Champions of Change
Sherilyn Adams, LCSW, is Executive Director of Larkin Street Youth Services, San Francisco’s largest nonprofit provider serving the diverse needs of homeless and runaway youth. Sherilyn has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit social service sector, where she’s managed a variety of programs; she came to Larkin Street in 2003, pursuing a lifelong passion to serve children and teens, and oversaw the agency’s licensed residential programs, HIV/AIDS-related services and outreach programs. Her strong dedication and ability to inspire and lead Larkin Street’s teams and her skill in establishing and maintaining relationships with public and private funders and partners earned her a promotion to Chief of Programs, and, in August 2005, she became the agency’s Executive Director. Under her leadership, Larkin Street has grown its housing capacity by 50%, earned national and international recognition for its innovative service model, and contributed to local, state, and national policy advancements for homeless youth.