Sarah is a leading edge LGBTQ+ public health advocate, recognized nationally as an expert in LGBTQ+ Child Welfare. Sarah specializes in supporting providers in improving practices to better serve LGBTQ+ individuals, and travels the nation facilitating trainings for the Human Rights Campaign’s “All Children All Families Training Program”, as well as offering capacity-building and coaching on a range of topics for child welfare professionals and caregivers. Sarah adapted AFFIRM National’s LGBTQ+ Youth intervention for parents and caregivers, and piloted the training in Allegheny County as “Caregiver AFFIRM.” Together with AFFIRM creators, Sarah co-wrote the training manual AFFIRM Caregiver Implementation, now used nationally. Sarah initiated Hugh Lane contracts with Allegheny and Washington Counties to train foster parents in LGBTQ+ competency, using Caregiver AFFIRM.

Sarah works with lawmakers to address pressing LGBTQ+ issues, serves on the state of Pennsylvania’s Commission on LGBTQ Affairs; the City of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ Commission; the PA COVID Equity Committee; the Allegheny County COVID Equity Task Force; and the Allegheny County’s Healthy Families and High Quality Human Services Policy Committee. Sarah was a 2019 Pittsburgh Magazine 40 under 40 honoree and was named one of Pennsylvania’s top 100 leaders, in the PA Pride Power 100. Sarah holds a BA in Cultural Studies & Psychology, an MA in Leadership & Organizational Transformation, and a Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Promotion.

Coley is an expert in supporting LGBTQ+ youth and has led innovative youth initiatives in various roles over the past 6 years. They believe in using data to drive change in policy and culture. Coley oversee’s evidence-based programming for youth, caregivers, and those who serve them, including the AFFIRM Youth and AFFIRM Caregiver interventions; as well as Mental Health First Aid and Suicide Prevention trainings. Coley adapted the AFFIRM Youth intervention for digital implementation to support LGBTQ+ youth remotely during an isolated time.

Coley’s educational background includes a BS in Natural Sciences and a Masters in Public Health with a certificate in LGBT Individuals’ Wellness from the University of Pittsburgh. Coley was inspired to pursue an MPH degree due to the health disparities experienced by Black LGBTQ youth and families and has dedicated their work to improving outcomes and implementing systemic change.

Jule has been serving LGBTQ+ community members in Western PA for 15 years. Xe graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a BA in Psychology, with studies focused in prejudice, discrimination, and public policy. Jule’s passion is leveraging research and data to improve LGBTQ+ community health outcomes.

Jule has developed and facilitated LGBTQIA+ trainings and workshops for government agencies, corporations, social service agencies, parents and caregivers, nonprofits, educators, and schools. Jule served as Vice Chair of the City of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQIA+ Advisory Council from 2017-2019.

Ashley is a graduate of Westminster College with a BA in Broadcast Communications and has worked in Pittsburgh as a media specialist and writer in recent years. She has an extensive background in video and audio production along with photography and film in the worlds of education startups and brand experience. Ashley brings her skills in content creation and project management to Hugh Lane’s marketing and social media efforts along with general community outreach. She also continues her love of journalism as the Lead Blogger for True T PGH, an organization that provides Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community with content centered around celebrating and uplifting BIPOC voices.

With a career that started in his native country of Venezuela, Guillermo holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering with more than 35 years of professional experience in finance, supply chain and business operation and development in different countries and across the US. In 2018 he left behind his role in the corporate field to serve the LGBTQ+ in the Coachella Valley by leading community programs to end isolation and loneliness and help connect individuals to services, including the operation of a local community food bank serving more than 250 families weekly facing food insecurity. An animal and nature lover, he enjoys experiencing art, culture and engaging in genuine and thoughtful connections in his personal time.