The Frederick Center is proud to announce that Glorie Cassutto has been hired as its first Program Coordinator and Facilitator. Glorie began working with The Frederick Center on November 1st, 2021, and helped open The Frederick Center’s first physical location one week later.
Founded in 2012, The Frederick Center expanded programming from hosting a Youth Group and a small Frederick Pride picnic in 2012 to hosting hundreds of program events and one of the largest Pride events in Maryland. The Frederick Center has continued to grow over the last few months since hiring Kris Fair as the Center’s first Executive Director. “We are elated with the hiring of Glorie as our second employee of The Frederick Center,” commented Fair, “our center performed a comprehensive job search for candidates with the input of numerous community members before selecting Glorie as our candidate.”
The previously all-volunteer-led organization now underwrites an array of support programs, including Youth Group, Youth Group Jr., Young Adult Group, Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Support Group, TransFamilies, TransPartners, TransTeens, Bisexual Social Networking, Healing Pride, and Recovery Pride. This growth has proven challenging for the organization, which relied on volunteers to support programming.
Cassutto is a Frederick native with 5+ years of experience in the mental and behavioral health fields. During their time at Hood College, Cassutto studied Social Work with a minor in the Study of Women and Gender and served as the first Diversity Chair of the Student Government Association Executive Board. Cassutto focused their studies on LGBTQ+ issues in the Social Work profession and completed an independent study about how to care for LGBTQ+ clients as a social worker. As Diversity Chair, Cassutto spearheaded a movement to create a positive campus climate for diverse members of the Hood community. During their junior year, Cassutto received the Epitome Award from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for their advocacy and activism during their term as Diversity Chair.
In addition to their experiences at Hood College, Cassutto has experience in the mental health field as a Therapeutic Mentor for children with emotional and behavioral disorders, and as a Supports Planner for individuals with disabilities in Maryland. They have facilitated group therapy, provided emotional and behavioral support, and acted as a link to local resources for their clients. Cassutto is thrilled to combine their experience in the mental and behavioral health field with their passion and experience in LGBTQ+ advocacy. “It is a dream come true to be TFC’s Program Coordinator and get to work with Frederick’s young queer people, who are such a unique, empathetic, and resilient community. Getting to witness and be a part of queer joy and expression and love is an incredible gift”, Cassutto says. “We have come so far as members of the Frederick LGBTQ+ community, but we have so much more work to do in the name of equality, equity, and progress.”
The Frederick Center’s Mission: The Frederick Center exists to support and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people and our families so we thrive, accepted and affirmed, in the broader Frederick community.
