Green Chimneys Wins the First Skills-to-Succeed LGBT Award

Green Chimneys is a unique New York-based organization that that works to equip LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) communities with entrepreneurial and workplace skills. Accenture, a leading global management consulting firm, and Out & Equal, an international nonprofit dedicated to ending workplace discrimination for LGBT communities, jointly honored Green Chimneys their first Accenture Skills to Succeed LGBT Award.

Skills to Succeed is a global corporate citizenship initiative by Accenture, which will equip a quarter of a million people around the world by 2015 with skills to gain a job or create a business. The Accenture Skills to Succeed Award aims to promote programs that help foster individual work skills, improve the economic condition of communities and facilitate opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.

Green Chimneys was chosen for the inaugural award because of its unique Nature-Based Career Training Program for LGBTQ (Questioning) Youth. The program met the criterion of employing creative solutions to address social problems, can be scaled and replicated, is sustainable, and gives demonstrable results.

Nellie Borrero, MD of Inclusion and Diversity at Accenture said: "This award reflects Accenture's ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace for our employees who live and work in communities around the world. The Green Chimneys Career Training program for people in the LGBT community supports both our diversity agenda as well as our commitment to building the skills of people around the world so they are better equipped to get jobs and build businesses."

The NYC Division of Green Chimneys provides skill-building residential programs for LGBTQ youth that may be runaway, homeless or under foster care. The 18-week intensive training program exposes the participants to nature-based activities, and provides relational and vocational skills. The program includes field trips and workshops that help improve skills such as goal setting, networking, interview performance, and personal finance.

Joseph Whalen, executive director, Green Chimneys, said on receiving the award: "We are truly honored to receive the Accenture Skills to Succeed LGBT award, as it highlights the importance and necessity of building life and employment skills for members of LGBTQ communities."

Photo Credit: Green Chimneys