Hetrick-Martin Institute believes all young people,
regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive
environment in which to achieve their full potential.
Hetrick-Martin creates this environment for lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth between the ages of 13-24 and their families.
In 1979, life partners and educators
on gay and lesbian issues, Dr. Emery Hetrick, a psychiatrist, and Dr. Damien Martin, a professor at New York University, heard the heartbreaking story of a
homeless 15-year-old boy who had been beaten and thrown out of his emergency
shelter because he was gay. Inspired by this they choose to do something.
37 years later, Thomas Krever, CEO
continues to champion their mission and leads this organization while he and
his team work to establish HMI as the blueprint for other cities to address the
needs of underserved, at-risk youth. Since assuming the role of leader in 2007,
his goal has been to strategically create best practices that other cities and
organizations can replicate. In the past year he has increased that vision to
include “how can New York City become the city that other cities emulate around
LGBT matters, specifically around the needs of LGBT youth."
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| Thomas Krever, CEO Hedrick-Martin Institute |
“The fundamental belief that guides each of us here at Hetrick-Martin is that young people, when given the opportunity, sufficient resources, and love can develop the tools and confidence to take charge of their lives and chart a course for successful futures” – Thomas Krever, Chief Executive Officer
Thomas was kind enough to take time
out of his busy schedule to share with me the various ways in which HMI is
leading youth service organizations in identifying best practices and inspiring
service communities across the country and key areas around the globe.
What is new at HMI?
HMI has been in close partnership
with New York City Council to develop a series of best practices and replicable
models based on its 37 years of working with at-risk youth.
We created PRISM – Potential
Realization of Youth Service Model – This fee for service model helps sustain
the organization, ensuring we are able to keep running and enables us to
continue to provide our services. It’s an organizational tool that agencies use
to work with their leadership in identifying 5 key areas around organizational
readiness to create LGBT inclusive spaces.
Physical Environment - because it’s
more than having a rainbow sticker on the door before we can feel safe. We look
at the physical space -what can organizations do physically so when you walk
in you immediately understand that you’re welcomed.
Policies & Procedures – what
policies and procedures are on paper. What Policies and Procedures can we put
forth proactively to ensure that we are not waiting for a shoe to drop.
Pragmatic – What is the actual
culture of an organization? What is the culture of that organization around
LGBT inclusivity?
Professional Development – How are organizations
developing staff and volunteers alike. What development tools are available for
volunteers, for staff? How do you on board and reach out to potential LGBT
hires? How do you orient them what is your plan to integrate them into the
culture? How do you continue to support them? How professionally do they engage
clients and customers?
We have utilized the PRISM SCAN tools
with 11 youth runaway shelters across the city and worked with their leadership
to ensure that their shelter culture is LGBT inclusive. We’re working with
ConEdison to look at their policies because they have people of Trans
experience, who are transitioning, and examining how the workplace environment
supports that and how does ConEd keep them safe.
As HMI expands its services, it is also branching out. Tell
us about what is happening in New Jersey?
I’m excited to talk about this. HMI
has adopted the federated model. This is very important and exciting because
there is not one LGBT organization that crosses state lines whose mission is
youth serving that provides direct services. I’m very proud to say we this year
will mark the first anniversary for HMI New Jersey (a 501(c)3) operating in
Newark, New Jersey. This is a historic moment for our community to have a youth
service organization in both NY and NJ under the same brand doing direct
services.
Being a blueprint for developing sustainable support for LGBT
youth has always been a vision. Please share how you are impacting other
communities and countries?
I’m proud of our National Capacity Building
& Training Center. We are in partnership with the State Department, USAID,
as a recognized training site for traveling dignitaries in which HMI is called
upon to conduct trainings forums, etc. for these visitors on how to create a
non-profit or start an NGO in their community or country. HMI trains on how to
build safe and supportive environments for your LGBT youth. Some of the
countries HMI has conducted trainings for are Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Brazil,
Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Canada, and across Africa.
This past year has been full of “firsts” for HMI, tell us
about some of those achievements.
- HMI is now opened on Saturdays. From 10 am – 8pm. We have always had the need but not the funding, that is until now and we could not be more thrilled.
- Cy Vance, Manhattan DA, met with HMI to discuss how the model of swim and gym is not culturally appropriate for the LGBT youth. This meeting led to HMI being the first LGBT youth organization to receive forfeiture money to develop LGBT culturally appropriate programming.
- This summer will be another historic first as all of our programming, best practices, codified in a how to manual. This offers an opportunity to new or existing organizations learn from our 37 years’ worth of experience. We will be able to provide a blue print on how to create 360° comprehensive youth service model for other organizations.
- Doubled outreach to all five boroughs. Two teams actively going out and working with members of city council to identify where in their districts’ LGBT youth are congregating, what’s going on and actively going out to all parts of the city and bringing them back for meals and services.
Do you still do the pantry?
Yes, more than ever. We are serving
more youth each year so all donations to the pantry are welcomed.
What is “HMI is Citywide?"
HMI is Citywide – young people led
summits across all boroughs. The summits are in partnership with local
community organizations and over 20 city agencies. The goal is to reduce
isolation and connect young people to care. Whether it is getting a municipal
identification, or simply connecting the youth to local community
organizations. The goal is to connect them to their community. The most
impressive observations where how connected the young people are and how
resilient they are in the face of adversity.
What’s next for HMI?
New York Times released top things to
do this summer and HMI School’s Out event in the Hampton’s was #3
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| Read More |
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| Read More |
What are some of the ways in which nglccNY membership can
help support the work of HMI?
We offer HS equivalency program and
are currently in need of tutors for math and language arts. They can go to our
website for volunteer opportunities. Check back regularly because needs
change often.
People often think HMI and Harvey Milk High School are the
same, what is the difference?
The Harvey Milk High School (HMHS) is a four-year, fully
accredited, inclusive voluntary public high school, named in honor of
gay-rights champion and groundbreaking San Francisco politician Harvey Milk. The
HMHS door is open for all students, regardless of race, gender, sexual
orientation, religion or physical abilities. HMHS
resides within HMI and is wholly operated by the NYC Department of Education.
Hetrick-Martin's role in every small public school in NYC
adopts a community-based organization as lead partner. The Hetrick-Martin
Institute is that host agency for HMHS. That means Hetrick-Martin manages the
school facility and uses the facility for after-school programs and supportive
services. But it is the New York City Department of Education that operates the
school, and accepts applications for prospective students.
What is your
message to the universe?
“Be open to the possibilities."
You can connect with Thomas at the June 14th M3 or HMI
via the following:
Written by Ingrid Galvez,
Chair, Diversity & Inclusion, NGLCCNY
Organizational Development Consultant, Strategic Remedy Group
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