Mission Statement

Youth Pride Alliance is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Ally youth empowerment to encourage positive self-development and expression, as well as leadership, while bridging diverse communities and individuals to address issues of visibility, equality, and social justice. We are dedicated to celebrating the dignity and courage of all young people.

About the Board

The board is composed of members of the general public with diverse interests and background that all come together to support the Youth Pride Alliance mission. All board members serve as volunteers giving their expertise and energy. We are always looking for new board members to represents the diverse communities we serve. We strongly encourage youth, and members of the transgender and latino communities to apply. If you are interested in being on the Youth Pride Alliance board please send a resume and a cover letter to youthpride@youthpridealliance.org

Our Board Members

President
Nikisha Carpenter

Nikisha Carpenter a native of Detroit, Michigan, has been a resident of DC since 2001. Currently Nikisha works in Construction Management in the District. She has spent numerous hours volunteering in the community tutoring children, mentoring teens, leading school revitalization teams, phone banking, and fundraising for community groups. Nikisha also spends a lot of time volunteering for                              Capital Pride as the Chair of Entertainment                                                                    events@youthpridealliance.org

Sharon Greenbaum Sharon Greenbaum is the Youth Director for a large Reform synagogue in Rockville, MD.  She earned a BA in Women and Gender Studies and Psychology from The George Washington University.  She currently volunteers her time as a co-chair of the Queer Network for WIN, a pro-choice and democratic women's organization, and founded Sh'ma Koleinu: Hear Our Voices, a Jewish Queer youth program for high school students in the greater Washington, DC area.  In her free time, she enjoys exploring new bookstores and coffee shops.

Treasurer
Brian McNamee

Brian McNamee joined the board in 2006.Currently in his full time job he is the Finance & Operations Manager for Academy of Hope, a local DC non-profit that provides education to needy adults.  In addition to Youth Pride Alliance, Brian has volunteer with Greater DC Cares, and its sister organization Pittsburgh Cares.  He holds a B.S. in international business from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Jewel Murray

Jewel Murray is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College. She is currently the event logistics corrdinator for Whitman Walker working on Aids Walk Washington and Capital Pride.  Jewel is also serving as a work study at Joy Motion Dance Center.

Secretary
Vincent E. Slatt

Vincent E. Slatt is a reference librarian working in a federal museum.  Originally from Indiana, he has been in the DC area since 2003, coming here after living and studying in several European countries.  He has run a few marathons as fund-raisers for HIV/AIDS services,  volunteers at a legal rights clinic for undocumented workers, has helped to plan Capital Pride, loves sitting in the front row at movie theaters, cooks for fun, and enjoys getting up at sunrise.

Vice President
Robin Wood

Robin moved to Washington, DC in 2003 to attend the George Washington University. He is currently the Program Associate with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force where he coordinates the internship and pride programs and works on the Creating Change Conference. For the past 7 years he has been involved both as a student-participant and as faculty with the Denver-based youth leadership program Leaders Challenge. Robin also volunteers with several local and national organizations to help improve youth training curricula, outreach and fundraising strategies.