HMI Staffers Make Meaningful Contributions to Community

December 7, 2023 // by Admin

HMI STAFFERS ILLUMINATE NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS: ADVOCACY IN SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND MENTAL WELLNESS

Our dedicated staff members are not just colleagues; they are passionate advocates committed to making a positive impact on the lives of young people. We’re thrilled to share some recent highlights of how our HMI team has been actively contributing to the greater community, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of education, mental health, and advocacy.

Camille Gaji (HMI Educational Specialist, Sexual Health) and Pearl McAndrews (HMI Educational Specialist, Peer Education) recently participated in the 2023 National Sex Ed Conference in Atlantic City. Their presentation, titled “The Gay Agenda: A Focused View on LGBTQIA+ Needs in Sexual Health Education,” was one of several insightful discussions held at the conference, the largest of its kind in the U.S. dedicated to sexuality educators.

Camille and Pearl’s contribution was an integral part of the conference’s rich tapestry. Their presentation delved into the intricacies of sexual health education, emphasizing the unique needs of the LGBTQIA+ community. By participating in this collective effort, they played a crucial role in promoting a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to sexuality education.

Asha Alexander, LCSW (HMI Assistant Director of Counseling and Case Management), has been at the forefront of mental health advocacy. Asha recently lent her expertise to a panel that consulted on the newly released report by The JED Foundation, titled “Youth Suicide: Current Trends and the Path to Prevention.”

This comprehensive report goes beyond mere statistics, providing actionable insights into the mental health challenges faced by young people today. Asha, alongside other esteemed panel experts, including The JED Foundation’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth (HMI Psychiatrist), analyzed data on youth mental health and suicide. Their collective efforts resulted in evidence-based recommendations aimed at lowering youth suicide rates.

The report, a crucial resource in understanding the factors influencing this generation, identifies specific groups of youth at higher risk and offers recommendations on how to protect them and ultimately save lives. Asha’s dedication to mental health advocacy aligns seamlessly with HMI’s mission to empower queer and trans youth, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to navigate the complexities of their mental well-being.

Key highlights from the report include:

10% of high school students attempted suicide in the past year.
Black youth (ages 10 to 24) experienced the fastest increase in suicide rates between 2010 and 2020, with the rate almost doubling (a 90% increase).
American Indian/Alaska Native teens and young adults have the highest suicide rate across all racial groups — almost twice as high as the overall national average.
LGBTQIA+ youth are at higher risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts than cisgender heterosexual youth.
Young women’s (ages 15 to 24) suicide rates are increasing faster than young men’s, doubling in the past two decades.
Rural youth are almost twice as likely to die by suicide than those who live in large urban areas.
Youth (ages 10 to 24) involved with the criminal legal system die by suicide at rates two to three times higher than the general youth population.
Firearms are the leading method of suicide death overall, and approximately 90% of attempts are fatal.

Learn more and download the report here.

We couldn’t be prouder of our staff members who continually go above and beyond to contribute meaningfully to the community. These inspiring efforts reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where every young person is celebrated and supported. As we celebrate these accomplishments, we look forward to more opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve.

HMI Senior Director of Youth Development, Lazara Paz-Gonzalez Recognized by NYC DOH on World AIDS Day

CEO Amy Harclerode named Nonprofit Power Player by PoliticsNY and amNY Metro

Bridget Hughes, M.A.
Chief Program Officer

Bridget leads the development, implementation and evaluation of HMI’s programs for LGBTQIA+ young people and their families, as well as outreach and education initiatives, and strategic partnerships, including HMI’s partnership with Harvey Milk High School and the NYC Dept. of Education.

Since joining HMI in 2012, Bridget has successfully overseen the expansion of HMI services to six days per week; spearheaded new program partnerships with CUNY’s Office of K-16 Initiatives (College Bridge for All), the NYC Department of Education Pathways to Graduation Program, CenterLink’s Q Chat Space program, Brooklyn Community Pride Center, and the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health; and supervised the implementation of the ongoing evaluation of HMI’s comprehensive service model and HMI’s bereavement support intervention for LGBTQ+ youth. In 2019, Bridget was named Outstanding Community Advocate by the New York City Administration for Children’s Services’ Office of LGBTQ Equity Strategies. Bridget was also recognized as an LGBTQ+ Power Player by PoliticsNY, Gay City News, and amNY Metro in both 2023 and 2024.

