New LGBTQIA+ center in New Castle honors late teen, fills critical community gap

A new LGBTQIA+ community space officially opened Saturday in New Castle—offering everything from mental health support to clothing and pantry items, while honoring the memory of a local teen whose life was cut short.

The New Castle Prism Initiative, located at 1315 E. Washington Street, is the vision of Trevor Preisel, a local nurse and advocate who organized the city’s Pride festival. Preisel personally funded nearly the entire initiative, saying it stemmed from a need he saw firsthand.

“There is a real need in this community. There’s not really a place or an organization that’s filling that,” Preisel said.

Inside, visitors will find a community pantry, a meeting space, and the centerpiece: the Pauly Likens Memorial Sanctuary—a closet filled with gender-affirming clothing, makeup, and toiletries, primarily for transgender individuals.

The sanctuary is named in honor of Pauly Likens, a 14-year-old transgender girl from Sharon who was tragically killed last summer. Although her mother could not attend the opening due to a scheduling conflict, she worked with organizers to ensure her daughter’s legacy would be remembered in a meaningful way.

Jodi L. D’Andrea, director of transgender care and a key organizer, said it was important that the space not just be “another closet”—but a sanctuary grounded in compassion and community healing.

“Her name should now stand for something good and helping others,” D’Andrea said. “From what I understand about her, she was a very giving, caring, loving person.”

D’Andrea added that the space is especially vital given today's political climate, describing it as a judgment-free zone where people can “see themselves as they’re supposed to look” and feel safe.

The center will also offer group therapy sessions in partnership with Safe Haven, and future events will include a name and gender marker change clinic in August and a volunteer fair in September.

Though the Prism Initiative was born out of local need, Preisel hopes it becomes something even bigger.

“In a perfect world, we want to grow—and help as many people as we can,” he said.