North County LGBTQ Resource Center: Continuing the work to better service the North County community with a New Home and Expanded Services
By Cesar A Reyes
A Chat with Max Disposti Founder/Executive Director
As we drove up to the parking lot, the Intersex Inclusive Pride flag welcomed us to the campus of the new home of the North County LGBTQ Resource Center located at 1919 Apple Street in Oceanside CA. The buildings have undergone an intense facelift and there is still more work to be done (the Center always welcomes donations to support the ongoing improvements). With big smiles and with a welcoming disposition, we met with the Founder and Executive Director of the Center, Max Disposti, to discuss what this new home means. We also had a very informative tour by the Center’s Office Administrator, Jeri Nicolas, who showed us around the campus and explained the services offered. She also explained how folks can connect with the Center to access resources they may need.
A bit about Max:
Max was born in Rome, Italy in 1968 and arrived in the U.S. in 1998. He has since worked and volunteered for causes related to social justice and human rights. Formerly an undocumented immigrant, Max’s passion revolves around supporting social services organizations and advocating for human rights. As described above, he is the Founder and Executive Director of the North County LGBTQ Resource Center and, by extension, Pride by the Beach. With a bachelors degree in political science, a masters degree in non-profit leadership, plus LGBTQ-, immigrant-, and human trafficking prevention-specific training, Max is uniquely qualified to lead the organization. In addition to his role at the Center, he also is involved with a variety of leadership councils, advisory committees, and management boards throughout the region. For his dedication to these important causes, Max received many awards and recognition from San Diego County, the City of Oceanside, and a variety of other organizations.
Below is our chat with Max Disposti
Tell us about the North County LGBTQ Resource Center
The Center was founded in 2008 under the name North County LGBT Coalition Force. In 2011 we opened under the current name, North County LGBTQ Resource Center. Our mission is to serve, empower, and advocate for the diverse LGBTQ community in North County. Through these past few years, the Center has grown to become the only agency that serves the North County region. With 26 employees, we have programs that address unsheltered youth, survivors of violence, reproductive rights, immigration services, mental and behavioral health, food distribution, and so much more.
Tell us the new home of the North County LGBTQ Resource Center?
The Center moved to its new space at 1919 Apple Street in September 2024, however it closed escrow on the property just recently, on January 31st, 2025. The reason for this purchase is the need to expand our facility to respond to the high demand in services. It also ensures that gentrification of our region will not force our agency to relocate outside the city. With a grassroots movement of donors and supporters, we raised the funds needed for our down payment. The location of the new space is [a block away from the Crouch Street Station for the North County Sprinter rail line] that connects Oceanside to Vista and Escondido and the new space is walkable from many other means of transportation. This queer space is finally ours will be the North County hub for queer activities including social recreation, arts, and advocacy for community related causes. In March, the location would also be the site for the first safe parking lot program in Oceanside.
What is the importance of the Center in the area?
For many years already the Center has been the point of reference for queer people and their allies in the North County region. It is a recognized agency that collaborates with other underrepresented communities to enhance the voices of those that are unheard. Also, in this anti-LGBTQ climate unleashed by the new presidential administration, purchasing the Center represents resilience and is as testament of our visibility and willingness to stand against the violence of this administration. Our vision for the future is to transform this space to include spaces for leadership training, rooms for community engagement and advocacy, an on-site community clinic, and to provide a place where anyone can stop by to just be together in community. In the next few years, we hope to be mortgage-free which will allow us to more easily employ additional staff and offer even more support opportunities.
How can people get involved?
There are many different volunteer opportunities from internships to one-time event support, from ongoing front desk operations to food distribution. We need group facilitators, auditing committee members, and new board members. Donating is another way to show your support and any amount is truly beneficial, especially now that the federal government is cutting anything that supports LGBTQ identities.