Leadership
Queer Youth Advisory Board (QYAB)
Want to be on QYAB? Apply Here!
MSSC believes that it’s impossible to make schools safe without giving young people a voice; for this reason, the coalition is entirely youth led. Our governing body is the Queer Youth Advisory Board
(or QYAB). QYAB is made up of diverse high school and college age youth activists from across the state.
Anna C. Davis, 29
Treasurer
anna@mssafeschools.org
Hello all. My name is Anna C. and I am currently on the Queer Youth Advisory Board for the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition. I recently began an internship through the R. Scott Hitt Foundation. In May 2011, I received an M.S. in Mass Communications from The University of Southern Mississippi. While at USM I was a council member for the Gay Straight Alliance.
My interest in the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition extends from my own experiences growing up queer in Mississippi. I am originally from Houston, MS in Northeast Mississippi. Unlike many of the youth that I meet today, I did not come out until I was 20 years old. I am amazed at the work that queer youth in Mississippi are doing, that includes my fellow QYAB members and those young people who touch our lives every day.
Randi-Ashley Jackson, 27
Co-Facilitator
ashley@mssafeschools.org
Hello, I’m Ashley J. Joining MSSC was an easy decision for me. I’ve always been an advocate for those that weren’t able to stand up for themselves or didn’t know their rights. I grew up in Rankin County. Growing up in Mississippi has allowed me to meet some amazing people and couldn’t imaging being anywhere else doing what I love in the Magnolia State. I love helping the youth of Mississippi find their voice and confidence.
Audri Ingram, 16
audri@mssafeschools.org
Hello. I am Audri Ingram. I joined the MSSC in December of 09′. Before that I helped form my local PFLAG. I was once a public school student, but I withdrew from public school in 8th grade at the age of 14. I did that because I was harassed at school to such an extent that I felt that I could no longer take it. Now, I thank the people who tormented me. If they wouldn’t have done that, then I wouldn’t be doing what I do now. I help to make schools safer, and keep this from happening to someone else. Thanks to them, I have found my calling. I have a passion for this work, and I believe it is what I will be doing for the rest of my life, or until the problem is fixed.
Corey Faucheux, 22
Secretary
corey@mssafeschools.org
Hey, how’s it going? I’m a senior psychology major at The University of Southern Mississippi and an active member of the university’s Gay-Straight Alliance, the Psychology Club, TEAAM USM, Tau Sigma, and Psi Chi.
I joined the MSSC in autumn of 2009 to support their efforts to create a more accepting and understanding environment for LGBTQ youth who grow up in our grand old state. I was chosen to be on the Queer Youth Advisory Board in December 2009 and have since been doing what I can to make those efforts a reality. I was elected secretary of the board in January 2011. Take it easy!
Izzy Pellegrine, 21
Co-Facilitator
izzy@mssafeschools.org
Hey all, my name is Izzy. I joined MSSC because I had been working with queer young people in North Mississippi and knew how badly we needed resources to protect our rights and mobilize our community. I’m currently an undergraduate sociology and social work junior at Mississippi State University and I’m in this state for the long haul. Mississippi is where the work needs to be done!
Matthew Sheffield, 22
Communications Director
matthew@mssafeschools.org
Having lived in Mississippi my entire life I know first hand what it is like to be gay in the Magnolia State. I was raised in the Southern Baptist church and was taught from day one that it is wrong to be gay. This type of environment is extremely hard for LGBTQ youth and causes many to feel that there is something wrong with them or that they are bad people. Unfortunately these ideas are often taught in many places other than churches including our schools. It is my passion to ensure LGBTQ youth in these types of situations realize that they are perfectly normal and that it is the people teaching these things that are wrong.
I first became involved with the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition at it’s second annual conference in October 2009. I was selected to be a member of the Queer Youth Advisory Board shortly after that and I am extremely happy to be involved with this amazing organization!
