04/30/2026
13 years ago my oldest child was entering public school, my youngest child was a toddler, and I was coming to terms with my sexuality at the age of 27.
Believe it or not, at that time, the scariest part was that my oldest was going to school because he is EXTRA with a side of sassy. And boys aren’t allowed to be extra or sassy, in front of other boys especially.
So I gave myself an assignment… create safety for this kid, to the best of my ability.
As it would turn out, he was not the only one who needed that safety and “safety” really meant “community.”
In the span of that 13 years I could tell you about all the places and people we left… however, I would rather tell you about where we have ended up and who we found.
👇🏼
1) ourselves. Me. Jeffrey. Hannah.
2) a community. You. Other families. Lovely people who care for others.
3) a woman who changed our lives forever. Makenzie, my partner.
4) entrepreneurship. This business that serves our community 🏳️🌈
5) purpose. Creating psychological safety in ways we are capable of.
6) hope. Because of the amazing community of humans and businesses we know are shaping the future of our city.
7) the audacity. To keep going, despite the headwinds that swirl from time to time.
Comment below 👇🏼 something or someone who is making our community better and better. Who is bringing hope in hard times.
Hope is a wonderful thing to possess and it’s even better when shared 🫶🏼
Portsmouth, I love you.
Ali
