I'm a community organizer and project catalyzer with a love for exploring this crazy, beautiful world. Right now, my main passion/project is a documentary series about everyday voting rights heroes, Heart of Democracy. While I hope to some day make a living from documentary filmmaking, right now I earn money through nonprofit consulting, grant writing, and the occasional graphic design gig. I have the pleasure of living in a tiny home with my partner and dog on the coast in the lovely hippy town of Bolinas, just northwest of San Francisco.

As a couchsurfing guest, I like to leave hosting spaces cleaner than I found them, really enjoy getting to know my hosts, and LOVE to cook for them.

My work on the documentary series is taking me all over the country, and if I'm contacting you I am likely working on an episode in your area and looking for some housing. Thank you for any support you can provide as it helps keep my production costs low. Heart of Democracy is a passion project I am mostly funding out of pocket, but I feel it's incredibly necessary ahead of the 2020 election. You can find out more about it at www.heartofdemocracy.com. If you can help by hosting more or suggesting somebody who can you are being a huge support!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've used Couchsuring.com for years while traveling and have had wonderful experiences through it. I love connecting with folks who live where I'm visiting and think it's the best way to get to know a place. I also love hosting whenever I am able and have gotten to meet all sorts of interesting people on amazing journeys. It's also a wonderful way to meet other folks working to create positive change in their communities.

Interests

I work a lot within the intersections of various social justice movements: LGBTQ+ equality, racial justice, climate justice, and economic justice, to name a few. Art is exceptionally important to me, especially the kind that changes hearts and minds or creates more empathy.

• culture
• writing
• theater
• documentaries
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• music
• live music
• hiking
• camping
• journalism
• filmmaking
• activism
• queer
• community organizing
• climate justice
• lgbtq

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Nina Simone, Janelle Monae, Lizzo, Sylvester, Hot Chip, Fleet Foxes, Caetono Veloso, Os Mutantes, Erykah Badu, Billie Holiday, Eartha Kitt, Jackie Shane, Andra Day, Edith Piaf, Tank and the Bangas, Solange, so many more....

Books: Shock Doctrine, Conversations with Durito (A series of Zapatista communiques), Don't Be Afraid Gringo, His Dark Materials, A People's History of the United States, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Leaves of Grass, Black Leopard Red Wolf, Cthulhu Country, Parable of the Sower.

Movies: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shortbus, Moonlight, Selma, The Shape of Water, Fifth Element, The Fall, Knock Down the House, 13th

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spent two months traveling on a bus to conservative Christian colleges that actively discriminate against gay and transgender students to speak with students about acceptance and equality. The Equality Ride was based in the tradition of Satyagraha or relentless nonviolent resistance. Most of the colleges we attempted to visit would not allow us on campus (despite months of negotiations). In those cases most of us went on anyways and were arrested in the spirit of Satyagraha, while the rest engaged students in conversation along the fringes of campus. I was arrested twice, once in Mississippi and once in Minnesota.

The most amazing parts were the conversations we had with students, the hearts and minds that were changed, and the close bond I developed with a group of loved ones on the bus. My life was forever changed.

Teach, Learn, Share

Cooking is one easy way I love to teach, learn, and share at the same time. I do event catering a few times a year and am a total food nerd. Let's share recipes and cooking techniques!

I also always love learning about other people's activism or service projects and sharing about my own.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Delicious food, scintillating conversation, interesting life experiences, and some hope for the future.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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