Ruth Ellis Center

The Ruth Ellis Center (REC) is a Detroit area social services agency that serves the needs of runaway, homeless and at-risk lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. REC is named in honor of the life and work of Ruth Ellis, who was one of Detroit's African-American lesbians known for her service to people in need.

Wanda Sykes is an outspoken supporter of the organization after the staff sent her a letter asking her to visit during her 2010 tour's stop in Detroit.

Programs
The Ruth Ellis Center operates five main programs including Youth Programs (Health, Equity, and Outreach-formally Drop-In; Center for Lesbian Queer Women & Girls or CLQ), Supportive Housing, Integrated Health Services, Community-Based Family Support Services, and the Ruth Ellis Institute.

History
A group of community activists - including John Allen, Kofi Adoma, and Courtney Wilson - founded Ruth Ellis Center in 1999, the same year Ruth Ellis was celebrating her 100th birthday. The founders chose to call the program the Ruth Ellis Center in recognition of all the youth Ellis had helped. In September 2000, a 101-year-old Ellis attended the grand opening of the center's first phase, a drop-in center for at-risk youth.

In January 2022 it will open the 44000 sqft Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center, a center for LGBT people from 13 to 30, including housing and educational facilities. The price tag was $15 million.