Lee Carson, President
Lee is originally from Rochester, NY where he began his career of activism to improve the health and well being of Black gay men. He started this work formally when he took a job as the project coordinator for the Men Of Color Health Awareness (MOCHA) Project in Rochester. During that time, he coordinated the LGBT youth of color program, wrote for and edited the agency newsletter Habari Ghani, facilitated several HIV prevention groups for Black MSM and served on the board of directors for the New York State Black Gay Network. Additionally Lee has worked in substance abuse treatment among persons dealing with mental health issues for 11 years. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Health Science, a Masters Degree in Social Work and is a licensed social worker in Pennsylvania. After moving to Philadelphia, he took a job in behavioral science research working on projects exploring ways to develop more effective HIV prevention efforts among men who have sex with men. He also works part time as a mental health therapist in an LGBT Health center. In June of 2005, he became the first chairman of the Black Gay Men’s Leadership Council, a position he still holds. In his spare time, Lee enjoys spending time with friends, watching movies, listening to music, reading and spending time with his young niece and nephew when he visits his family in Rochester.
Robert K. Burns, Treasurer
Whether it’s spinning your favorite beats at a club or educating the Black LGBT community, Robert Keith Burns has spent much of his 32 years of life creating, sustaining and engaging in social justice movements that are about producing change within his community. Robert K. Burns began his energies around HIV/AIDS in early 1997, after seeing that many people in his community were neither educated and/or miseducated about the virus that causes AIDS. Burns joined the prevention movement with his work at the Free Clinic of Greater Cleveland as a male STD Technician, then later moved into HIV at the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland as the Coordinator of the Brother2Brother Program Through his work he has spearheaded multiple projects including: Cleveland Black LGBT Pride, Sexsessions (a workshop series in collaboration with local bars), Soul Food Sundays (community potluck picnic events), CinnaFest (Cleveland’s first African American LGBT Film Festival). Currently, Burns is the Program Director of the Collective - a multi-agency federally-funded HIV prevention partnership targeting MSM of color in Philadelphia, PA and he is pursing his Masters in Human Services at Lincoln University. He is an active voting member of the Philadelphia Community Planning Group, where he serves as the Community Co-Chair [elect], member of the Nominations sub-committee and member of the Planning and Priorities MSM sub-committee. Burns is a founding member and treasurer for the Black Gay Men’s Leadership Council. Burns is also a board member of Philadelphia Black Gay Pride. Through his work in prevention Burns has served as presenter for multiple local, state and national conferences, which has allowed him to develop a significant network of providers across the United States.
Jacinto Grant, Secretary
J. Grant is a proud native of Philadelphia - born, raised, and educated. His early education was through the Philadelphia Public School System, and he later received a Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work from Temple University. J. Grant has been an agent for social change in diverse activities and associations throughout the Philadelphia area. Always curious about people, and the cause and affect of situations, social work was used to explore and gain understanding of himself and his environment. Professionally and personally the focus has always been on an understanding and improvement of self, promotion and acceptance of diversity, education and self-determination and social justice. J. Grant is currently the Director of Intake at The Attic Youth Center, a LGBTQ social service center for youth located in Center City Philadelphia. J. Grant has 10 years experience in HIV/AIDS services and is the former Assistant Director of Client Services at ActionAIDS, Inc. Other community involvement includes being a member of the Philadelphia HIV Planning Council, a past Planning Committee member and volunteer for a YMCA Specialty Camp for children who are HIV infected/affected, as well as an advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities. He currently serves as the Secretary for the BGMLC and also serves on the board of directors.