- Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth
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Shaplaie Brooks, Executive Director
The Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth—the nation’s only independent state agency of its kind—is excited to announce a new partnership with Communities for People (CFP), a premier human service organization committed to supporting children and families impacted by the foster care system. Through this collaboration, CFP will provide essential administrative, financial, and human resource support, bolstering our capacity to serve LGBTQ youth across Massachusetts.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to The Justice Resource Institute (JRI) for more than fifteen years of unwavering support. Our partnership with JRI Health has been a nurturing home for the Commission, and although we will deeply miss our colleagues there, our work together continues through programs like GLASS. This initiative is invaluable in informing our research, helping us learn from staff experiences and identify service gaps for the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable youth.
“Partnering with Communities for People allows us to strengthen our operational capacity and ensure we continue providing critical services to LGBTQ youth throughout Massachusetts,” said Shaplaie Brooks, Executive Director of the Commission. “Our commitment to intersectional advocacy, grounded in an anti-racist framework, perfectly aligns with CFP’s core values—making this partnership both empowering and impactful.”
This collaboration comes at a crucial time as human service nonprofits navigate challenging social and economic landscapes. By pooling our resources and expertise, CFP and the Commission are dedicated to protecting the civil and human rights of marginalized youth and creating a safe, supportive environment for all young people to thrive.
“We are honored to partner with the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth and support their vital advocacy across the Commonwealth,” said Craig Gordon, CEO of CFP. “This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration in the nonprofit sector. By sharing our expertise in financial and human resource management, we enable the Commission to focus on what they do best—advocating for, serving, and empowering LGBTQ young people.”
This strategic alliance highlights the importance of nonprofit collaboration in supporting vulnerable youth and families. As the saying goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” Our partnership truly embodies this spirit, reflecting a shared commitment to building a brighter future for all young people.
Finally, we thank JRI and JRI Health for providing the strong foundation that has nurtured our growth, enabling us to spread our wings and soar.
Founded in 1976, Communities for People, (CFP), equips children and families impacted by the foster care system with the tools and resources they need to achieve independence and build fulfilling lives in our community. CFP offers a wide range of impactful programs and services in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including family support and preservation, treatment foster care and adoption support, and a variety of small residential and independent living programs for teens. In 2023, CFP provided 1,932 youth and families in MA & RI with family support or prevention services in residential, home based & foster care programs. There are over 400,000 kids in foster care nationwide. The need for foster care parents is critical. For more information, visit Communities for People or follow @CFPkids on Facebook.
About the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth
The Commission was originally founded in 1992 by Governor William Weld. The original Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth was designed to respond to high suicide risk among gay and lesbian youth in the Commonwealth. That original Commission transformed in 2006 into an independent state agency established by law. Today, we are the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Youth.
In solidarity and strength,
The Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth
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