Alicia Skillman
Beginning January 2009, Alicia J. Skillman is the Executive Director of the Triangle Foundation, melding her activism and legal career to continue the mission of anti-violence against the LGBT community and to push legislative policy for equal rights. Ms. Skillman has been an activist in the LGBTQ community for several years. Ms. Skillman is the co-founder of PFLAG Family Reunion of Detroit, an organization that reaches out to parents and families of LGBTQ people, especially African-American families. She has presented seminars at the National PFLAG Conference addressing issues involving families of color.
Alicia’s many years of activism also include the Gay Law Caucus of Wayne State University Law School and former membership on the Triangle Foundation Board of Trustees and the Diversity Committee. Alicia was the first President and Board Chairperson of S.P.I.C.E. (Sistahs Providing Intelligence, Creativity, and Empowerment) and again took over the reins at SPICE from 2006 to 2008. Alicia is co-creator and contributor of Healing Detroit, a collaborative of organizations and individuals to increase activism and address issues through capacity building in the African-American LGBTQ community. Atty. Skillman is an Advisory Board Member to the LGBTQ Liaison to Office of the Mayor of Detroit.
Even though she is a busy volunteer and advocate for LGBTQ rights, Attorney Skillman is formerly the Director of the Fair Housing Center of Legal Aid & Defender Association where she monitored and enforced fair housing laws in Oakland and Macomb Counties through testing of various rental, real estate, insurance, and financial sites. Atty. Skillman began her legal career as an Associate Attorney with VanOphem & VanOphem, PC, a firm specializing in intellectual property law.
Alicia acquired her Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School; B.S. in Business Administration from Florida A&M University (Cum Laude); and an Associate of Industrial Engineering from Purdue University (Summa Cum Laude). Alicia is a former member of the American Inns of Court; Wolverine Bar Association; and Third New Hope Baptist Church.