Alexander Roque

The Big Picture:
Alexander Roque runs the Ali Forney Center, a space dedicated to empowering homeless LGBTQ youth to get on their feet and live independently. From humble beginnings as just six beds in a church basement in 2002, they’ve grown to be a lifeline for over 2,000 youths a year through their 18 24/7 drop-in centers.

“Our work is not about deciding what’s right for our kids. I used to think it was about setting up a path for them. But it’s about letting the community decide for itself. It’s up to us to help them heal so they can lift themselves up.” — Alexander Roque, president and executive director, Ali Forney Center

Find out more about Alex’s pioneering work.