First of all, I am a true baby of the South – Texas born and Georgia dwelling. It wasn’t until about fifth grade that I realized the way I experienced the world around me differed greatly from how I was seen by others. It took me until high school to realize I could (and should) openly challenge the varying distance between the two. The assumptions that were built, and acted upon, in regards to my race, gender, class, and sexuality created my need for deeper understanding in how we interact with one another. Through many experiences of advocating on my own behalf in school, religious, and eventually work settings I came to understand just how liberation bound our issues are and how much collaborative power is required for us to take on one another’s issues as extensions of our own.
All of this clarity led me to go deep with my organizing work in my communities and I’ve spent more than half of my life focused on issues that affect the most marginalized in the hopes of improving our material conditions. I’ve had some major wins over the past decade, building national campaigns, leading trainings, and organizing people around Mass Incarceration, Immigration, Reproductive Freedom, Voting Rights, Queer Liberation, and Racial Justice. But there is much more to be done. I truly believe that in this life, we’re all connected and working together is taking responsibility for what we owe to ourselves, to each other, and to our future.
In my opinion, that includes centering my joy and creative practice as often as I can! As an artist, I’m able to use my lens and undying hope for better futures to express my most radical dreams that I can’t always manifest tangibly. My art helps me connect with others in a way that does double the work of my love for the written word and allows me to never forget just how powerful our dreams are.
