Paige Clausius-Parks encourages everyone to speak for equality

Throughout her life, Paige Clausius-Parks has learned to find the power of living in the margins. As a young African-American lesbian woman, she often had to prove to herself the value of her voice, and not back down in her effort to be heard and understood.

While an undergraduate student at Providence College, Clausius-Parks organized a small handful of peers to develop the campus' first gay-straight alliance named SHEPARD (Stopping Homophobia, Eliminating Prejudices and Restoring Dignity).

She continued her education and activism at Harvard University were she obtained a masters degree in education.

Her love of change and direct action brought her to Youth Pride, where she served as the state's coordinator of school based programming for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender diversity. Under her leadership the program trained students and educators in fifteen school districts, established a network of like-minded educators, developed policy recommendations and began what is now the Rhode Island Gay Straight Alliance Coalition.

“With each step along the way I have learned the power of one’s own voice. The progress I have witnessed, however, does not mislead me to believe the work is over. To all other women working towards dignity for all I advise to always remember your truth and voice is what makes a difference, one person at a time,” Clausius-Parks says.

Clausius-Parks is co-founder of the company, inFocus, which works with a wide range of clients providing on and off site assistance and social marketing for successful inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and customers. And she is a teacher and advisor at The Met Center in Providence.

“Paige has a profound inner strength and giving spirit. She brings joy, empowerment and great knowledge to her advisory students and brings the same to her colleagues and the broader Met community. She is a voice for women and a force of change,” Loriana De Crescenzo, The Met Center director of development and communications says.