Out Profile
The first couple of times you interact with Michael Roland, it quickly becomes apparent that he’s someone you want on your team. And it’s just a bonus that for The Center in Asbury Park, he’s actually the one leading the team. Roland, of Neptune Township, serves as The Center’s executive director, having worked his way through the ranks over the years. He grew up in a small town called Pawling, located in Dutchess County, New York, in a close-knit family.
He attended Ohio Wesleyan University near Columbus. Soon after graduation he moved to Boston in the early ‘90s, lived with his friend, and worked for his friend’s mother, who owned a catering company. He worked in project management for the company, and they did high-end catering, where he got the chance to meet U.S. presidents and even Nelson Mandela.
He eventually left Boston in 2009 and came to New Jersey, residing in Manasquan and working in Asbury Park at the now defunct Cruisin’ the Circuit bar for a couple of years. Roland was familiar with The Center and performed volunteering duties under the guidance of its founder, Father Bob Kaeding, affectionately known as Father Bob, who also was the executive director.
In addition to volunteering, Roland got a job running Stevens Garden Center in Long Branch. With Roland’s help, the owner opened a restaurant in the garden center called the Salad Shack, specializing in salads, smoothies, juices, and healthy options. Roland did that for about seven years and wanted to move on to new challenges. He became a permanent volunteer at The Center, and then he filled in for the director of operations, Clark Shannon, on a temporary basis.
Temporary became permanent when The Center offered him the director of operations position full time after Shannon retired. A couple of years later, Kaeding announced his retirement in 2022. The board interviewed Roland and ultimately named him the new executive director. “It’s been a journey,” Roland said.
As executive director of The Center, what are your primary duties?
Michael Roland: I make sure we are fiscally responsible, handling grants and meeting all requirements to remain compliant with the government. My biggest role is to make sure all 25 residents are safe, secure, and have their needs met. I answer to the board of directors to be fiscally responsible along those lines — fundraising, meeting grantors, and community outreach.
We’re in the process of giving our building a facelift through a grant we’ve received, including new floors and necessary capital improvements. The building will be updated structurally and cosmetically, and the heating and air conditioning will be replaced. We’re creating new office space and will replace siding materials in the back. We’re expanding programs and hiring new case management workers.
What challenges have you faced in your position?
MR: We didn’t have a succession plan when Father Bob retired; I sort of jumped into the job with my passion leading the way. Father Bob was there for over 30 years so those are big shoes to fill with high expectations.
We’re dealing with an at-risk population; just trying to help where we can. Anytime you have 25 people living in one building and offering them supportive services when they’re dealing with their own challenges can be difficult. But we’ve done a good job. With the politics of the day and having enough funding for HIV services, we’re always concerned how much is going to be available.
There’s no five-year plan. We’ve got to plan one or two years at a time because you don’t know what the situation will be with funding. We’ve been lucky so far. Housing is an issue as well. Depending on what happens in 2026 with the budget, there’s going to be some cuts. We just don’t know how much.
As we’re serving the population, we are already dealing with the cuts to Medicaid and issues with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits — the population is struggling.
We need to step up and keep providing services. We’re being proactive; we go to Washington, D.C., and meet with our representatives and encourage them to keep funding HIV services across the board. There’s a group called AIDS Watch that goes to D.C. once a year. We attend as part of a larger group of HIV service organizations in New Jersey, led by Hyacinth Foundation.
What are the positive aspects of your job?
MR: Anytime we can house somebody who’s unhoused, that’s a huge positive. Anytime we can provide a person with a hot shower, food, or clothing — that’s a positive. The Center just wants to give people some good honest respect — that goes a long way.
How does The Center benefit the LGBTQ community?
MR: The Center is not necessarily strictly an LGBTQ+ organization because we provide housing and services for people living with HIV and that includes all individuals. We have a large group of LGBTQ+ individuals living, working and volunteering here, and who are clients. We collaborate with as many organizations as we can, including Prevention Resource Network, Visiting Nurses Association, Garden State Equality, and A-Team.
When you decided to come out, how did you know your family would be supportive?
MR: Everyone has their own inner timer telling them this is a good time to come out. With my family I wasn’t pressured into doing it; I just felt like it was the right time. I was lucky because I always knew that my family would be supportive. But it’s still a hard thing to admit. I think I felt comfortable just because I knew who they were and their values.
I came out to my family during my junior year of college in 1988. They were very accepting of it; I had a very good reception from my family — particularly my dad. He said really nice things about me. His acceptance meant a lot.
Also, I had an uncle who was gay, but it was never talked about really. He and his partner were around all the time, but no one mentioned them being gay. When I came out, he called me and said, “Thank you, now I can fully come out.” He and his partner had a restaurant and did all the things the gay community does. But no one ever said, “Uncle Peter is gay.” And I guess he already kind of knew that I was gay. And then we became buddies!
Tell me about the functions of The Center, including any annual events.
MR: Our biggest fundraising event is the annual Center a La Carte, which is April 23 of this year. It’s being held at the Arcade in Convention Hall.
We’re also a part of the NJ AIDS Walk, in which we have changed our name to the RED Collective and is its own 501(c)(3), made up of five organizations from North Jersey to South Jersey. The organizations include The Center in Asbury Park, South Jersey AIDS Alliance, Buddies of New Jersey, EDGE, and NJCRI. We all collaborate throughout the year and produce a walk on the first Sunday in May. We have five walks in different counties so that we can reach the maximum number of people.
The RED Collective provides services to our at-risk and HIV-positive community. We hold the Red Heart Gala, which recognizes individuals in the community performing good service. That event will occur every other year — usually in October. Over the holidays, we do the Thanksgiving drive and provide baskets and turkeys for our clients.
How does The Center work with regards to residential living?
MR: We have 25 residents who live there, offering them permanent, supportive housing. Some have been here for over 10 years; some come here for a period and move on. Some residents come here to get back on their feet, and some ultimately may move from The Center because they want more independence, or they want their own place in an apartment building where nobody knows them. People are welcome to stay as long as they need.
What are your goals in the next five years?
MR: We have been given an additional grant, where we’re housing 20 additional people in our community. That’s a big project. They’ll be scattered at different locations around Monmouth County. It’s a federally funded pilot program over three years. We’ll get them housing and provide support to help them with issues that they’re dealing with. We’re also starting a life coaching program for our residents and clients.
What are your pastimes and hobbies?
MR: I started playing pickleball over a year ago, and it’s fun. I love living by and swimming in the ocean. And I take my 3-year-old dog Danny to the beach, which I enjoy. I fostered Danny initially but knew right away I was going to keep him. I’ve had him for almost a year now.
