Indianapolis-- Sean Lemieux, President of the board of directors for the Indiana Youth Group (IYG), a service provider to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) youth, announced Lydi Davidson as new Executive Director for the organization.
IYG is a not-for-profit group whose mission is to work with LGBT youth ages 12 through 21 and their allies. They serve an average of 800-900 youth each month at their Indianapolis drop in center, providing education, empowerment, health, and counseling resources in addition to training for schools, families, and community groups. IYG also provides outreach to more than 300 LGBT homeless youth each year.
Davidson, an accomplished professional with extensive experience and involvement in working with positive youth development issues, will begin her leadership of the organization immediately. Formerly the Assistant Director for Community Partnerships with Youth Inc.(CPY), a national resource for youth-serving organizations, Davidson is a specialist in community youth development, non-profit program implementation, policy planning, youth advocacy, and fund development. She replaces Rob Connoley, previous Director of IYG, who left in December to pursue social advocacy work in New Mexico.
"We relish the idea that Lydi can provide strong leadership and new strategic direction on a local, statewide and national level," said Lemieux. "She has established partnerships with many youth-serving organizations, funders and foundations. We are very excited about her depth of experience with youth and her collaborative ideas for the immediate future of IYG."
Davidson is eager to begin what she considers her life's work. "Leading IYG is a dream position for me because I'll be able to use my skills, talents, and experience in the field of youth work to effect positive change in the community for LGBT youth." Davidson has been past Program Director of Youth Development at the Indiana Human Resource Investment Council, where she was involved in youth driven initiatives across the state, and worked with the state Youth Development Study Committee. Davidson is also on the Executive Committee of the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana (YPII), an organization that promotes the growing of lifelong philanthropists who give of their time, talent and treasures for the common good in Indiana communities.
Indiana Youth Group, established in 1986, was one of the first service providers to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) youth established in the country. It is one of Central Indiana's leading providers of services to LGBT youth ages 12 to 20. Indiana Youth Group provides outreach, creative, educational and health information services to the Indianapolis community and surrounding areas for 16 years. Publicly and privately funded, Indiana Youth Group serves over 180 youths each month. For more information, go to www.indianayouthgroup.org.