Her work with LGBTQIA+ youth spans more than 30 years, and includes the development and direction of the Youth Enrichment Services program of the LGBT Community Center (1989-2007), acting as the sole consultant responsible for the implementation of the annual Bias Audit for the NYC Department of Education, tracking incidents of student-on-student harassment and violence in support of the New York State Dignity for All Students Act (2009-2012), and leading LGBT inclusion efforts for the Counseling Center at Lehman College (2008-2010). In 2007, Bridget received a PASEsetter Award for outstanding contributions to the field of after school education.

Bridget is co-author of the “Working It Out” intervention curriculum, a cognitive-behavioral HIV prevention intervention targeting lesbian, gay and bisexual youth, developed under the auspices of the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at Columbia University and Dr. Joyce Hunter. She has provided professional development training for a variety of organizations including the NYC Dept of Education, the NYC Administration for Children’s Services, Good Shepherd Services, Partnership for After School Education (PASE) and Covenant House Training Institute, to name a few.

Bridget attended Mount Saint Mary’s University and Oxford University as an undergraduate, and holds a Master’s Degree in English from Rutgers University. In 2007, she completed a year of study at Columbia University as a fellow in the Charles H. Revson Fellowship, a program sponsored by the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy, designed for the development of mid-career urban leaders who have made a substantial contribution to New York City.

Amy Harclerode
Chief Executive Officer

On November 17, 2023, Amy Harclerode was officially appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) by HMI’s Board of Directors. Having previously taken on the role of Interim CEO in April 2023, Amy, under her capable leadership, guided HMI through a period of expansion and innovation in response to the mental health crisis affecting queer and trans youth of color. Serving as HMI’s inaugural Chief Development Officer since 2017, Amy played a pivotal role in the organization’s remarkable revenue growth, providing essential support for youth programming, advocacy and capacity building initiatives.

In December 2023, Amy was named a Nonprofit Power Player by PoliticsNY and amNY Metro. She was also recognized as an LGBTQIA+ Power Player by PoliticsNY, amNY Metro, and Gay City News for three consecutive years—2023, 2024, and 2025. Additionally, she earned a coveted spot on the 2023 Power of Diversity: Pride 100 list by City & State NY. These honors not only underscore Amy’s steadfast commitment to LGBTQIA+ youth advocacy but have also helped elevate HMI’s visibility and impact across New York and beyond.

Amy came to HMI from the Wildlife Conservation Society, where she led institutional giving for global conservation programming.

Currently, Amy is the Development Chair of the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center. She was President and Chair of the Voss Water Foundation and has served on the Boards of Pelham Picture House, Greater Tucson Leadership, Tucson Young Professionals, and the Tucson Federal Credit Union.

Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Amy has a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with a focus in Biology from the University of Tennessee at Martin where she was a scholarship athlete for the Division I UT Women’s Softball Team. She has a Masters in Strategic Marketing and Communications from Fordham University and lives in Mount Vernon, NY with her wife and dog, Piper.

Joe Pressley
Chief Executive Officer

Dedicated to bringing positive social and economic changes to the oppressed and disenfranchised, Joe has served as the Community Organizer and then Executive Director for the New York AIDS Coalition. Joe was also Senior Director of Policy and Government Relations for Harlem United Community AIDS Center and was Director of Special Projects for New York City Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito before she became the Council’s Speaker in 2014 at which point he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff. Prior to coming on board at HMI, Joe served as a Deputy Commissioner at the New York City Department of Homeless Services.

For years, Joe has worked closely with the HIV/AIDS, African American and LGBTQ communities educating hundreds about political processes and facilitating ways in which various needs and issues are heard and acted upon. Believing that we should live at intersections and not in silos, Joe brings seemingly different communities together to foster transformative change. In 2000, he was a candidate for the City Council in Brooklyn’s 35th District. From 2009 to 2010, Joe was a Charles Revson Fellow at Columbia University. The Revson Fellowship, awarded annually to several individuals from an application pool of hundreds, presented an opportunity for mid-career New York City professionals to be involved in two semesters of intensive coursework, research and personal reflection.

