Our People

As a small non-profit, we rely upon the creativity, generosity of spirit, and hard work of our staff, board of directors, speakers, and other volunteers to keep SpeakOUT moving forward. Find out more about us below, and contact us if you are interested in joining the SpeakOUT community. 

Staff

Ellyn Ruthstrom

Executive Director

Ellyn@SpeakOUTBoston.org

Ellyn Ruthstrom has been the Executive Director of SpeakOUT Boston since May of 2014 and has been involved with LGBTQIA community activism for over 25 years. She was the president of the Bisexual Resource Center for ten years and helped organize the first White House Roundtable on Bisexual Issues in 2013. Ellyn was a commissioner with the Massachusetts LGBTQ Youth Commission for two years while she was also the Editor-in-Chief of Teen Voices, a national feminist magazine and website created by, for, and about teen girls. She is a writer and editor, was on the Melrose Human Rights Commission for two years, and enjoys quilting in her free time.

Board of Directors

This is the current Board of Directors for SpeakOUT for 2023.

• Sam Chatterjee, co-chair

• Luree Nikias, co-chair & treasurer

• Mark Heath, scribe

• Meg Duberek, tech administrator

• Joseph Alcantara

• Jam Hammond

• Nitasha Kochar

• JJ Nelson

• Madeline Stump

Looking for a way to give back to the LGBTQ+ community? SpeakOUT is looking for interested board members who would like to help guide the organization in its next phase.

Responsibilities of board members:

• Understand the organization’s mission, services, policies, and programs, and inform others about the organization.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and fulfillment of contractual obligations.

• Maintain knowledge of the organization and personal commitment to its goals and objectives.

• Support the organization financially either through donations and/or through helping with fundraising activities.

• Help to enhance SpeakOUT’s public profile and network within the Greater Boston nonprofit, LGBTQ+, and business communities.

• Regularly attend monthly board meetings.

• Serve on at least one committee or task force.

• Be available to offer assistance for special projects when applicable.

• Actively recruit, orient, and train new board members.

• Follow conflict of interest and confidentiality policies.

SpeakOUT’s board assists the Executive Director in strategic planning and the effective operation of the organization. Board members are involved in speaker trainings, event planning, fundraising initiatives, and grant writing, among other things. Reach out to Executive Director Ellyn Ruthstrom for more details at Ellyn@SpeakOUTBoston.org.

Committees

SpeakOUT’s committees engage members and volunteers in strategic planning and effective operation of the organization. Their primary role is to advise the staff and Board of Directors and to assist in the design and implementation of SpeakOUT programs and services. The following descriptions of SpeakOUT committees are not intended to be exhaustive summaries of each group’s tasks and responsibilities. Rather, they attempt to capture the general programmatic areas that each committee considers. 

Advancement

This committee is open to board members and volunteers, and convenes to plan fundraising activities for the organization.

Training Team

This committee includes board members and volunteers who wish to help coordinate the speaker trainings for members and for private clients.

Sustainability

This committee is strictly for board members and the Executive Director and focuses on board recruitment and guiding the financial sustainability of the organization. 

DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging)

This committee is focused on affecting change within our organization and community by integrating DEIB principles in how we operate and engage. The group, made up of SpeakOUT members and volunteers, works on strategizing, planning, and executing DEIB priorities across our people, processes, and partnerships.

TECHNOLOGIES

This committee focuses on SpeakOUT's technical needs. This includes day-to-day help desk support, long-term platform and security strategies, and everything in between. We prioritize projects that will have positive impact on effective communication and efficient work product on behalf of the organization's staff and board of directors.

SCHOLARSHIP

This committee is responsible for the fundraising, promotion, and awardee selection for the annual SpeakOUT LGBTQ+ Student Scholarship process.

For more information about any of the board committees, please contact Ellyn Ruthstrom: Ellyn@SpeakOUTBoston.org.