I heard you before I saw the look on your faces,

cowbells jingling, or maybe it was the clang of a pot, lid on a tin can.

These two just got married, a lone friend Harold your union,

There were always subtle signs that I was different from the other girls. When I was 13 years old, I finally found the words to describe my feelings. I sat outside with my father on a beautiful fall New England day, Dad, I'm transgender.

The year is 2013

I am almost 18 years old.

The atmosphere is heavy with tension.

My grandmother enters my room with an icy expression on her face,

from woman to woman.

I sit in a room with others, each working in their own spaces on abolitionism and the rights of transgender people. We are discussing Dean Spade's 'Normal Life.'

She lived alone, you know. No family, they say… An estranged daughter somewhere maybe, they say… So sad, they say

Have you ever had to drop a loved one off at the hospital, unsure of when or if you will ever see them again? Can you imagine saying goodbye via feast time while they are dying in a hospital bed alone?

It all begins with an idea.

mi familia es numerosa siete hermanas y el menor un varón

mi niñez fue como el alegre color de los campos disfrutaba

It all begins with an idea.

Back in Ethiopia, I enjoyed every second of my life. I never felt stressed over anything I could get over my troubles real quick.

When I was broke or needed any kind of hope I could always ask family or friends. They were always there.

Reminder to forgive others

This story was created in a digital storytelling workshop coordinated by the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, led by StoryCenter, and funded by Eileen Fisher.

Ha sia muchas calor mientra Yo estaba piscando la FRESA Y medolid mucho la cabeza

Sally pedir ayuda en ese momento, porque me sentia muy mal

le tube que suplicar al Mayor Domo que no me corovira porque soy Madre soltera y tengo cuatro Ninos y los tenia que a mantener

le dige entienta.

rare, like discovering treasure

Just before Thanksgiving of 2024

I discovered a new iPhone app, flighty, tracks commercial airline flights. It provides real time updates and alerts and as delay predictions.

In front of the door, front door of the International Hotel is being

squeezed between officers.

My back was to the door.

2000 plus people crunched in ahead of me.

We were only a block away from my house when I seen a small, fragile woman digging through a dumpster.

My daughter and I were driving around passing out food sacks. It's part of what we do for our community and humanitarian work at Rocky Mountain Center,

Clarissa got pregnant at an early age and struggled to find childcare. After securing a good job and a stipend for daycare, she experienced the fallout from state budget cuts that revised the rules for subsidies and made her ineligible.

After spending hours on the phone fielding calls from immigrant women in crisis, Yesica takes a moment to reflect on how she became an advocate.