History
In 1984, local youth service professionals and community activists organized a conference on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth issues after an LGBTQ-identifying youth was hospitalized. Through this conference, advocates founded SMYAL to meet the needs of LGBTQ youth in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
How?
By creating leadership development opportunities, after-school programs, and counseling services designed to empower LGBTQ youth and educate their local community. Our organization strives to help these young leaders build advocacy skills and access crucial resources they need to succeed. We also provide education and training programs for youth service providers working in schools, runaway shelters, local government agencies, and hospitals.
Committed to social change, SMYAL continues to build, sustain, and advocate for programs, policies, and services that serve LGBTQ youth as they grow into adulthood.
Mission Statement
SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders) supports and empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in the Washington, DC, metropolitan region. Through youth leadership, SMYAL creates opportunities for LGBTQ youth to build self-confidence, develop critical life skills, and engage their peers and community through service and advocacy. Committed to social change, SMYAL builds, sustains, and advocates for programs, policies, and services that LGBTQ youth need as they grow into adulthood.
In the News
Interview with the 2019 Youth Fellows
The SMYAL Youth Fellowship provides youth ages 16-21 with hands-on experience working for an LGBTQ youth organization while accessing leadership and profession…
The Application for Our 2019 Activist Camp Is Open!
The camp is a four day- three night camp for high-school age youth leaders in DC, MD, and VA, who are interested in advancing justice for LGBTQ identified peop…
Easterns Automotive Group gives back to local organization SMYAL
Eastern Automative Group gives local nonprofit SMYAL a donation to show their appreciation for all of the amazing work they've done in the DC community. SMYAL …
Meet Our Staff
Our Board Members
K. Dane Snowden
K. Dane Snowden is Chief Operating Officer of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association where he oversees the Association's day-to-day operations.
Neil Starkey
Neil Starkey previously worked in the tech industry, holding leadership roles for 12 years in the development of now widely-used open standards for teleconfere…
View ProfileBilly Fettweis
Billy Fettweis, is the Development Director for Horton’s Kids, a community-based organization that serves children living in an isolated neighborhood in Washin…
View ProfileTony Anderson
Tony Anderson is a partner at Thompson Coburn LLP and practices primarily in the area of administrative law with particular emphasis in public transit, transpo…
View ProfileJavier Aquino
Javier Aquino is the Director of Operations of State Advocacy of the American Psychological Association’s Practice Directorate. He also serves as a court-appoi…
View ProfileDon Davis
Don Davis is an Employment, Labor & Benefits Associate Attorney in the Washington, DC office of Mintz Levin. He represents and counsels employers in a wide…
View ProfileEireann Dolan
Eireann is an ally advocate for LGBTQ rights. She is also married to Sean Doolittle, a relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals. Eireann and Sean are commit…
View ProfileStuart Campbell
Stuart Campbell is the Director of the Office of Community Services Programs at the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development where he administe…
View ProfileJoaquin “Jocko” Fajardo
Joaquin "Jocko" Fajardo is the Principal behind Flourish Design, a local DC Lifestyle Management and Private Events Company. Jocko hales from Tempe, Arizona an…
View ProfileRob Cogorno
Rob Cogorno recently retired from Subject Matter, a full-service public affairs agency. Rob previously worked as the Floor Director to Representative Steny Hoy…
View ProfileLisa Manley
Lisa is Senior Director of Partnerships and Engagement within the sustainability team at Mars, Incorporated. As the first woman in her family to attend college…
View ProfileEdward Palmieri
Edward Palmieri serves as Sustainability Policy and Partnerships Director at Facebook. Ed previously served as Associate General Counsel, Privacy at Facebook.
View ProfileDaniel Penchina
Daniel Penchina is the President of Voices for Progress, a non-profit based in Washington and California that trains and mobilizes philanthropists, business le…
View ProfileAri Shapiro
Ari Shapiro serves as host of NPR’s award winning after- noon newsmagazine, All Things Considered. He was previously NPR’s International Correspondent in Londo…
View ProfileRaffi Freedman-Gurspan
Raffi Freedman-Gurspan serves as a Deputy Campaign Director for the All On The Line campaign (AOTL). She previously served as Director of External Relations fo…
View ProfileFinancials
Jobs
Get in Touch
Have a question about volunteering, accessing resources, or attending an event? Drop us a line!