Native to Brooklyn, Joe holds a Master’s degree in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from the New School for Public Engagement and a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Social Sciences from the CUNY Baccalaureate Program at Hunter College. Over the years, he has amassed numerous accolades and awards. He lives in Fort Greene with his husband, Stephen Williams. They were married on July 29, 2011 by the Honorable David N. Dinkins, New York City’s 106th Mayor.

Bryson Rose
Senior Director, Advocacy & Capacity Building

Bryson Rose currently serves as the Senior Director of the Center for LGBTQ Youth Advocacy and Capacity Building at the Hetrick-Martin Institute. Bryson has spent the past 7 years collaborating with government agencies, educational institutions, and NGOs to build capacity around supporting the needs of LGBTQIA+ youth. Additionally, Bryson spearheads HMI’s advocacy efforts, lobbying for systems-level change at both the local and state level to ensure equity and dignity for LGBTQIA+ youth, communities, and their families. He also serves on the New York State Health and Human Services LGBT Network working to increase access to affirming and culturally responsive mental health services. Prior to this, Bryson was the Program Manager for Adolescent Sexual Health & Reproductive Justice in the Youth Services Division of HMI’s youth programs.

Bryson’s area of focus include addressing health disparities through the lenses of trauma informed care, healing centered engagement, anti-oppressive frameworks, historical trauma work, community centered solution creation, and writing as healing. Bryson’s writing has been featured on the FreshXpress as well as The Huffington Post and he appeared on NY’s Fox 5 as a sexual health expert for World AIDS Day 2017. In 2017, Bryson was the recipient of the inaugural Notable Alumni Award from the College of Arts & Sciences at Ohio University, his alma mater.

Though currently residing in Harlem, Bryson is native of Columbus, OH and enjoys all things Midwestern: Ohio State football and basketball, homecomings and tailgating, and the changing of seasons. Bryson is a proud member of the Kappa Xi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the nation’s oldest and premier African American fraternity.

Soraya Elcock
Chief Strategy Officer

Soraya Elcock has worked in the social justice and human rights field for over 30 years. She spent 20 of those years fighting for the rights of people of color living with, or at risk for, HIV and AIDS. Responding to the epidemic in the 1990s, Ms. Elcock began her work as an HIV/AIDS Educator for immigrant populations, and developed into a prevention, policy, and strategic leader. Soraya is proud to have created and implement innovative HIV Prevention and Policy strategies and interventions on behalf of People Living with and impacted by HIV and AIDS, women and LGBTQ communities, with a focus on improving access to care.

In 1999, Ms. Elcock joined Harlem United Community AIDS Center’s leadership team as the Deputy Director of the Prevention Education and Policy Division. In that capacity, she developed and expanded the prevention portfolio from a $200,000 budget and 5 person staff to more than $7 million dollars and a staff of 40. From 2005-2010, Soraya served as Harlem United’s Vice President, for Policy and Government Relations, where her work included representing the agency on city, state and federal policy issues. She implemented a 2‐year mobilization, advocacy and policy plan to change New York State’s antiquated HIV testing law, in order to increase early detection of HIV. That initiative resulted in the passage of a new HIV testing bill in New York State in 2010.

In December 2010, Ms. Elcock left Harlem United to become a principal and founding member of Creating Access Consulting Group (CACG) in order to focus on a broader social justice impact. Soraya views her CACG work as a natural extension of her commitment to serve disenfranchised and marginalized communities, with a focus on strategic positioning, government relations, policy and community development.

Soraya is currently working with the Hetrick-Martin Institute as the Chief Strategy Officer. In that role she leverages the organization’s expertise, builds new political relationships, secures and strengthens partnerships with New York City Council, increases discretionary funding and expands HMI’s program model throughout NYC with community and government organizations. Over the past seven years, Ms. Elcock has secured more than $7 million dollars in funding for HMI, and defined key strategic initiatives that have increased HMI’s visibility, leveraged their expertise and helped to expand the organization’s reach.

