YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

I used to speak about diversity and inclusion, but now I am an active Advocate in the LGBTQ Community with One-N-Ten and BLOOM365. I learned a lot from Public Allies and they brought me here!

I used to feel unequipped to make decisions with individuals who have spent more time in the non-profit world than I have, now I feel confident in identifying my strengths and collaborating with people who share the same ideas and values as me.

I used to think that being a leader required some level of expertise that I felt I would never achieve. Public Allies gave me the confidence to be a leader by teaching me that leadership is a commitment to continuous development rather than some far away finish line.

I used to think that I wasn't a leader because I didn't look or act like a "traditional" leader, now I know: everybody leads and it is on us all to step up for change.

I used to hold back my ideas, because I didn't think I had enough experience or education to make a meaningful contribution. Now I am more empowered to use my voice, because Public Allies gave me a safe space to gain more confidence and willingness to share and understand that diverse perspectives have validity.

I used to think that entering my thirties meant it was too late to change directions in my education or career goals, but the opposite is true. We should all challenge ourselves and engage in continuous learning.