than my clinical practice—they keep me grounded.
When not working I can most likely be found either playing some crunchy-granola song on my guitar, reading the latest Harry Potter novel with Ryan, or planning our next ski and snowboarding trip!
Thank you Andrea, and thank you to all of our volunteers! You might be next in the spotlight….
