The Task Force Fills New Position For Movement Building Dept.

March 23, 2005
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Announces Russell Roybal to Head New Movement Building Department

"We are thrilled that Russell Roybal has chosen to bring his expertise to the Task Force. He is smart, strategic, thoughtful, and understands the necessity of being attentive to the needs of our movement's organizations. Our movement has yet to unleash our full potential to be as dynamic, well-resourced, diverse, and inspiring as we can be. Russell will play a key role in helping us all to get there."
-- Rea Carey, Deputy Executive Director


WASHINGTON, March 23. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force today announced the appointment of Russell Roybal to serve as the Director of the Task Force's new Movement Building Department.

Russell D. Roybal is a noted capacity building expert, fundraiser, trainer, and movement leader in the LGBT community. For the past six years, he was on staff at the Denver-based Gill Foundation, serving as Director of Training and Capacity Building. Under Roybal's leadership, the program eventually became a national model. He has the notable distinction of having worked with LGBT organizations in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Additionally, Roybal has served as the Chair of the Board and a senior consultant with the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training, a non-profit training group focused on building the fundraising skills of people of color working for social justice. He has also served as development officer and director for local and national non-profit organizations, including the San Diego LGBT Community Center.

Roybal's relationship with the Task Force is long-standing, beginning with his participation in the organization's groundbreaking Youth Leadership Training Institute in 1995. Since that time, Roybal has also served on the Task Force's Board of Directors and as an advisor to staff of the organization in a variety of capacities.

As Director of the Movement Building Department, Roybal will oversee initiatives to build organizational and leadership skills in the LGBT movement. In the first year, Roybal will spearhead intensive organizational development and capacity building work with five statewide LGBT organizations and manage other capacity building activities for a broad range of local and state organizations serving the LGBT community. Roybal, and the new department, will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the Task Force as a whole is working to strengthen the movement’s infrastructure at the regional, state and local level through a range of activities, including the Creating Change conference. Roybal brings considerable talents and experience to this new position and it is expected that his high-level expertise in implementing training, technical assistance and other support for grassroots activists will serve the movement well. Roybal begins his position with the Task Force on May 2, 2005.

"My entire career has been dedicated to building capacity at the state and local level because I believe that's where real change happens. I'm excited to bring that experience to the Task Force, the premier organization working to build grassroots political strength," said Roybal.