Dozens gathered in Allentown this morning for the introduction of a former Boy Scout leader as the new chief executive officer for a nonprofit that includes initiatives to help gay and transgender kids with housing and life skills.
Thomas Harrington took over at Valley Youth House, an Allentown-based organization with offices in Philadelphia. The nonprofit announced his appointment Wednesday, and held an introduction ceremony Friday.
“What really has drawn me to Valley Youth House is its focus on serving all kids regardless of who they are,” Harrington told PGN by phone after his introduction in Allentown. “They’re at a vulnerable point in their lives, maybe they’ve run away, been kicked out, need help finding a job and stable housing. I’ve always been interested in helping our most vulnerable young people.”
Harrington had headed a Philadelphia-based Boy Scouts council, which moved to the suburbs in 2013 after refusing to sign a city lease with non-bias language that included LGBT protections.
From 2010 to 2013, Harrington led the Cradle of Liberty Council Boy Scouts, now headquartered in Treddyfrin Township. He was involved in discussions between the Boy Scouts and Philadelphia to come to an agreement over a building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, which the Scouts paid to build, but the city owned.
Harrington said Cradle endorsed an internal policy against discrimination in 2002, but was told by the national organization that the council could not continue to be affiliated with the Boy Scouts if it adopted an LGBT-inclusive anti-bias policy.
“The conclusion was the program was doing lots of good for lots of kids in the region,” said Harrington, who was leading a council in Allentown at the time. “They wanted to keep the program in tact.”
Harrington said about 70 percent of Scouting councils are sponsored by churches, and the local leadership at the time wanted to retain church support for the kids.
“It took a lot of discussions behind the scenes,” Harrington said, to change the national policy that banned gay youths until 2013 and gay adults until this summer.
“There were many of us who wanted to change the policy,” he said. “It probably took longer than some thought it should, but it happened.”
Harrington said he participated in task forces within the Scouts that frequently discussed more inclusive membership policies. He went on to oversee 57 councils in the western United States as the Western Region Director for the Scouts, capping his 34-year career with the organization. He said he and his wife, Kathy, will relocate to the Lehigh Valley from Dallas.
Valley Youth House runs several programs for homeless youth and earned a grant in October for “Sheltering Pride,” which specifically addresses LGBT homeless youth. The organization started a #CouchesDontCount campaign to raise awareness that couch surfing is still a form of homelessness, and that 40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBT.
“One of my objectives is to help develop the profile of the organization and strengthen and expand its mission,” Harrington said. “It’s very important to not come in with your own agenda, but start by visiting with key stakeholders like the youth and community leaders to figure out what the needs are.”
Harrington said his time with the Scouts taught him the skills of listening and empathy.
Valley Youth House said much of Harrington’s work with the Scouts focused on “building resilience, character and leadership skills with disadvantaged youth.” The organization also said he played “a key role” as the Scouts changed its policies to become more inclusive.
Harrington said he would be directly involved with helping to grow the “Sheltering Pride” initiative.
“Obviously there are lots of youth who identify as LGBT and experience lots of challenges including homelessness,” he said. “Counseling and skills training will also be important. Part of my job is to talk to partners who can help get these kids back on their two feet with a solid foundation. I look forward to working with everyone in the community.”
Lesley Fallon, chair of the Valley Youth House board of directors, noted the board underwent an extensive search before deciding to hire Harrington.
“Tom has outstanding leadership skills,” Fallon said in a statement, highlighting his “vision and demonstrated long-term success in fundraising and evidence-based programs for at-risk youth.”