Carrie Jacobs, PhD, is the Founder of The Attic Youth Center, Philadelphia’s only agency exclusively serving LGBTQ youth. Dr. Jacobs has worked with adolescents for over 35 years as a social worker, psychologist, researcher, mentor, and community leader. Since 1993, her efforts have focused on the development of The Attic Youth Center, which grew from a weekly support group to a comprehensive, multi-service youth agency for LGBTQ youth.  She is committed to creating social change through education, training, and outreach and by the process of developing LGBTQ youth into leaders for the future through Attic programming. Dr. Jacobs also provides professional training for social workers and child welfare professionals on the needs and experiences of LGBTQ youth, and served on Mayor Michael Nutter’s Advisory Board on LGBT Affairs where she chaired the Education Committee.

She played a key role leading a workgroup of Philadelphia housing providers on creating additional housing options and supportive services for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia.  Dr. Jacobs holds a Masters in Social Work and a Doctorate in Psychology. 

Dr Jacobs has received numerous honors and awards for her advocacy, including the Lambda Award for Distinguished Service by an Individual Woman, and has been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for her outstanding work on behalf of LGBTQ youth. In 2008, Dr. Jacobs was identified among a group of 100 women by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force as a leader in the movement for full equality. In 2013, she was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award for Exceptional Leadership from Bryn Mawr College’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, and in 2015, she was recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal as one of the top LGBT Advocates in the Philadelphia region.