Carnelius Quinn

Peer Leader, Lowell High School

"Back in the 90s, Carnelius was a Peer Leader running a support group in high school. Several of the young people in his group still speak about how transformative that experience was, to have him as a black gay male, be their mentor and their support during their 9th grade year. He's a changemaker at the deeply personal level, and for the bigger picture too. Carnelius has a big vision for the world and he knew that to make that vision real, he needed a bigger platform. He got a Masters in Social Organization at Columbia so that eventually he could return to the Bay Area to help Bay Area nonprofits realize their big visions. Currently, he is working for Deloitte in Organizational Transformation, building his experience and expertise. In his own words, "I enjoy partnering with teams when the rubber meets the road. Creating vision with passionate people energizes me, and I'm a nerd for translating lofty dreams into grounded action.""

Raised in San Francisco’s Visitacion Valley, Carnelius is the youngest child of William P. Quinn Sr. and Mary R. Quinn.

Carnelius attended Fellowship Academy from kindergarten through eighth grade, where he got his first taste of performance--taking lead roles in plays and singing with the school choir. Carnelius went on to Lowell High School (where he found Peers), and then to San Francisco State University, where he gained a double BA in Sociology and Theatre. Carnelius directed the Teens Teaching Through Theatre (T4) program of Routes for Youth, which was his first opportunity to support youth leaders as an adult. He went on to coordinate the Peer Education Program at Health Initiatives For Youth (HIFY), growing with the organization to become Program Manager for both youth and adult training programs. Carnelius then joined the Tabono project, providing capacity building assistance to HIV-organizations across the country. After receiving a Master's Degree in Social-Organizational Psychology from Teacher's College, Columbia University, Carnelius joined Deloitte Consulting, where he has continued to gain the network and resources to support his purpose of strengthening community organizations struggling to secure funding and stay true to their missions.

Carnelius is now embarking on his biggest adventure yet, love, having recently gotten engaged to his partner Lee Roy. They currently live in San Antonio, Texas--but Carnelius has introduced Lee to The Bay, and the couple is certain they will return “home” in the not-so-distant future. Carnelius isn’t sure what he will do when he returns, but whatever it is he knows that he will do it with the creativity, integrity and skill that Peers helped him to discover within himself. Because as all Peers alum know--when you Care about something, you Think about it, and ultimately Do something to Change it.

"The move from a class of 21 predominantly Black kids at Fellowship Academy, to a freshman class of over 600 students at Lowell representing all races, genders, sexualities, religious affiliations and ways of thinking was a shock to say the least. Suddenly, a kid raised on faith was introduced to critical thinking. And that combination has allowed me to continually evolve as a person. Peers provided me the opportunity to be a counselor, facilitator, performer, and advocate--from the halls of Lowell to the streets of Hong Kong. Helping others gave me energy, and that realization led me down a professional path of caring.

"That path has included developing and delivering radical and intersectional health education in both OUSD and SFUSD schools; building an national alliance of wellness-focused black gay men and HIV advocates; and consulting to corporations and non-profit organizations across industries and borders. Throughout my career, I’ve been blessed to find a community of like-minded colleagues to deliver social impact work for mission-based organizations. And while I might not be completely comfortable in my current corporate setting, I continue to cultivate the insight and skill that will allow me to deliver more value to the justice work I love.

"I am eternally grateful to Peers, not just for saving my adolescence, but for making me the adult I am today. Happy 40th!"

Carnelius Quinn