Jama Shelton
As Director of Housing at the Ali Forney Center, Shelton helps gay youth every day. She stands up to “institutionalized heterosexism and layers of systemic discrimination” to find LGBT youth a place to call home. Shelton believes that, “as a community, it is our duty and should be our honor, to step up for our youth in ways that other systems have been unable to. We [AFC] provide housing in small, home-like settings where a semblance of family may be recreated and a system of mutual support is created that enables the young people to work towards their goals, including independent living.” Shelton said from a professional standpoint, she is proud to be a part of the Ali Forney Center. On a personal level, she is proud that she “ran the NYC marathon last year, which was something I never, ever thought I’d be able to do.”
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