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Gregory Lewis
Executive Director
Gregory Lewis has served as executive director of the True Colors Fund since its creation in 2008, aiding Cyndi Lauper and her co-founders in developing the organization over the past 4 years. Under his leadership, the True Colors Fund has grown into one of the leading organizations that focuses on empowering the straight community to support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality through the Give a Damn Campaign. Over the past year, Gregory has been leading the organization’s development of its newest initiative, the Forty to None Project. It is the first national effort of its kind to raise awareness about and to help bring an end to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth experiencing homelessness.
Prior to joining the True Colors Fund, Gregory served as the Managing Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Under his leadership, the organization achieved significant growth and defined programmatic direction in its efforts to erase hate. He started his career working for equality at the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization in the country. He spent 7 years in HRC’s development department, the last 4 years serving as the Associate Director of Development Operations and Special Projects, overseeing the operations of a more than $30 million fundraising and membership department, as well as focusing on the creation of new revenue streams.
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Jama Shelton, LMSW
Forty to None Project Director
For more than a decade, Jama Shelton has worked in the field of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth homelessness. After receiving an MSW in 2004, Jama began an 8 year stint at the Ali Forney Center, an organization that provides housing and supportive services for gay and transgender youth experiencing homelessness. Having worked in various roles – first as a direct service provider, then developing and directing the expansion of AFC’s housing program, and finally as a researcher, program evaluation and trainer – Jama brings a comprehensive understanding of the issues facing both homeless gay and transgender youth and also the service providers with whom they work.
As a trainer, Jama had led numerous workshops and has provided technical assistance to service providers throughout the United States and Canada. Jama is currently a doctoral candidate in the Social Welfare program at the CUNY Graduate Center. Her dissertation examines the unique needs and experiences of transgender and gender non-conforming youth experiencing homelessness. She is also a professor at both the Hunter and NYU Schools of Social Work.
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Joe Moran
Communications and Technology Director
For more than a decade, Joe Moran has worked in the digital communications space as a creative producer and nonprofit techie. Prior to joining the True Colors Fund, Joe served as Director of Communications and Technology at Quality Services for the Autism Community (QSAC), where he spent eight years building the communications and technology department. In addition to his work at QSAC, Joe has lead the digital strategy for a number of nonprofit organizations including Marriage Equality New York, OutAstoria, and most recently, the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce NY, where he served as Chair of the Media Communications Committee.
In addition to his work in the nonprofit sector, Joe has worked in the entertainment industry as an actor, designer, and producer. In 2004, he co-founded MorGold Productions, a digital media production company that develops original content for TV and the web. Joe’s blog, JoeSaidSo, empowers people to choose well and live well in the digital age.
