Congratulations to the 2018 True Award honorees!
The Impact Summit isn’t just for learning and networking – it’s also a place to celebrate all the awesome people doing awesome things to prevent and end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people.
This year’s True Award winners embody what it means to show up at the table and create a better world for LGBTQ young people. So, without further ado, here our the 2018 honorees:
True Community Award Winner: Philadelphia
Over the past year, community members in Philadelphia, PA have blown us away with their commitment to ending LGBTQ youth homelessness. In June 2017, Philadelphia participated in the True Colors Fund’s first-ever Pride Challenge and trained over 600 individuals on the issue. Philadelphia has also embarked on their own 100-Day Challenge to End Youth Homelessness based on A Way Home America’s model, and has an active Young Adult Leadership Committee to ensure that local solutions incorporate the expertise of youth with lived experience. Finally, Philadelphia has expressed interest in engaging in a large-scale Community Initiative that will culminate in a strategic plan to end LGBTQ youth homelessness.
True Leader Award Winner: Caroline Crouse
Caroline is a champion federal government representative from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Special Needs Assistance Programs who has worked diligently with the National Youth Forum on Homelessness to plan and implement the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project. She has been extremely supportive in partnering with True Colors Fund staff to build out this initiative while advocating for better practices on the federal, state, and local levels.
True Advocate, National: Amanda Andere
Leading the charge on racial equity work in the philanthropy space, Amanda Andere has been a True Advocate for liberation and justice. She is at the helm of launching a two-year community of practice called Foundations for Racial Equity to help funders move the needle toward greater racial equity in homelessness and housing. As the new co-chair of A Way Home America, Andere also brings the lens of racial equity to the larger youth homelessness movement.
True Advocate, Local: Josh Cogan
Josh Cogan is tireless advocate for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness in Dallas, TX. Through his role at OutLast Youth, a LGBTQ youth homelessness advocacy organization, Josh has been instrumental in raising the bar for inclusive policy and practice in the local Dallas area.