CEO Kelsey Louie Named 2023 Notable LGBTQIA+ Leader by Crain’s NY
We’re thrilled that our Chief Executive Officer Kelsey Louie has been named a 2023 “Notable LGBTQIA+ Leader” by Crain’s New York Business. This select annual list honors outstanding individuals within their industries for professional achievements and their commitment to equality. The list honorees are also selected for their public service activities—through mentoring, community initiatives, teaching, and philanthropy—as well as a dedication to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
A native New Yorker and the proud son of immigrant parents, Kelsey serves as CEO for The Door and Broome Street Academy (BSA) Charter High School. As such, he oversees the organizations’ combined $40 million budget, as well as the vision for strategy, operations, fundraising, policy, and programmatic initiatives. As a result of Kelsey’s leadership, The Door has helped thousands of New York’s young people to go to college, connect to health care, find legal services, and more. Late June also marks his second anniversary as CEO at The Door and BSA. This past year, as COVID safety guidelines became more relaxed, he shifted both organizations back to full, in-person services programming and expanded the agency’s resources dedicated to race, equity, and inclusion (REI) work, including creating and hiring of a new Manager of REI & Community Engagement. As part of Kelsey’s vision for The Door to continue to meet NYC young people where they are, The Door has also expanded our Bronx Youth Center, moving to a brand-new, beautifully designed South Bronx facility. This new 18,000-square-foot space spans three floors, enabling us to add programs like arts & recreation and better serve the Bronx youth community.
The Crain’s profile also highlights the expertise Kelsey brings to the organizations he serves—in LGBTQIA+ issues, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, affordable health care access, holistic approaches to care, behavioral health, and homelessness, all issues that disproportionately affect LGBTQIA+ youth.
In particular, Crain’s notes Kelsey’s advocacy around changing the federal blood donation policy that discriminates against gay men and ensuring COVID vaccination prioritization and access for those at risk, especially people living with HIV. Prior to his tenure at The Door and BSA, Kelsey served as chief executive of Gay’s Men Health Crisis (GMHC) and chief operating officer and chief program officer at Harlem United. Kelsey was appointed to the New York Governor’s Taskforce to End the AIDS Epidemic in 2014.
“It’s always gratifying to be honored for one’s leadership efforts, but I’m especially grateful for this spotlight placed on the LGBTQIA+ perspective I bring to my work and my life,” said Kelsey. “Representation has always mattered, and young people need to see all kinds of models for success and happiness that mirror their own various identities. Seeing yourself reflected in leadership around you reveals pathways to what’s possible. Every day, LGBTQIA+ rights, especially those of trans youth, are under attack nationwide—bigotry under the guise of ‘protective’ legislation. As a proud, out, gay Asian man—and the first in those groups to lead these two youth agencies—being named an LGBTQIA+ model feels more important than ever. I’m grateful to Crain’s for the honor.”
To learn more, check out Kelsey’s Crain’s profile.