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, housing programs, 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.
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.
Brittni Dash, MSW, LICSW
Director of Clinical Services
Matresa Flowers
Play Therapist
Nashae Woods
Child & Adolescent Therapist
Mariana Velázquez
Bilingual Therapist
Hancie Stokes
Director of Communications
Jason Laney
Director of Development
Lina Guerra
Communications & Development Coordinator
Caro Vorndran
Development Coordinator
Ayanna Alexandre
Little SMYALs Youth Fellow
Connor Hegel
Training & Resources Coordinator
Ty Kitchen
Little SMYALs Program Manager
Reagan Peters-Roussel
Drop-In Programs Youth Fellow
Elly Bludworth
Director of Youth Housing
Sierra Barnedo
Rapid Rehousing & Street Outreach Manager
Kevin Bauer
Housing Coordinator
Francisco Lara-Rodriguez
Youth Housing Case Manager
Tavar Herbert, MSW, LGSW
Youth Housing Case Manager
India Mercedes
House Monitor Manager
Michael Perry
Housing Operations Assistant
© 2021 SMYAL | 410 7th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 | 202.546.5940 | [email protected] | Accessibility Policy
