Triangle Empowerment Center

Triangle Empowerment Center delivers comprehensive health services, prevention education, and community stability programs for underserved residents throughout Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill. Established in 2008, the nonprofit focuses on eliminating barriers to wellness for minority populations, low-income individuals, and LGBTQ+ community members. Operating on a barrier-free model, the center provides all services completely free of charge, with no membership fees, participation thresholds, or geographic restrictions within the Triangle.

Health initiatives anchor the organization's daily work, centering on comprehensive HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention. The center conducts confidential walk-in rapid HIV testing, provides personalized linkage to pre-exposure prophylaxis clinical care, and operates Love the Glove, a regional distribution network that supplies free barrier protection products and wellness kits. Specialized community health workers engage residents through street outreach, educational workshops, and community events to normalize wellness conversations and reduce social stigmas surrounding healthcare access.

In addition to clinical navigation, the center provides crucial life skills and social empowerment programs. The Ladies of the T initiative offers tailored support, job placement assistance, mental health check-ins, and housing referrals for transgender women. Other signature offerings include the MPowerment group, MClub outreach, and the Voices of the Heart peer circle, alongside structured career readiness coaching and substance recovery support. Community members access assistance through open center hours, peer support groups, and community outreach events.