Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC) has announced that Brett Calka, 21, was unanimously voted onto its board of directors. Calka, a long-standing volunteer at HBHC’s Broadway Youth Center (BYC), is the first youth ever to be named to the board. He represents an expanding constituency of youth, ages 12-24, who seek medical, mental health and social services from HBHC.
Calka, a pre-med student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has volunteered at several LGBT and HIV groups. As a peer educator and HIV/STD counselor, he works with youth conducting pre- and post-test counseling; agency and provider referrals; and group facilitation at the BYC. He served as a member of the Chicago Area HIV Services Planning Council and reviews applications for federal Ryan White grants.
Michael Cook, Howard Brown president and CEO, praised Calka. ‘His credentials speak for themselves, and we are confident that he will bring a new perspective to the board and to Howard Brown,’ Cook stated.