umm hi?

[colinashante]

hello cyberland that is the soulforce community. my name is colin and I am from Kansas City Missouri. I am employed by the Keen Foundation.I am the Gender Identity Project creator and program director. I have been involved in activism for about 4 years. I started my sophmore year of highschool when we first tried for a GSA. then when that failed I moved on to the diversity club as a whole were I became the Diversity Education/Educator Chairperson. I have participated in a wide variety of activist demonstrations such as a sit-in to gain visibility for Darfur. I have been to several empowerment summits such as the Gay+Str8 Empowerment Summit. Last summer I interned at PROMO which is Missouri's LGBT political organization. Last summer I also had a hand in starting up Kansas City's first youth led and youth ran organization called EQUAL which stands for Empowering Queer Activists and Leaders. I am applying to be a national gay and lesbian task force summer organizer and fellow. I am in the process of starting my own gender rights organization by the time I am 21. So if you are still reading this im sure your wondering what I do for fun. The answer to that would be camping, sleeping, snuggling, sit-ins, hug-ins, the heartland mens chorus, reading about queer theory and gender theory, and boooks that deconstruct oppressive terms, starbucks (actually just coffee in general), student organizing, volunteering for Harmony's weeklong youth leadership institute called Anytown which empowers the delegates to have the hard conversations surrounding classism, racism, sexism, heterosexism, and sexual orientation, and lastly how to be an affective ally. facilitation of various workshops i've put together such as leadership, queer people of color, and queering the body, driving all over the state of missouri, marching to the beat of my own drum. people watching. educating myself on how I can be affective in civil disobedience and the theory behind Ghandi's satyagraha. I eventually just want to be a peace monger much like john lennon. thats me in a nut shell

[scott snedeker]

Very impressive introduction. I admire your sensitivity, courage and passion! I'm glad you found us. I hope to hear more from you in coming posts!

[colinashante]

thank you. I am actually really interested in how I can be more involved with soulforce. it is a pleasure to meet you.

[Zerbie]

Sounds like you do quite a lot!

Welcome, Colin. Glad you found SF - I've found this community addicting. I first came here to network with other activists and learn how I could be more involved. Wound up becoming involved in local stuff of my own initiative, made great friends here, then got invited to work on one of SF's national actions!!

Anyway. Somewhere, there's a thread about working for SF locally. I know it has been a bit of a frustration for me and a couple others in AZ that we haven't got a regularly active local or state SF chapter. Apparently, there used to be one.

Well, this forum is a good place for networking, but above and beyond that, it's a terrific place for meeting wonderful friends. Glad you found it.

[paul]

Hi Colin :wave:,

Gee, so now what are you going to do with the rest of your life?:lol:

Welcome to you. As Zerbie said this is a great place to network and make friends, some very classy people here.

I look forward to your participation in our corner of the cyberworld.
peace
paul

[Vanessa White]

Hey Colin; I aspire to be much like John Lennon, in a feminine form if he were to have one; what a great goal!! And, sounds like you are well on your way. I extend my thanks to you for all you have done and are doing in your relatively short life so far. I was in Kansas City years ago for a conference, and really enjoyed my stay there. Stick around and share your thoughts here as often as you can; and Zerbie's right, it can be addictive!!!!

Peace and love, Vanessa :love::love::love:

[tymejumper]

Welcome! Sounds like you have been very busy! It is good to see others make such a difference in the world!

Much Metta,
Rebekah