Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Schedl.
Elizabeth , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey into this work really began with a deep belief that community spaces save lives. I did not set out thinking I would one day lead a countywide LGBTQ+ organization. I started with a desire to serve and a commitment to justice.
I joined Hudson Pride Center in 2013. At the time, it was a small but deeply loved community organization. Over the past decade, I have had the privilege of helping grow it into a comprehensive LGBTQ+ health and wellness center serving thousands of people across Hudson County. We expanded from one location to two, including our new Union City LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness Center, and significantly increased access to affirming healthcare, HIV prevention and care, mental health services, youth programming, and cultural events.
What shaped me most has been listening to our community. I have sat with young people coming out for the first time, seniors aging without family support, undocumented LGBTQ+ neighbors afraid to access services, and people living with HIV who fell out of care because of stigma or instability. Those stories changed me. They made it clear that direct services are critical, but policy and advocacy are just as important.
That realization led me to expand my work beyond program delivery into systems change, public investment, and civic leadership. I now serve on New Jersey’s Advisory Council on HIV, STIs, and Viral Hepatitis and work across sectors to strengthen public health and civil rights protections statewide. I was also appointed as Co Chair of the Arts and Culture Policy Committee for Jersey City’s mayoral transition team, helping shape inclusive policy at the local level.
At the core of my story is this: I believe LGBTQ+ people deserve more than survival. We deserve safety, dignity, joy, healthcare, housing, art, and power. My work has evolved from managing programs to building institutions, influencing policy, and mobilizing communities. But the mission remains the same as when I started, making sure our community is seen, protected, and able to thrive.
And alongside all of this, I am also a mother, which has deepened my sense of urgency and responsibility. I want my daughter to grow up in a world where equality is not debated, but guaranteed.
That is the through line of my story. Service, growth, courage, and a relentless belief in what is possible when community leads.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Leading an LGBTQ+ organization, especially in the public health and advocacy space, means navigating constant uncertainty. Funding cycles shift. Political climates change. Policies that protect our community can feel secure one year and threatened the next. There have been moments when we were fighting to keep programs alive while demand for services was increasing at the same time.
But I will say this: the struggles have sharpened me. They have made me a stronger executive, a clearer communicator, and a more strategic leader. They have also reinforced why this work matters. Every obstacle has clarified the mission rather than weakened it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I serve as the Executive Director of Hudson Pride Center, the LGBTQ+ focused community based organization in Hudson County, New Jersey. Hudson Pride Center provides affirming social services, HIV prevention and care programs, mental health support, youth and family programming, and community building initiatives for thousands of residents each year. We operate two locations in Jersey City and Union City and serve individuals across the full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community, with a strong focus on those facing health disparities, stigma, language barriers, housing instability, or economic hardship.
As Executive Director, I oversee the organization’s strategy, fundraising, operations, and program development. My work is centered on ensuring LGBTQ+ people have access not just to services, but to safety, dignity, and a strong sense of community.
Over the past decade, I have helped transform Hudson Pride from a small grassroots center into a multi site organization with expanded HIV services, strengthened behavioral health programming, and significantly increased public and private funding to support long term stability.What I am most proud of is building an institution that our community trusts. We have grown responsibly without losing our heart. We have expanded services while maintaining cultural competency and accessibility, especially for undocumented individuals, people living with HIV, LGBTQ+ youth, and those facing mental health or housing challenges. I am also deeply proud of the team we have built. Strengthening internal systems, investing in staff leadership, and creating a culture of excellence has been just as important as expanding programs. An organization is only as strong as the people behind it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hudsonpride.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hudsonpridecenter/
- Facebook: http://Facebook.com/groups/LezFestJC
- Other: https://hudsonpride.org/hudson-pride-newsletter/
