PFY Launches New Website
Pride for youth is proud to announce the launch of its brand new website! Designed by Francisco Gutierrez, the sleek modern site includes a blog, a calendar of events, and will help keep participants and friends of PFY even more connected to what's happening at PFY than ever before.
Click on the image below to take a look around or click here to go to www.prideforyouth.org
PFY's new homepage.
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PFY at ♥B.E.A.T.S.
Memories from the 9th annual ♥B.E.A.T.S. conference (November 20th, 2009) emcee’d by former PFY Director Andy Peters with a World AIDS Day keynote by Peer Educator Ryan Jewels, an opening skit and breakout workshops by the whole peer educator troupe and tabling at the Hofstra Student Activity Center promenade.
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Meet PFY's New Staff
PFY is excited to welcome our new Community Educator, Jill Estes. Jill will be presenting “Understanding Homophobia” and “Understanding Transphobia” workshops to middle and high school classes throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. Jill will also assist with community outreach, fundraising and provide counseling and support at PFY’s Friday night Coffeehouse. Jill, herself an alumni of PFY, has been a strong advocate for LGBT individuals since her high school years and is excited to help create safer schools for LGBT youth on LI.
Beginning in early January 2010 Galo Cunto joined the PFY staff as the new Prevention Specialist. Galo will co-facilitate the GSA’s and provide counseling to youth in Hempstead, Uniondale and Roosevelt High Schools. Galo will also provide community education in those same school districts as well as facilitate groups at PFY, in addition to providing counseling and support at the Friday night Coffeehouse. Galo has a BA in Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, is fluent in Spanish and has previously worked at the AIDS Center of Queens County, providing HIV related services to primarily young Hispanic MSM. We are all excited about the rich experiences that Galo brings with him to PFY.
PFY would also like to extend a big welcome back to Office Manager Jen Snorteland, who returned to PFY in January, 2010. Jen had previously been employed at PFY from October ’07 until August ’09. As office manager, Jen is responsible for maintaining the PFY office and assisting all staff with program management. Jen is often the first person a new client meets at PFY, and has always gone out of her way to make sure new clients feel welcomed. Jen is currently enrolled at Old Westbury University, pursuing her BA in Sociology.
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In This Issue:
PFY Gets a New Director
by Andy Peters
In January 2010, Pete Carney was promoted to Director of Pride for Youth. Simultaneous to this transition, I took on the position of Long Island Crisis Center’s Associate Executive Director wherein my responsibilities shifted to fund development and administration for all three divisions of the agency.
I’m truly delighted to make room for this opportunity for Pete. Pete possess tremendous experience, skill and passion for the cause of LGBT youth. In his two years as Assistant Director, he forged new relationships with schools, enhanced PFY’s professional training program particularly in the area of transgender education, and established partnerships with LGBT business and organizations to broaden PFY’s circle of support. I know that PFY will be in good hands.
I spent twelve years directing PFY and four years before that in successive positions starting as a social work intern. I could not have asked for a more rewarding career experience. To work at PFY is to be part of something rare and special. In 1994, I moved from Buffalo to Long Island to attend graduate school and expecting I would find a job in New York City. Instead, I found a home at Long Island Crisis Center and a mission in Pride for Youth, a place that a former co-worker (also a transplant) once called: “The very best place on Long Island.” I won’t be far away from PFY and will continue working hard in the background to sustain and expand its programs. I wish Pete the best of luck with his new position and thank all the young people, colleagues and supporters who made my years as director so gratifying.
PFY's new Director, Pete Carney.
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Art Exhibit Raises Funds for PFY
This past holiday season, ClearVision Optical, which just celebrated its 60th anniversary, held an exhibit of the work of photographer Hannah Rae Hegnauer. All proceeds from sales of the works went directly to Pride for Youth.
Since ClearVision moved to their new location in Hauppauge 3 years ago, they began their Museum Way art exhibits, wherein 4 times a year they sponsor the work of a spectacular artist and donate 100% of the proceeds to a non-profit charitable agency who serves the Long Island community. This falls in line with what they call the CV Way, their core ideology of giving back to the community. The CV Way started when ClearVision first opened its doors in 1969 with a simple business point of view: treat others as you wish to be treated. Through efforts such as Museum Way, embracing an egalitarian management system, and hiring disabled employees, the CV Way has helped everyone at ClearVision work in unison towards a common goal of business success, profit and continuity.
Artist Hannah Rae Hegnauer Hannah studied photography at The Art Institute of Seattle. Currently, Hannah works as a book designer for several prestigious firms in New York. Her photographs have been featured in Anne Waldman’s book Outrider (La Alameda Press, 2006), and on the cover of the Meridian literary journal (2006). Hannah explains her inspiration for the Shuttering West exhibit, “I lived in Colorado and Washington almost my whole life, and have often traveled amongst the two. My photographs are brief pauses in these places. I am attracted to scenes that do not immediately call attention to themselves. These are the luminal places where natural possibilities can exist without provocation.”
The exhibit raised a total of $2085 for Pride for Youth. PFY is grateful to ClearVision and Hannah Hegnauer for their generosity.
LICC Executive Director Linda Leonard receives the donation check from ClearVision Vice President Peter Friedfeld.
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Recent Grants
PFY was recently awarded $50,000 from the Paul Rapoport Foundation to support HIV prevention activities for young gay/bisexual men of color. In
the fall of 2009, Macy's Foundation granted $3,000 towards our Peer Education program. PFY also received $1,000 from National Grid in sponsorship of the 2009 ♥B.E.A.T.S. conference.
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Come Party at Kelli's
Click on the image below for a larger version.
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