Gerald W. Peterson, MA, will serve as a key consultant along with Catlin Ryan, PhD, in supporting sites (both directly and through training TA providers) in building the capacity and ability to develop evidence-informed/evidence-based models to support safety and permanence for LGBTQ youth in child welfare. Peterson has more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and expertise in executive leadership as well as developing community collaborations between the public and private sectors to address vital issues for lesbian, gay, biattractional, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Prior to the Ruth Ellis Center, he was facilitator for the LGBTQ Youth Advocacy Collaborative, a collaboration of six nonprofit agencies working to reduce mental health disparities in California by reducing rejecting behaviors and increasing accepting behaviors toward LGBTQ young people in families, schools, service providers, and faith groups. Peterson also spent 14 years with the United Way of Allen County in Fort Wayne, Ind., where he served as its president and CEO for four years. In this position, he led the $6 million, 30-person organization, nurtured community partnerships, and launched a 10-year initiative to improve the reading levels of children by the third grade. Peterson has a master’s degree in theology from Bethany Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in social work from Elizabethtown College.
Summary of Qualifications
Key community partner and collaborator with Caitlin Ryan, PhD, and the Family Acceptance Project for five years. Currently, leading the primary national site where the Family Acceptance Project protocols are being developed and tested in partnership with Wayne County Department of Health and Human Services – a specialized implementation of Family Group Decision Making as a Family Preservation intervention to promote permanency for LGBTQ youth whose family of origin is under investigation for abuse or neglect.
Experienced provider of training and technical assistance to nonprofits on matters of LGBTQ and sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) identity development, organizational leadership and governance, financial accountability, grant writing, and program outcome measurement and reporting frameworks.
Twenty-year history in developing and facilitating successful community collaborations and system-change efforts among nonprofits and public sector organizations to address vital issues including acceptance of LGBTQ youth; early childhood and youth development; improving public education; continuum of care for homelessness and affordable housing; coordination of services with disadvantaged families; as well as health and social disparities resulting from racism and oppression.
30 years of experience in leadership of nonprofits, including staff team and leadership development, organizational planning, governance, marketing, fundraising, budget development, and financial accountability.
Accomplished program developer with extensive background in developing functional theories of change and using them to guide program development and measure results at the individual, group, and community levels.
Trainer and practitioner in inclusion principles and practices with emphasis on the dynamics of power and oppression and white privilege.
Professional Positions
1996-2003 | United Way of Allen County Fort Wayne, Ind. (Director of Allocations and Agency Relations)
2003-2006 | United Way of Allen County Fort Wayne, Ind. (Chief Operating Officer)
2006-2010 | United Way of Allen County Fort Wayne, Ind. (President and CEO)
2011-2013 | LGBTQ Youth Advocacy Collaborative Concord, Calif. (Facilitator)
2013-present | Ruth Ellis Center, Inc., Highland Park, Mich. (Executive Director)