Jabari Lyles has stepped down as acting executive director of the Gay Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore to take a new position at another LGBT advocacy organization.
The 26-year-old, who led the GLCCB for a year and a half, began a new position as the director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network's Baltimore chapter on Sept. 1. Lyles will remain as GLCCB board president.
During his time at the helm of the GLCCB, Lyles oversaw the community center's move from its longtime Mount Vernon home to a larger space in Charles Village. He also helped organize events such as a mayoral candidates forum on LGBTQ issues, a vigil for victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting, and the annual Baltimore Pride festivities.
"I stepped in really in an emergency fashion and set up some structures. … I changed the approach to how we do this work," said the Reservoir Hill resident, who hired several new staff members.
With Lyles' departure as executive director, GLCCB's management will also undergo some changes. The community center will replace the executive director position with a group of co-directors, including director of programs Kenneth Morrison, who will act as a staff leader.
Morrison, who has been with GLCCB since December, said Lyles has played a pivotal role in adding structure to the center, which has experienced high turnover in the executive director position in recent years.
In his new role with GLSEN, Lyles hopes to establish the organization as "the local authority of LGBT issues" and a resource for Baltimore schools.
"I want there to be some type of support system at every school in Maryland and that [LGBT students] know they're supported, that they can say they go to a safe school," he said.
Lyles, who has also taken on a part-time position as a mathematics specialist at Hampstead Hill Academy in Southeast Baltimore, will continue to advise GLCCB in a "macro way," helping the community center build its networks and resources, Lyles said.
"I'll still be on the board, and the staff — I have the most utmost faith and trust and pride in the team I've been able to put together," he said.