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Advisory Board

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    Jeff Krehely

    Co-Chair, Advisory Board

    Jeff Krehely is the Vice President of LGBT Research and Communications Project at American Progress. This project began in 2009 and builds on American Progress’s longstanding commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality with a strategic policy and communications agenda that includes issues such as youth homelessness, health, aging, workplace equality, and more.

    Prior to joining American Progress, Jeff was the research director of the Movement Advancement Project, which provides LGBT donors and organizations with strategic information, insights, and analyses to help them increase and align resources for highest impact. While at MAP, Jeff led a wide range of research and technical assistance projects to help build the capacity and effectiveness of local, state, and national LGBT advocacy and service organizations, as well as foundations.

    Before MAP, Jeff worked at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, serving as NCRP’s research director (February 2003 until January 2004), as well as its deputy director (February 2004 until he joined MAP in September 2006). While at NCRP, Jeff led the organization’s work documenting the successful strategies right-wing foundations used to advance a conservative public policy agenda, and lobbied Congress to pass laws increasing the accountability of the philanthropic sector. Jeff has also served as the special assistant to the president of The Atlantic Philanthropies, Inc., a multibillion-dollar international grantmaking organization, and as a research associate at the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy. Jeff holds a B.A. in English from King’s College (PA) and a master of public policy from Georgetown University. He has been published by the Brookings Institution Press, the Urban Institute Press, and others.

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    Theresa Nolan

    Co-Chair, Advisory Board

    In 2002, Theresa joined the Green Chimneys NYC division team as a Program Director for RHY services.  As the NYC Division Director since 2006, Theresa Nolan has overseen foster care residential programs and homeless youth transitional programs focused on LGBTQ youth.   In early 2011, Theresa helped launch a career training program for LGBTQ youth focused on nature-based careers.  More recently, Theresa secured funding for a family therapy intervention program for LGBTQ youth and their families as a pilot project with NYC’s Department of Youth and Community Development. She regularly speaks about creating affirming environments for LGBTQ youth at forums and conferences, and conducts trainings on this and many adolescent development topics.

    Most recently, she presented on a webinar with the American Association of Children’s Residential Centers on creating healthy spaces for LGBTQ youth and was interviewed for an episode of In The Life regarding the importance of working with families of LGBTQ youth to increase family acceptance.  In 2010 she was appointed to the NYC Mayor’s Commission on LGBTQ Runaway/Homeless Youth in which she co-chaired the Family Matters sub-group.  Theresa is also a member of the Advisory Council for Bee’s Fund of the Stonewall Community Foundation, an individual grant program for young lesbian, bisexual, and transgender females.

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    Colleen K. Jackson

    Member, Advisory Board

    Ms. Jackson holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and has over 30 years of experience working in the Human Services sector.  She has been employed at West End for 22 years, the last sixteen as West End’s Executive Director.  Prior to her employment at West End, Ms. Jackson held management and social service positions in child welfare agencies.

    A tireless advocate for the homeless, Ms. Jackson served as President of Homeless Services United, an association of shelter providers, for five years and continues to work with government and elected officials toward improving policies and services for the City’s most vulnerable citizens.  Her strong desire to help underserved populations, in particular homeless LGBT youth, has led to her collaboration with Cyndi Lauper and her manager Lisa Barbaris to create the True Colors Residence which opened in 2011 and  provides permanent supportive housing for this population.  Plans for a second residence, to be known as True Colors Bronx, are in development.

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    Terrence Meck

    Member, Advisory Board

    Terrence Meck is the Executive Director of The Palette Fund, a private foundation that honors the legacy of his late partner Rand Harlan Skolnick through collaborative grant making and programs that value human rights and education.  Since its inception in 2009, the Palette Fund has granted more than $2.5 million in the areas of Queer youth, Patient Navigation and Nutrition and Wellness.  Terrence is also President of Intrinsic Capital, a real estate investment firm based in New York City.

