Women at the Helm 2014
Director, Forty to None Project at the True Colors Fund
There is a crisis of LGBT youth homelessness in this country and Jama Shelton, LMSW, PhD, has been fighting to end it for more than a decade. A former homeless youth herself, Shelton’s life goal was forged while working with queer kids as a community-based artist in Texas. “Young people would disclose things that had happened to them in their lives that I did not have the skill set to address. It felt irresponsible to continue doing that work without learning more about how to handle such disclosures, so I decided to pursue an MSW,” she says. “After years of providing direct services to LGBT youth experiencing homelessness, I knew I wanted to do more.” She went back to school to work on her PhD, which she completed. Currently, she is the director of the Forty to None Project at the True Colors Fund, an LGBT organization co-founded by Cyndi Lauper. She’s also a professor at Hunter College and NYU School of Social Work. “I remember the first young woman of transgender experience who I helped get her own apartment 10 years ago,” she says. “I think about how hard she worked and how many barriers she broke through to get there. Her story, and countless others like hers, keep me going.”
Meet the next wave of out leaders!
ELLIE COVAN
Founder and Artistic Director, Dixon Place
“While in Paris in 1985, a salon spontaneously dropped into my living room,” says Ellie Covan. “The experience was such fun, when I returned to New York, without much forethought, I opened my living room to the hungry downtown arts scene.” And thus was the beginning of Dixon Place, an experimental theater that has reigned as the crown jewel of the downtown performing arts scene for more than a quarter of a century. It’s a place that offers something for everyone, from new original plays to cartoon slide shows for children to an international women’s art salon, with a number of events offering free admission. Dixon is especially committed to queer performers, playing host to the annual Hot! Festival. In addition, Covan has found time to be a director (for Nancy Giles), a producer (for Peggy Shaw), and a mentor for anyone who needs one: “When I began my adventure, leaders of other arts organizations, such as David White, Mark Russell and Martha Wilson were extremely helpful and generous with their support and advice. Because of their graciousness, I never ignore novices when they reach out for guidance and encouragement.”
