Since 1997, Trudy Barry has worked the night shift at YouthCare’s ISIS House, our transitional living program for LGBTQ youth and their straight allies (the only program of its kind in the Pacific Northwest). In that time, she has worked with hundreds of residents, keeping them safe, and counseling them late at night.

The love and respect that the residents and staff of ISIS House have for Trudy was evident at her fifteen-year anniversary celebration on February 29 (what better day to honor such an exceptional staff person?). Residents hung a huge homemade banner, and contributed favorite memories to a skit commemorating her time at ISIS. We learned that Trudy is deathly afraid of rats during “Trudy Trivia,” and one enterprising resident rewrote the lyrics to “Louie, Louie” and had everyone signing along to “Trudy, Trudy.”

Thank you, Trudy, for your years of dedication to our young people’s well-being.