    From 2003 to 2008, Terrence and Rand co-owned The Raven Resort Properties in New Hope, PA, providing a vibrant resource for the diverse community.  Prior to that he worked in public relations in both the publishing and fashion industries.  Terrence currently serves on the boards of the Movement Advancement Project, New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, God’s Love We Deliver, Queer Youth Fund, and the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute.  He received his B.A. in political science from Princeton University in 2000 and presently resides in New York City.

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    Daniel Frank Pfarr

    Member, Advisory Board

    Daniel F. Pfarr is Executive Director of The Bridge for Youth, a $3 million not-for-profit organization that provides 24-hour access point and shelter for youth in crisis. Founded in 1970, The Bridge for Youth was one of the first places in the nation for youth in crisis to find shelter and support. The Bridge is a recognized leader in the provision of comprehensive shelter, counseling, and housing services; it is also viewed as a model organization in the community serving youth in crisis in the LGBTQ community.

    Pfarr is in the process of developing the Youth in Crisis Technology project (YCTP) in order to provide homeless youth with access to web-based assessment and referral tools. He is currently a member of the United Way’s Council of Agency Executives, Youth Services Network, Metro Partners Fund, and past president of the Youth Intervention Program Association.

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    Julie L. Shapiro

    Member, Advisory Board

    Julie L. Shapiro is a nonprofit leader with 16 years experience designing and implementing large scale, high impact, multi-partner initiatives in human services and workforce development. Ms. Shapiro has been Executive Director of The Door since 2010. The Door is a multi-service youth development agency providing a full range of integrated services to over 11,000 young people annually from all five boroughs of New York City. Services include healthcare, counseling, career training, GED and ESOL classes, the arts, legal advocacy and representation, crisis services for runaway and homeless youth, supportive housing and nutritious meals.  Of the young people who come to The Door each year, over 1,800 are homeless or at risk of homelessness and one in six identify as LGBTQ. The Door has become a model for serving LGBTQ youth in an inclusive setting.

    Prior to coming to The Door, Ms. Shapiro was a Senior Vice President at Seedco, where she worked for eight years to oversee the development, management and growth of nationally recognized workforce development programs that are implemented through networks of community-based organizations. Prior to joining Seedco, Ms. Shapiro was Assistant Vice President for Welfare to Work Services at F.E.G.S Health and Human Services System, where her projects included two large initiatives to improve the language and literacy skills of limited English speakers. She has also been a Project Manager in the New York City Human Resources Administration’s Office of Policy and Program Analysis. Ms. Shapiro received her bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a Master in Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

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    Andre Wade

    Member, Advisory Board

    André Wade is a Program and Policy Analyst at the National Alliance to End Homelessness with a focus on homeless youth who are runaway and unaccompanied, exiting or formerly in foster care, and LGBTQ. André has worked in social services for over a dozen years providing and coordinating services to at-risk families and youth in and out of child welfare, youth on probation, and school-aged children with developmental disabilities.

    Currently, André is on the national Board of Directors for StandUp for Kids and has been on the Advisory Board of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center (RHYTTAC) since 2011.

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    Bonnie Wade

    Member, Advisory Board

    Bonnie Wade is the Associate Director of UCAN’s LGBTQ Host Home Program and a genderqueer social worker has been working in social services for the past 17 years. Originally from Miami, Florida, Bonnie moved to Chicago in 1996 to pursue social work opportunities with a progressive organization. Bonnie has worked with youth who have experienced trauma and homelessness in a variety of settings including a drop-in, schools and a residential shelter. Over the years, she has provided individual and group psychotherapy, program administration, case management and outreach services to youth age 14 through 24. For the last 4 years, Bonnie, along with a group of volunteers and professionals have developed the LGBTQ Host Home Program @ UCAN. She is a founding member of the National Advisory Council to End Homelessness among LGBT youth at the National Alliance to End Homelessness. She is a graduate of The University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration.

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