As executive director of The Attic Youth Center, Carrie Jacobs has spearheaded efforts to make Philadelphia a safer and more welcoming environment for LGBT youth.
While a spate of youth suicides at the end of 2010 drew mainstream attention to the issue of LGBT youth bullying, Jacobs has long been working to eradicate harassment of LGBT young people — through direct interventions and awareness-building efforts.
This past year, she worked closely with a number of local schools to ensure that LGBT students who were facing unsafe situations were able to learn in an environment free of harassment.
“Carrie is always ready to work with teachers and principals if there’s a young person getting bullied,” said Franny Price, executive director of Philly Pride Presents and Attic board member. “These kids who come to The Attic know that they can call her, and they always do, if there’s a problem at their school. She’ll go right to the principals and work with them to address it. And it’s important that the kids know that she’s there for them. She’s not just going to say that she’ll get to it next week, she gets working on it right away.”
Jacobs has also worked proactively to attack bullying and other challenges facing LGBT youth from an awareness and education standpoint, said Attic board president Roy Conard.
This past year, Jacobs was influential in launching a new training program through The Attic’s education arm, Bryson Institute, for foster-care parents and families.
The Attic also created a new publicity campaign that was carried on SEPTA vehicles and that sought to educate potential youth clients about The Attic’s mental-health services.
For current members, The Attic this year reorganized many of its programs into Creative Action Groups — covering topics from cooking to fashion to creative writing, so that the needs and interests of its youth were addressed.
Jacobs founded The Attic in 1993, and Price asserted that Jacobs’ longstanding belief in the youth and their potential has made the agency what it is today.
“This isn’t just a job to her. She had this vision years and years ago and she made it her mission. Probably 11 or 12,000 kids have passed through her doors, and I’m sure The Attic has saved many of their lives. She gives them a place to go that’s not school or home, and it gives them a sense of dignity and belonging. And what helps is that Carrie lets the youth really be involved in what goes on there and she makes sure to listen to them.”
Conard said Jacobs takes the time to get to know each of the youth individually.
“Carries reaches out to the youth, knows their history, knows the issues they’re going through and offers personal support and makes sure The Attic is meeting their particular needs,” he said. “She’s been on the frontline and, while she has a fantastic staff and volunteers, she is the glue that holds all of this together. It is through her sheer will, and the support of her staff, board and the community, that we’re able to deliver these services to youth who so desperately need them.”