Darby allison-dugue

Program Manager: Community Engagement

Darby Allison-Dugue (she/her/hers) joined The Loft in 2024, where she is dedicated to supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community and promoting education around their unique needs and experiences.

As a proud Afro-Caribbean woman, Darby brings her lived experience and personal identity into her professional work, emphasizing empathy, advocacy, and authenticity. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Lehman College in 2018 and has developed a career focused on equity, social justice, and community empowerment.

Darby has extensive experience providing intensive case management to individuals living with serious mental illnesses, assisting them in navigating complex systems to obtain care and achieve stability. She has also supported homeless and housing-insecure youth in securing and maintaining independent housing, advocating for their safety and self-determination.

Her background includes work with a nonprofit organization that offers creative and artistic opportunities to youth from urban communities, helping them explore identity, healing, and personal growth through expression.

Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work at Hunter College, Darby remains committed to dismantling systemic barriers and fostering inclusive, affirming environments for marginalized communities.

Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, she enjoys singing, caring for her plants, playing video games, and spending time with her cats, Mango and Sorbet.