I am a Queer person from the Midwest and currently living in New York, an anti-violence advocate, a licensed master social worker, clinician, speaker, writer, trainer, and consultant. I introduce myself by saying “my pronouns for today are” because gender is fluid and my pronouns could change tomorrow or even later today. If/when they change, I’ll let you know!
I hold a bachelor’s degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in History from the University of Kansas. I have a Master of Social Work degree with a Graduate Certificate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution from Missouri State University. I have a LMSW in Missouri and in New York.
I have over 15 years of experience as a case manager, advocate, supervisor, trainer, facilitator, coordinator, and program director working with diverse populations including survivors of sexual/domestic violence and sex trafficking, LGBTQIA individuals, folks with disabilities, people experiencing severe and persistent mental illnesses, trauma survivors, individuals impacted by substance use, incarcerated folks, people experiencing homelessness, youth, and people living with HIV/chronic health conditions.
I have volunteered for a variety of organizations and causes including the National Association of Social Workers Missouri Chapter Board of Directors, Advancing Social Change through Community Practice, Kansas City Pride Community Alliance, the Midwest Innocence Project Board of Directors, the Racial Equity Institute Community Advisory Board, Planned Parenthood, The Cultural Competency Collective of Greater Kansas City, Showing Up for Racial Justice, the Movement for Black Lives, Bandwaggn KC (a music camp for LGBTQIA+ youth), The Willow Domestic Violence Center, AmeriCorps, the North American Students of Cooperation, the Commission on the Status of Women at the University of Kansas, the Ecumenical Christian Ministries Sexuality Education Series, etc.
I have presented training at local, state, and national conferences hosted by the following organizations: National Network to End Domestic Violence Economic Justice Summit, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Cultural Competency Collective of Greater Kansas City, M.A.R.C.H. Mediation, Kansas City Pride, Mental Health KC, North American Students of Cooperation, and the Midwest AIDS Training & Education Center.
I believe our best chance forward is along a path built upon a bedrock of feminist, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed perspectives that promote harm reduction and transformative justice philosophies.