The wound is the root of our gifts

Getting here has been a 42-year journey marked by both profound love and profound pain. I came to accept that I can hold more than one truth at the same time. I can feel gratitude for my family while also acknowledging the abuse that shaped my early life and the scars it left. Growing up gay in a conservative community forced me to hide parts of myself before I understood who I was. That disconnection left me vulnerable to violations against my humanity. In the midst of overwhelming loss, I began to experience encounters with the Divine that invited me to live a life rooted in truth rather than survival.

That invitation from the Divine has continued to reveal itself. It led me to complete my first college degree at 38 years old and to work alongside communities impacted by systemic injustice. In the last six years, I’ve worked in outreach with organizations serving people experiencing homelessness, filmed a docu-series in Uganda advocating for African LGBTQIA+ rights, worked in maternal and family health equity in Washington, D.C., helped cultivate a platform centering Indigenous voices, and served as Director of Justice and Compassion at The Table, an affirming faith congregation. Along my way, I came upon Esalen Institute, where my experiences there galvanized my understanding of human potential and the healing power of community and land. It inspired me to create experiences where anyone can embody their divinity through consciousness, movement, and reverence for the sacred.

When I look back on my life experiences, I see a single thread woven through them. Long before I had the language for it, my spirit was being drawn toward justice. Each chapter invited me to cultivate greater peace, discernment, and the skills to serve the health of humanity. Now, being accepted into the University of Glasgow’s Reparatory Justice program represents the evolution of everything that has come before. It is an opportunity for me to continue answering the call on my life by gaining the knowledge and skills to co-create a healthier, more just, and more sustainable nation.