1.       What inspired you to seek out joining one of the City’s Boards, Committees, Commissions, or Taskforces?

I am committed to being an active part of making our community a just, equitable, respectful, and welcoming place for all of Durham’s community members - especially for Black, Latine, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, gender diverse, disabled, and undocumented people; as well as people in marginalized faith and cultural groups. Building relationships within the community is an important way to make a difference; and I feel like being part of the City’s Human Relations Commission is a way to make a meaningful impact at the community level.  

 2.       What inspired you to join your particular board?

I am a queer parent of two young children and spouse to my wife, Allyson. I am the founder of a grassroots organization called Rainbow Collective for Change that focuses on building safe and affirming spaces for LGBTQIA+ families. As a white, able-bodied, LGBTQIA+ person, I need to acknowledge and speak up in spaces about the intersectionality of discrimination and injustice and work towards building a safe and affirming community with my friends and fellow community members that are LGBTQIA+ with intersecting marginalized identities - particularly Black, Latine, and disabled LGBTQIA+ community members.

3.      What are you hoping to gain or bring to the board?

I hope to show up on this Commission as a listener and an active ally to my fellow Commissioners and the community we serve. Additionally, my background is in public health, human centered design, community engagement, and education, so I hope that I can share those skills with the Human Relations Commission to support their goals around community outreach, engagement, and education.