Ms. Elcock was a Mayoral appointee and Community co-chair of the New York City HIV Health and Human Services Planning Council — responsible for setting priorities and determining how $110 million in federal Ryan White funds is spent. Soraya has participated on several local planning bodies including serving as the Community Co-Chair of the New York City Prevention Planning Group. She served as Vice Chair of Communities Advocating for Emergency AIDS Relief (CAEAR) — a national membership organization established to advocate for the critical care, treatment and supportive service needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS– and as Vice President of the Paul Rapaport Foundation’s board of directors

Ms. Elcock has presented at many local, national and international conferences. A graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, she holds degrees in Political Science and Theater Arts..

Brian Dauth
Executive Assistant

Brian Dauth has worked in the non-profit sector for more than 30 years, with the last decade spent at the Hetrick-Martin Institute. He did his undergraduate work at Fairleigh Dickinson University, studying Comparative Literature and Film. His writings have been published by the University of Mississippi Press, the British Film Institute, and other outlets.

Jose Virella
Chief Operating and Financial Officer

Jose brings over 25 years of experience to HMI working in complex work environments; analyzing and streamlining systems and processes; and building bridges with a multitude of cultures and experiences.

Previously, Mr. Virella worked as Chief Executive Officer at Metro Community Health Centers, Chief Financial Officer at Ryan Health, Chief Financial Officer at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, as Vice President of Administration for Neurosciences at Continuum Health Partners, and as Vice President of Finance and Administration and Senior Vice President at the Jewish Communal Fund.

He received his B.A. in Psychology from Columbia University, an M.B.A. in Finance, Organizations and Markets from the University of Rochester, and an M.Ed. in Adult and Organizational Behavior from Temple University.

Trovana Hector
Senior Director, Compliance & Operations

Trovana first joined HMI in 2018 as Assistant Director of Grants and Contracts and now serves as Senior Director of Compliance and Operations. She monitors all grants, contracts and reporting and ensures HMI’s continuous compliance, quality assurance and program improvement. Through her passion for social innovation and social progress, Trovana liaises with many funders to secure funding and programming for underserved LGBTQIA+ youth so they receive and have access to education, homeless services, healthcare, mental health and economic empowerment services. She has a decade of developing and implementing best practices of compliance programs, including procedures and metrics to track and report on key performance data points and service deliverables.

Trovana previously worked with EAC Network, reporting client specific data which was key to helping the city council and federal government better allocate funding. These reports were instrumental in supporting and addressing the substance abuse and mentally ill criminal population in New York City. Trovana is an alumna of Hunter College, holds a Master’s in Public Administration and is a notary. She is an affiliate of the Hunter College Alumni Association, American Sociological Association and the Clarina Guilliams foundation, which provides much needed technology resources to the children of Guyana.

Although she is Brooklyn born, Trovana is a Guyanese at heart.

Alayne Rosales
Senior Director, Advocacy & Capacity Building

Alayne Rosales has worked in the non-profit sector for more than 15 years. Her commitment to social justice, education and LGBTQIA+ youth work, has led Alayne to a variety of positions including as a policy advocate, community organizer, and technical assistance provider. She has managed public and private grants, created tailored curricula, provided supervision to social work staff and graduate level interns, and engaged in policy advocacy strategies affirming LGBTQIA+ youth.

Currently the Senior Director of Advocacy and Capacity Building at the Hetrick Martin Institute (HMI), Alayne is responsible for the management and oversight of the Advocacy and Capacity Building department. Alayne joined the Executive team at HMI in April 2023. She began her tenure with HMI in 2016 as a trainer in the organization’s New Jersey location and over the next 5 years rose to become the Director of the NJ agency.

During her tenure in New Jersey, Alayne provided professional development workshops to a variety of groups including the NJ Board of Education employees, healthcare providers, Department of Child Protection and Permanency staff (DCPP), and other youth serving professionals. Alayne’s strong management and leadership skills were utilized in managing multi-year government funded contracts, managing multiple service sites in NJ, as well as organized agency fundraisers.

