Many days, I hear from people whose lives have been upended by fear.

An educator in Arkansas was told not to mention “gender” in class.

A mother in Florida worries about sending her trans son to school after a local politician threatened to "out" students.

A teen from Mississippi took a one-way bus ride to Boston, alone, just to stay free.

These stories are not hypotheticals. They are happening now.
And they’re not just about politics—they’re about people.

The Reality: A Growing Crisis of Fear and Flight

We are living in a time where simply being visible as queer, trans, or an ally can be dangerous.
Where school staff are scared to affirm their students out loud.
Where youth and families are quietly fleeing anti-LGBTQIA+ states, seeking safety and dignity across state lines—many arriving here in Massachusetts with nothing but hope and trauma in their bags.

Some have been kicked out.
Some are hiding from ICE.
Some are afraid that laws being revived will disappear them legally.
And still, they keep moving—because survival demands it.

What Can Schools and Leaders Do?

As a leadership coach, trainer, and community partner, I often get asked:
"What can we do when the system is working against our students?"

My answer: You build brave spaces. Not perfect ones. Not performative ones. But brave, affirming, people-centered spaces.

Spaces that interrupt harm.
That affirm identity.
That practice sanctuary in policy, practice, and presence.

A Free Tool to Start the Work

I created a free on-demand webinar with ASCD called:
👉🏽 Get in Formation: Building Brave Spaces for LGBTQIA+ Youth and Staff

This is for:

• Educators who want to lead courageously in this climate of fear

• Parents who are looking for language and tools to advocate inside schools

• Central office leaders ready to shift culture—not just content

You’ll walk away with:

• Practical strategies to create affirming school policies

• Dialogue tools for staff development and student support

• An invitation to join a larger movement of brave, human-centered educators

Let’s Talk. For Real.

If you’re a principal, teacher, director, caregiver, or youth advocate trying to navigate this moment—I’m here.

💬 I’m offering free 30-minute discovery calls this month to anyone who wants to talk through how to bring this work into your school, district, or organization.

Let’s move from crisis response to collective care.

👉🏽 Book time here

You don’t have to figure it out alone.
We were built to do this work together.