Meet the Team

Ariana DeBose

Co-Founder, Unruly Hearts Initiative

I was blessed to have a family that accepted my sexuality, which I am painfully aware is not the norm. Through my work with Covenant House I have seen the correlation between homelessness and lgbtq+ youth. Helping young people find resources in the face of adversity and directing families towards tools for acceptance and understanding is something I’m extremely passionate about. It’s my hope that the Unruly Hearts Initiative is an accessible resource for young people and parents alike.

Jo Ellen Pellman

Co-Founder, Unruly Hearts Initiative

Growing up in Cincinnati, OH, I had no idea that these wonderful organizations existed. I was too nervous to even join my school's GSA (Genders and Sexualities Alliance)! We wanted to create the Unruly Hearts Initiative to connect people to valuable resources at the time when they might need them the most. I particularly wish I'd known about the Point Foundation and the Human Rights Campaign Scholarship database -- every little bit of financial help makes the pursuit of higher education easier!