Impact Partner Spotlight: The Ali Forney Center

RE—INC is proud to support the Ali Forney Center (AFC) to champion their work to protect and empower LGBTQ+ homeless youth. We share their vision for a reimagined world where all queer youth are loved, accepted, and cherished for who they are. A portion of sales from the Revolutionary Love Collection will benefit AFC. Learn how else to get involved at aliforneycenter.org/get-involved.

About Our Impact Partner

AFC's namesake, Ali Forney, was a gender-nonconforming teen who fled their home at 13. They entered the foster care system where they were bounced around to several homes, beaten and abused. Ali ended up living on the streets at the age of 15. They were dedicated to helping other young people and publicly advocated for the safety of homeless LGBTQ+ youth. Tragically, in December of 1997, Ali was murdered in Harlem.

BELOW: This portrait of Ali, created by Edward Elliott, was inspired by a photograph that AFC Founder, Carl Siciliano, kept in his office. These pages are an outtake from the award-winning zine and campaign, The Issue Within The Issue, created by Havas advertising agency.

Source: clios.com/awards

In 2002, Carl Siciliano founded AFC in memory of Ali. Since AFC's launch with just 6 beds in a New York City church basement, the organization has grown to become the largest agency dedicated to LGBTQ+ homeless youth in the country—assisting 2,000 youth per year through a 24-hour Drop-In Center which provides 70,000+ meals annually, medical and mental health services through an on-site clinic, and a scattered site housing program.

BELOW: AFC’s annual campaign, Homeless for the Holidays, that gives a voice to the stories of youth. The campaign is a platform for young people to share their experience being LGBTQ+ and homeless. This 2021 promotion featured the continuum that donations impact.

Source: aliforneycenter.org

A portion of sales from the Revolutionary Love Collection, dropping 05.31.23 will benefit AFC.