Erie Mayor Daria Devlin proclaims April 6 Central Outreach Erie Day

by David Gurzenski-Lukes

In recognition of National Public Health Week, Erie Mayor Daria Devlin presented Dalen Hooks, office manager of the Central Outreach Wellness Center, with an official proclamation declaring "Central Outreach Erie Day" in the city on April 6, 2026.

"This proclamation honors our organization's continued commitment to advancing public health, expanding access to care, and serving the Erie community with excellence and compassion," said Dalen in accepting the honor. "We are deeply grateful for this recognition and the opportunity to continue making a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve."

In further explanation about the Central Outreach Wellness Center, Dalen referred to the organization's mission, which is to "promote wellness in our community by fostering our patients' whole self. Our focus is on culturally humble care by striving to understand our clients' needs and how we can treat them holistically. We strive to understand and support our wide range of clients' cultural and personal beliefs."

The Central Outreach Wellness Center clients are members of the LGBTQIA and HIV+ community. "We attempt to understand the unique needs of these clients," according to Dalen. "We support harm reduction as well as recovery. No one who comes to us is judged or shunned. We know trust is a process that takes time and effort to nurture."

National Public Health Week is an annual observance held during the first week of April. It was created in 1995 by the American Public Health Association to honor public health workers, recognize achievements, and advocate for health policies.

About the Author

David Gurzenski-Lukes David Gurzenski-Lukes has a bachelor's and master's degree in journalism from Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. He has a long career as an editor and communications professional for a number of universities, including UCLA. He was a publications editor for United Way of Greater Los Angeles and community relations director for Pacific Beach Community Hospital in San Diego, California. Since David has been retired, he has written a book, "A Gay Grandfather Grows Up," which details his difficult coming-out journey. While David has only been an Erie resident for a short period, he is already involved with various local organizations, including Aging With Pride. He has two daughters with professional careers. Jennifer is an attorney in Washington, DC, and Julie is a computer programmer in Jupiter, Florida. He also has two grandsons. Drew is a pilot with American Airlines, and Jake is a student at Florida State University.

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