My Work
I feel fortunate to be able to dedicate my energy to projects that I love. To get a sense of my work, its scope, and the organizations I work closely with, take a look at some of what I’m presently engaged in as well as some of the things I’ve done in the past.
Current Projects
Talking To People I Know Podcast
I know a lot of incredible people and thought it would be cool to give them space to share who they are, what they’re passionate about, and their musings on what’s happening in the world. Join me and these kickass people I get the privilege of calling community as we talk about life, love and liberation on Talking to People I Know.
Act Out Gear (ETSY Shop)
Solidarity, social justice, & visibility mean a lot to me so I decided to start an Etsy Shop featuring gear for the body and home with those things in mind. This size and identity inclusive shop has a growing selection of t-shirts, mugs, and hats with a message so know that you can find things to fit all sorts of folks here.
Current Affiliations
Evolving Faith Conference
Evolving Faith exists to cultivate love and hope in the wilderness, pointing fellow wanderers and misfits to God as people embody resurrection for the sake of the world. It envisions a community where the thirsty become water-bearers, the hungry become bread-makers, the wounded are our healers, the misfits become friends, and the wanderers find a home.
I have served as the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Spiritual Care Leader since 2019.
En Conjunto
En Conjunto is a collective of People of Color that provides support, community, resources, and collaborative opportunities to a group of like-minded practitioners who are writers, educators, artists, content creators, spiritual leaders, organizers, healers, and activists. En Conjunto aims create more visibility and support for freelancers and consultants of Color working at the intersection of justice and spirituality– increasing their access to opportunities and helping to build their platform.
I have the honor of being a part of this collective and serve on it’s Ile Team - a body within En Conjunto that offers service, wisdom, and guidance to the members of the wider collective.
enfleshed
enfleshed creates and facilitates spiritual resources for collective liberation through prayer, liturgies, art, meditations, teaching, and other resources. enfleshed was birthed in 2017 out of a deep longing for engagement with the Sacred through collective, liberative, creative, and nourishing practices and ideas unencumbered by dogma, religious respectability politics, or denominational ties.
Its work is largely positioned within Christian-adjacent* communities centering the wisdom, experiences, and desires of those traditionally on the fringes of dominant institutions, theologies, and politics.
My work as a member of enfleshed’s board of directors is a deep source of joy in my life.
Praxis Group
Praxis Group is committed to providing organizations and institutions with tools to implement immediate change, as well as support to identify and execute the long-term strategies that lead to true organizational transformation.
Its work empowers teams of any size to work more effectively by creating space for dialogue and growth. Through facilitated conversations and tailored interventions, we help to foster environments that are inclusive of all employees, clients, patients, students, and community members.
I frequently partner with the dynamic team at the Praxis Group in work and facilitation related to justice education, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Past Projects
Hope and Hard Pills Podcast
The Hope and Hard Pills Podcast is a project that explores practical insight on racial justice and social change. This 2-season show co-hosted by me and Andre Henry featured an incredible line-up of guests including Bree Newsome Bass, adrienne maree brown, Damon Young, the team at No White Saviors, Austin Channing Brown, Aric McBay, and Candice Benbow. Though we wrapped this podcast in early 2021, these super informative episodes are still available online.
Center for Inclusivity
Center for Inclusivity (CFI) was a nonprofit operating from 2015-2019 that existed to support inclusive community building through curating public forums promoting thoughtful dialogue. CFI helped people connect more fully to others and to themselves by cultivating and supporting inclusive spaces where people had conversations where they could learn and seek to be known.
CFI’s work took on different shapes and was best broken down into three areas: gatherings, conversations, and workshops. I had the honor of co-founding the Center for Inclusivity and serving as its executive director.
#MakeLoveLouder Campaign
#MakeLoveLouder was a tongue-in-cheek, counter-protest organized to inject humanity, laughter, love, and hugs into an emotionally and spiritually toxic space at the Chicago Pride Parade from 2016-2019. We stationed ourselves directly in front of the cordoned off protest area, offering a message of support, solidarity, and care for paraders--in contrast to the messages of bigotry, shame, and stigma projected by those behind us.
I started started this campaign Center for Inclusivity co-founder Jason Bilbrey and board member Darren Calhoun in an effort to uphold the tradition of people who stood between anti-LGBTQ protesters and paraders. We wanted to offer unapologetic affirmation of queer and trans Chicagoans in the face of some of the most vitriolic hate speech that we had ever encountered.