The Trevor Project CEO Abbe Land’s Desktop Essentials

Photo Credit: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for The Trevor Project

As the Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project, a nationally recognized nonprofit providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth, Abbe Land is making changes for the better. Since coming to The Trevor Project, Land has helped the organization continue its growth from a 24/7 phone line to a comprehensive suicide prevention and crisis intervention program that serves over 200,000 youth annually. Key program highlights have included taking Trevor’s Lifeguard workshop to scale, expanding TrevorChat, which now operates 7 days a week, and the growth of The Trevor Project’s online peer-to-peer support network, TrevorSpace.org, which has over 130,000 members. Prior to her experience at The Trevor Project, Land served as Co-CEO of The Saban Free Clinic in Los Angeles, where she led the clinic’s growth from a $6 million to a $16 million budget, including the opening of two new clinics and the building of a $22 million endowment.  In addition, as an elected Councilmember of the City of West Hollywood who has served as Mayor five times, Land was instrumental in the development of the City’s Women’s and Disability Advisory Boards, and domestic violence prevention program for same-sex couples. She is also involved with the National Council for Suicide Prevention; Women Against Gun Violence; the L.A. County Department of Health Services’ Women’s Health Policy Council; Planned Parenthood Advocacy Board; and the AIDS Community Action Foundation. This December, Land will be instrumental in leading The Trevor Project’s signature annual fundraiser, TrevorLIVE. On December 6, at The Hollywood Palladium, top entertainers and corporate leaders will come together to support the organization’s lifesaving initiatives, including its free and confidential lifeline, its digital crisis programs TrevorChat & Trevor Text, suicide prevention workshops, community outreach, advocacy efforts, and educational resources. Here, this human rights advocate shares a peek at the place where she works to implement positive change on a daily basis: her desk.

1)      Women Against Gun Violence Mug
As a former board member and now advisory board member of Women Against Gun Violence, feminist Abbe Land sips her coffee every morning with the reminder that we’re still fighting to keep our country and schools safe against gun violence.

2)      Pic of Founders, Abbe, and Ian McKellen
Abbe Land stands with The Trevor Project founders, Peggy Rajski and James Lescesne, and Trevor Hero Honoree Ian McKellen as a reminder of his impassioned TrevorLIVE speech that advocated the fight for greater equality.

3)      Strategic Plan & Road Map
Always thinking about the vision of The Trevor Project that imagines a future in which the opportunities and possibilities are the same for all youth, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, Abbe Land’s work with the strategic plan and road map is consistently being refined and shaped.

4)      Bowl of candy
As a natural giver who cares about her staff, Abbe Land keeps a bowl of candy on her desk to share with the office.

5)      Temsalet Book
Passionate about global efforts to advance women’s rights worldwide, Abbe Land keeps “Temsalet,” a book of portraits of accomplished Ethiopian women, on her desk as a celebration of Ethiopian progress. 

6)      Wise Women Book
As a reminder of the power of female elders, “Wise Women” serves as a daily inspiration of insights, courage, and beauty for Abbe Land. 

7)      Chronicle of Philanthropy Article
Celebrating The Trevor Project’s largest individual fundraiser in 2014 and now board member, Tyler Oakley, Chronicle of Philanthropy was one of Abbe Land’s reminders of the possibilities to engage Youtubers in future fundraising efforts.