The President's Beacon of Hope for LGBTQ Youth

On behalf of the Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI), the nation’s oldest and largest LGBTQ youth service organization, I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to President Obama for his clear and powerful statement in favor of marriage equality for all.  The hallways of our facility are buzzing with excitement, emotion and a new found hope for the future of this generation of LGBTQ youth and the generations that will follow.

In the President’s evolution on this issue, we recognize a journey similar to the personal struggles that many of HMI’s own young people experience as they seek to define who they are and where they stand in the world. The President’s leadership is a beacon of hope promising that the light of equality will shine upon each and every American so that they may share their life openly with the person they love.

When Emery Hetrick and Damien Martin founded our organization more than three decades ago after a 15-year-old homeless youth was assaulted, beaten and thrown out of a shelter because he was gay, it would have been unimaginable that a sitting President of the United States would acknowledge the LGBTQ community, let alone stand in solidarity with these Americans and their pursuit of the rights and responsibilities of full citizenship.

But today, the President’s words have ushered in a new era.  Today is also a day where HMI will continue our 30+ year history of working with the thousands of LGBTQ youth who come through our doors – both by providing a safe space where they can define who they are and by being strong advocates on their behalf within our community and in the larger world.

And just as I extend my thanks to President Obama for his courageous stand for equality, I also want to express my sincere gratitude to HMI’s friends and champions whose unwavering commitment makes our life-saving work possible.  I invite you to visit our website at http://www.hmi.org/donate to support our mission and help ensure that all LGBTQ young people have the todays and tomorrows that they deserve.

 

Sincerely,

Thomas Krever, MPA
Executive Director
Hetrick-Martin Institute 

 


Alcoa – Making a Difference in the Lives of LGBTQ Youth!

In the spirit of volunteerism and service, Alcoa, the nation’s leading producer of aluminum products, and the Alcoa Foundation has donated their time and resources to working directly with and for the at-risk LGBTQ youth that rely on HMI for comprehensive services.

The Alcoa Foundation graciously sponsors HMI’s Job Readiness program. The foundation’s $40,000 gift covers costs associated with delivering employment enrichment and empowerment services to hundreds of impoverished lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people across the city. Within Job Readiness, our youth are prepared for the world of work, taught proven techniques to secure and maintain a job, and are educated on their rights as diverse individuals within the workplace. Volunteers from Alcoa work directly with our young people, educating them on success, and even conducting mock interviews. HMI is truly grateful for all of the support and hard work the Alcoa Foundation has committed to our Job Readiness program.

Because of the dedication and support of Alcoa and the Alcoa Foundation, 154 youth attended a total of 14 job readiness courses over an 8 week period. As a result a total of 27 youth were able to find permanent employment including Christopher Quarles, who was hired as a Men’s Health Coordinator at APICHA (Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS); Christopher Francisco was hired as a Prevention Associate at APICHA; and Lance Montoya was hired by Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center as Peer Delivered Syringe Exchange Facilitator.

These measurable and tangible results would not have been possible without Alcoa’s deep commitment to LGBTQ youth. But Alcoa’s life-changing efforts did not stop there.

Alcoa and Alcoa’s amazing employees have further committed to help HMI with youth outreach events like the Stars Ball which provided 300 LGBTQ youth with on-site counseling and HIV/STD testing.

If that weren’t enough, Alcoa also shared their spirit of volunteerism and service by working alongside 20 LGBTQ youth from HMI to plant trees in a targeted low-income neighborhood in Queens under the NYC Restoration Project.

HMI is thrilled to have corporate partners like Alcoa helping us elevate the lives of thousands of LGBTQ youth!  If your corporation is interested in making a difference in the lives of at-risk LGBTQ youth, please contact Chandler Bazemore at cbazemore@hmi.org or 212-674-2600 x 257.