Darius McLean

Background

About Darius McLean

Darius McLean is the Director of Empowerment Programs at the Arcila-Adams Trans Resource Center as part of the William Way Community Center in Philadelphia, PA. Darius has lived in Philadelphia for over 13 years and is from nearby Gloucester County, New Jersey. He received his undergraduate degree at Temple University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies, with a Psychology concentration. He later obtained a Master of Science at Saint Joseph's University in Organizational Development and Leadership, where he focused his studies on adult learning and organizational psychology. Darius has over five years of professional experience working in LGBTQ+ Health. He also brings over thirteen years of experience working directly with youth. LGBTQ+ Health and youth development programming are at the foundation of Darius’ professional interests. His work consists of acting as a passionate advocate for increased access to culturally significant healthcare both locally and nationally. Notably, his professional leadership in the LGBTQ+ community grows from a lifetime of lived experience. Darius’ experiences continually motivate him to provide the highest standards of care, empathy, and respect in his work for and with the LGBTQ+ community. Darius has worked as a healthcare advocate to the LGBTQ+ community for 8 years. He worked was a facilitator of a support group for gender variant, gender expansive and transgender children and youth. Participants in this group were young people under age 21 up to age 21 and their families at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOPS) Gender and Sexuality Clinic. Here, Darius worked with TGNC youth aged 4-12 years old, to provide social and emotional support, through activity and group facilitation. Darius was also a facilitator for the writing group transcribez. This a monthly creative writing group, sponsored by UPENN’s Kelly Writers House, that is open and offered free of charge to for youth ages 14–24 who identify as transgender or gender non-conforming (GNC). Formerly, Darius served as a board member of the Girls Justice League of Philadelphia for 2 years, a girls’ rights organization dedicated to acting for social, political, educational, and economic justice with and for girls and young women. In 2017, Darius joined the Einstein Healthcare Network’s PRIDE Program as a Patient Navigator. His role was to improve LGBTQ+ patient satisfaction and experience, provider LGBTQ+ competency, and linkage and retention to care.