About Us
Sweet Evening Breeze was founded to address the over-representation of LGBTQ+ young adults experiencing homelessness in Louisville which mirrors national data and the lack of affirming services to address the additional risk they face while on the streets compared to their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts.
Our Inspiration
James Herdon was born in Scott County, KY in 1892. At a young age, They were abandoned in Lexington at the Good Samaritan Hospital where they grew up and eventually became head orderly.
Locally known as Sweet Evening Breeze or "Sweets", they were recognized for their gender non conforming style, often wearing makeup, scarves, jewelry and at times, dressing in full drag. As the movement for LGBTQ+ equality began in Lexington, Sweets was instrumental in helping to overturn Lexington’s cross-dressing ordinance.
Despite being a gender non-conforming Black person in the Jim Crow era, Sweet Evening Breeze was well liked in the community and was known for random acts of kindness such as baking cakes or giving shoes to poor families.
It was their hospitality and compassion for others, that helped inspire our purpose and vision to offer houseless LGBTQ+ young adults with affirming services.
Our Staff
Glenn Martin, M.Ed.
Executive Director
Glenn has nearly 30 years’ experience in Senior Organizational Management with a focused specialization in both nonprofit and youth population services. He has held student life leadership positions at Eastern Kentucky University and Case Western Reserve University. He was a Judicial Officer at Lehigh University and the Director of Student Services at Arcadia University. He served as COO at the prestigious International House in Philadelphia.
More recently, Martin acted as Program Director for the Louisville Job Corps, where he recruited 18 – 24-year-olds for the program. His impressive career is that of a visionary and driving force behind program development, community collaboration and partnerships, and board engagement.
Glenn gained a BA from EKU in Broadcasting; and his master’s degree in education - Adult Learning and Development, from Cleveland State University.
Stuart Gerard Walker
Program Coordinator
Stuart Walker is a trans man born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He has worked for several non-profits in the Louisville area and has a passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community.
His goal is to create a comfortable environment for LGBTQ+ clients and to provide direct services and programs that are easily accessible to youth experiencing homelessness in the city.
Board Members
Ariel Brooks, MSSW, LCSW
Current Board Chair
Ariel is currently a psychotherapist at Mandala House, where she specializes in therapy services for racial and sexual minorities and has been working for the betterment of homeless and vulnerable teens and young adults for her entire career. Ariel participates in community work in Louisville's Black, LGBTQ+, and reproductive justice spheres, and has been with Sweet Evening Breeze since its founding. Ariel has a deep understanding of the lives and needs of the population we serve.
Kenneth Cordle, MEd, SRES®
A local realtor, with a Bachelor of Arts from Anderson University, Anderson, Indiana; and a Master’s of Education from the University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky; is a community activist, musician, and dog dad. Following a 20+ year career in corporate human resources, Ken decided to take a break and get his real estate license. With a passion for the community and the belief that stable housing is a human right, Ken has become an activist focusing his attention on the LGBTQ+ Community, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, tolerance and inclusion for all persons who might be different than oneself. Ken’s community involvements include Volunteers of America, Highland Community Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Derby City Sisters, Derby City Bears, and Old Louisville Neighborhood Association.
Eltuan Dawson
Eltuan Dawson is a community member who has lived experience. He assists community agencies and partners with their communication and strategic planning implementation. He demonstrates a proctor-like focus on the elevation and evaluation of youth voice and engagement as part of the strategic planning and communications process. Eltuan is an accounting student at Jefferson Community and Technical College and plans to use his skills to benefit youth and young adults by serving and providing support in a variety of community based organizations.
Dr. Maurice Gattis, MSSW, Ph.D.
Dr. Gattis is Associate Professor at the Kent School of Social Work at University of Louisville and has engaged in peer-reviewed published research regarding youth experiencing homelessness with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ youth for more than a decade in the United States and Canada. Dr. Gattis has a strong commitment to and deep understanding of the needs of the population and best practices related to providing affirming and effective services.
Jonathan Lowe
Jonathan Lowe is the Executive Administrator for Policy & Systems for Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) in Louisville Kentucky. He has previously held numerous other positions within JCPS, including Director of Strategy, Director of Student Assignment, and Government Relations Specialist.
Prior to his time with JCPS, he spent twelve years as a non-partisan bill drafter, legislative analyst, and budget analyst for the Kentucky General Assembly, focusing on education policy. He also worked as an advocate for affordable housing and people-based neighborhood development with the Metropolitan Housing Coalition.
Jonathan is a parent to two children, one who is pursuing a BFA in Acting in Chicago, and the other who is a JCPS high school student. He received a baccalaureate degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Chicago and an M.S. in Public Policy from Rutgers University.
Felicia Williams Young
Felicia serves as a regional outreach coordinator for a local nonprofit who provides resources and housing to the most vulnerable among us including single parents and foster alumni.
She brings with her years of experience in training, event coordination and community outreach. She rounds out her past professional experience with positions within the Office of Youth Development and local school district.
She is a wife, mother of three and a retired foster parent who spent twenty years providing a supportive environment for many young people in out of home care. She is also a proud alumna of the University of Louisville.
Erin Riedel, LCSW
Erin is a licensed clinical social worker with over 10 years of experience who specializes in working with LGBTQ+ young adults. Prior to opening her private practice, Vivaria Counseling, she worked for a number of Louisville organizations that serve adults living with severe mental illness and substance use disorders. She believes that housing is a human right and has seen first-hand how safe, stable housing can radically change people’s lives. She is a lifelong Kentuckian and a three-time graduate of the University of Louisville.
Ali Gautier
Ali Gautier is an activist, comedian, and performing artist originally from Danville, KY, currently living in Louisville. She is the Communications & Development Manager for Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, and director & producer of the documentary short, "After the Flood." She is a Black Queer artist working to preserve, amplify, and care for the stories of her diverse community.