Interview with Covenant House’s Pam Sandonato
Queerful Co Founder Robert Valin interviews Pam Sandonato, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Growth at Covenant House.
During our time together, I had asked Pam to share a Covenant House success story (of which there are thousands). Below is one shared with permission by Beniaih, a former Covenant House resident, at a recent Sleep Out followed by links to learn more and get involved with the transformational work they continue to do.
“I grew up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. My family life was very difficult. It was a combination of my parents refusing to accept that I identify as gay and an abusive family relationship. I felt safer living unhoused than in their home, and I escaped to New York City when I was seventeen to create a better life for myself.
I lived on the streets for several weeks (not far from here, actually). I stayed out of trouble, but each day was a new challenge. Some kids told me about a place of safety, a place where I could eat and sleep. They said it was called Covenant House.
Of course it turned out to be so much more than what they said it would be. The staff were very welcoming and supportive, and I felt I was always being pushed in a positive direction. They encouraged me to build healthy relationships and establish trust with people. They kept me on a career path that I considered abandoning more than once. They made sure I had space to practice piano, which has always been a passion of mine. And, most importantly, they helped me to be my true self.
One of my favorite stories to share is that as I grew closer to the staff, and one person in particular, who I think some of you may remember — Mr. Brian — I began opening up more about myself. I shared that I was feeling as though my gender is fluid and it was getting harder and harder to conform to just one gender. And you know what he did next? A shipment of dresses had just arrived at Covenant House as a donation from Macy’s. Mr. Brian took me into the clothing room and let me try on as many of them as I wanted, and when I put on a ballgown, he had me walk up and down the aisles like I was on a catwalk. It felt so good to feel affirmed in my identity!
I know some people still struggle with they/them pronouns and wonder why it even matters that we include them as a part of our identity. It is an act of love and acceptance to listen to someone when they share this part of themselves with you, and that is how I felt, and continue to feel in the Covenant House community.
And demanding acceptance has been built into every single one of my job searches since Covenant House. I work in finance, so it is up to me to ask the right questions if I don’t see it embedded into the corporate culture.
Today, I’m a proud New Yorker. This town isn’t where I got my start, but it is definitely where I’ve grown my wings, and they are big and beautiful and most definitely rainbow-colored.
I’m a full-time executive assistant at a financial firm in midtown, where they appreciate me and value me. Outside of the office, I enjoy exploring the city as much as I enjoy walking in nature. I also love playing strategy games, reading, snowboarding, and scuba diving. And I love returning to Covenant House events and feeling what is a palpable Cov love.
Here is my advice to other LGBTQ+ youth: “Try to find a place where you feel loved and accepted, like I did at Covenant House. Always look forward; always find the light.” Thank you for sleeping out for all young people facing homelessness and especially for those who identify as LGBTQ+”.
Join our movement, watch our content, make a donation at covenanthouse.org/awareness
Meet our young people here at covenanthouse.org/homeless-issues/homeless-children
Learn about the issues, including LGBTQ+ youth at covenanthouse.org/homeless-issues
Learn about the Sleep Out program and how to get involved or create your own event at sleepout.org
Watch our mission moments, videos, and livestreams at youtube.com/c/covenanthouse