One of the tasks of my job is that I am the voice—the voice of Youth Outlook, the voice of the staff when I talk to the board of directors, the voice of administration when I talk to the staff. I’m often the messenger, so I knew and was comfortable with that role. As the […]
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No Regrets
Posted: 17th March 2023 by admin in BlogTags: #healing #familyofchoice #friendship #community #healthscare
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One year ago today, I had an appointment with a doc I liked whom I hoped would give me if not the final answer, then at least AN answer of SOME sort to a medical question I’d been chasing for about four years. It was a grey day much like today but I remember it […]
I Might Believe…
Posted: 3rd November 2022 by admin in BlogTags: #believeinmagic, #findingjoy, #LGBT youth, #transgender, #transsanta, community, healing
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At my agency’s annual fundraiser, I shared a story that I’ve kept private over this past year that I’d like to share with you now. I originally decided to keep it private because I was so struck by the darkness and the cruelty of it that it didn’t feel necessary to allow it to touch […]
A Mouse’s Tale
Posted: 11th October 2021 by admin in BlogTags: book signing, healing, kindness, National Coming Out Day, NCOD
Shout out to First Congregational Church in Naperville for their local authors series, to which Urban Tidepool was invited last evening. I met some wonderful new folks and got to talk through the book with a few of my pod and with Reverend Mark Winters, who is one of the coolest guys to ever rock […]
Moms, Dads, and Memes
Posted: 4th June 2021 by admin in BlogTags: LGBT kids, LGBT youth, parents, Pride, pride month
Nancy Mullen 7m · Shared with Your friends A thought for my many, many ally friends on this wonderful first Friday of Pride month. I’m seeing a lot of posts saying “I’m your mom now”, and “I’m your dad now.” I believe these are prompted by nothing but the purest and kindest of intentions and the sentiment […]
Fat Boi Biking!
Posted: 8th November 2020 by admin in BlogTags: athletic, Bucket list, cycling, humor
A repost of one of one of my most popular posts from 2017 just for fun. Fat Boi Biking! This weekend, I spent $27 on making a bucket list item come true. It’ll probably be the only bucket list item I can do for $27 and that’s okay. It’s also two years behind schedule, but […]
Lavender Graduates, Class of 2020
Posted: 17th May 2020 by admin in BlogTags: #LGBT youth, education, Lavender graduation, Youth Outlook
Yesterday, I had the honor to address the Youth Outlook graduates, Class of 2020. It was our first Lavender ceremony; typically we attend when the schools have them and invite us. Since we knew many of our drop-in center members were not going to be able to attend a commencement, let alone a Lavender ceremony […]
Imagine the mental gymnastics of the folks who have worked their entire lives and are now at risk of becoming homeless. A repost, 34 days into a shutdown pushing federal workers to the edge of catastrophe.