Upon the closing of the NJ agency in 2021, Alayne moved to the HMI New York office, where she served as the Senior Director of Youth Services. One year later, she moved into her current role where she is focused on expanding HMI’s visibility as a leading LGBTQIA+ Youth Advocacy organization, while leading the professional development offerings and consultation services through HMI’s Center for LGBTQIA+ Advocacy and Capacity Building.

Alayne previously worked at the NYC Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and has also been a guest facilitator for Gender Spectrum. She has attended the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond’s (PISAB) Undoing Racism Workshop, where she then became a facilitator for the Anti-Racist LGBTQ group.

Alayne is a licensed social worker and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Rutgers University’s Douglass College and a Master of Social Work (MSW) in Leadership and Macro-Practice with a concentration in Administration, from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service. She has served as an adjunct instructor, teaching “Human Rights and Social Justice” from the same program she graduated from at Fordham. Alayne received certification in SiFi (Seminar in Field Instruction) from Columbia University’s School of Social Work, where today she is an Advisor to Generalist Year MSW students.

Alayne, was born and raised in New Jersey by Filipino immigrant parents. She still resides in New Jersey with her wife, dog, and two bunnies. In her free time, Alayne enjoys cooking, bullet journaling, collecting and caring for plants, and interior design.

Publications:
English, D., & Smith, J.C., & Scott-Walker, L., Morris, M., Reid, M., Lashay, C., Bridges, D., Rosales, A., & Cunningham, D.J. (In Press). THRIVE 365: A community-led, multicomponent health promotion intervention for Black same gender loving men. Accepted for Publication in Annals of LGBTQ Public and Population Health.

Sirota, K. G. (2010). Fun morality reconsidered: Mothering and the relational contours of maternal child play in U.S. working family life. Ethos: Journal of the Society for Psychological Anthropology, 38(4), 388405. Special theme issue, Mothering as everyday practice. Guest editors: B. Chapin & K. Barlow.

Lazara Paz-Gonzalez
Senior Director, Youth Services

Lazara Paz-Gonzalez, DrPH(c) is a proud Queer Latina/x, born and raised in New Jersey. As the Senior Director of Youth Services at the HMI, Lazara is deeply committed to advancing social, health, and community justice for those living at the margins.

With more than 20 years of national experience in public health programs and community engagement, Lazara is a seasoned program operator, strategic thinker, educator, and trainer. Her work has centered on evaluating the effectiveness of interventions for LGBTQIA+ youth and developing empowerment models tailored to young people of color.

Lazara holds a Master of Public Health and is in the final stages of completing her Doctorate in Public Health at Tulane University. Her passion, expertise, and dedication continue to drive meaningful change for the communities she serves.

Aruna Krishnakumar
Senior Director, Mental Health Services

Aruna Krishnakumar, LCSW is a dedicated advocate and experienced professional in the field of LGBTQIA+ health and wellness. From 2011 to 2016, Aruna served as a valued member of the HMI team, holding roles including Health Counselor/Senior Outreach Specialist, Supervising Counselor, and Senior Supervising Counselor within the Counseling Department. During her tenure, she conducted street outreach to engage young people experiencing homelessness and later transitioned to counseling and supervisory roles, deepening her impact on HMI’s mission.

Since 2016, Aruna has brought her expertise to the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. She began as the Director of Adolescent Health, overseeing operations of the HOTT Van, a vital resource for youth. She then took on the role of Health Center Director at Callen-Lorde’s Brooklyn clinic, where she successfully managed the launch and day-to-day operations of the site. As Managing Director of Adolescent & Mobile Health, she continued to lead transformative initiatives.

Aruna’s longstanding commitment to youth in the Kiki Ballroom scene is evident through her role as a member representative of the NYC Kiki Coalition, where she collaborates closely with HMI on outreach efforts and events like the annual Youth Pride Fest.

Beyond her extensive experience, Aruna holds a certificate in Trauma-Informed Clinical Practice and has specialized knowledge in HIV testing, opioid overdose response, and gender-based violence. She also supervises the COIN Clinic, a free healthcare service for sex workers launched by Callen-Lorde in partnership with trailblazing transgender activist Cecilia Gentili.

Aruna’s dedication, leadership, and breadth of expertise continue to make a lasting impact on the communities she serves.

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